Remote teams have become an accepted and valued part of many companies’ employment structures. While adoption varies by field, tech leads the way with close to 70% of employees working in either hybrid or fully remote environments.
The shift introduces new security challenges that team leads would be remiss not to consider and plan for. Read this article to learn how to mitigate these challenges and keep your business operations safe.
Robust Access Controls
Ensuring safe access to internal resources and all required digital tools is a fundamental prerequisite for secure remote work. Doing so comprehensively requires a threefold approach.
Start with password security. Specifically, mandate that all passwords tied to remote employees should be unique and complex to minimize the likelihood of data breaches and contain the damage to a single account if a breach does happen. You may want to invest in a business password manager to automate password creation and logins, leaving no room for user error.
Continue by implementing role-based access controls. With an RBAC system in place, low-level accounts are restricted to the resources and systems their users need to do their jobs. However, they can’t escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or execute admin functions.
Finally, back up password-protected accounts with two-factor authentication. This measure introduces a one-time extra check when someone tries to access an account from an unknown device or location. This closes the security gap that happens whenever passwords get stolen or otherwise exposed, allowing affected employees to change passwords without losing their accounts.
Secure Remote Connection
Not being able to control where and how remote employees connect from introduces security challenges that in-office teams don’t have to deal with. While most employees will likely work from home, some will likely at least occasionally do so from airports, hotels, cafés, or other places with free public Wi-Fi.
Accessing sensitive files or communicating with colleagues while using such networks risks intellectual property and the information stored in your databases. Set a simple rule: When accessing company resources, employees use eSIM‑based cellular data, not public Wi‑Fi.
eSIM keeps traffic on carrier networks and lets IT provision, pause, and allowlist specific SIMs or devices. Need a mental model? If you’re headed to New York, install a USA eSIM and stay off café Wi‑Fi. This way, you don’t compromise on remote work security and ditch unsecured hotel or cafe networks.
Adequate Endpoint Protection
Having oversight over and improving the security of endpoint devices also contributes to lowering cybersecurity risk. Comprehensive BYOD policies are critical for compliance with security standards and minimizing exposure to threats affecting insecure personal devices.
Ideally, each remote employee should only work via devices issued and maintained by the company. This minimizes the attack surface and lets the IT team transparently monitor them for threats. It also makes enforcing regular updates and antivirus scans easier.
Use Vetted Collaboration Tools
Strong safeguards and conscientious employees can’t protect you from threats affecting third parties. Breaches that affect project management, video conferencing, communication, and other collaboration tools can expose sensitive data despite secure internal systems.
Make sure that third-party providers are as security-conscious as you are. Verify they have industry-recognized security certifications and data handling policies that reflect a commitment to data protection. Also, look into their reputations and histories, noting past cyber incidents and how they were handled.
Tailor Cybersecurity Training to Remote Employees
Regular cybersecurity training for all employees vastly improves cyber resilience. Even so, tailoring such training to address specific remote employee needs will prove even more effective.
For example, it should include ways of securing home routers and using the best VPNs available when not connecting through them. Secure file handling and storage practices have become even more important outside the office, as has the safe use of collaboration tools.
Lastly, remote employees should be encouraged to report incidents, whether they lose a device or suspect attempted scams and breaches.
Conclusion
The beneficial effects of remote work on employees’ productivity as well as their well-being are undeniable. Leads who have their remote teams and the higher-ups’ best interests in mind should internalize the advice given here to make the out-of-office working environment even safer and more sustainable.
