Summer is already in full swing, and so is the peak of seasonal migration out of the city. When the office moves to the countryside, certain questions arise: will the Internet connection cope and be able to bet on Slotsgem? Are the work devices protected? And most importantly, how will you be able to enjoy the peace of the country, because cybercriminals do not take vacations?
Kristjan Aljas, Telia’s Cybersecurity Solutions Architect, noted in connection with summer mobility that not every place is suitable for remote work, and even in a safe country house, you cannot let your guard down. “Cybercriminals have significantly advanced in their activities and, when the “gates” are locked, they find the slightest “crack” that will allow them to hack. Therefore, most often the targets of attacks are technical and IT systems of small companies with an insufficient level of cybersecurity,” Aljas said. He added that it is worth remembering the simple rules that will make remote work safer.
Your devices are not protected on a public Wi-Fi network
Firstly, Telia’s cybersecurity specialist reminded that public Wi-Fi networks are not recommended for work at all. If you need to work, for example, on the beach, in a cafe, or on a ferry to Saaremaa, you should prefer a personal Internet connection. “If your laptop has a SIM card slot, connect to the Internet directly. If this is not possible, connect via your smartphone’s Wi-Fi hotspot – with a strong password, of course. This is much safer than any public Wi-Fi network,” added Aljas.
Don’t forget a password manager and multi-step authentication
Aljas recommends using a password manager for security and convenience – an application that creates complex passwords and stores them in encrypted form, and the user only needs to remember one password. “Download a password manager (necessarily from the official website) and activate two-factor authentication to add another layer of account protection. Use multi-level authentication for all accounts where possible.
Update your computer software
Regular software updates are necessary to quickly fix discovered vulnerabilities. “Security vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered, and cybercriminals are in a hurry to exploit them before they are neutralized by a software update. I would recommend setting up automatic software updates on devices as soon as possible – and, of course, not forgetting about smartphones,” said Alyas.
Take care of data backup and employee training
Today, you can work on a laptop anywhere in the world, but remote work must be secure. “The basis for secure remote work is adequate awareness of threats, setting up security on your computer, data encryption, and modern software,” Alyas listed, adding that for remote work, it is imperative to ensure reliable cybersecurity software on your computer and data backup.
“98% of cyber attacks are based on social manipulation, which even the most advanced technologies cannot prevent. Therefore, it is important to regularly train employees to reduce their vulnerability to cyber threats,” he added.
Smooth remote work starts with a stable connection
When working in a home office and outside the city, a high-quality internet connection plays an important role in ensuring the smooth running of work processes. Therefore, even before moving to a summer office, it is worth considering how much work-related data you need and what kind of connection is suitable for you – whether a cable network or mobile internet based on a pocket router or mobile hotspot is available. Thanks to the widespread use of 5G, mobile internet in Estonia is very productive and supports both working with massive files and video conferencing well, whether on the terrace of a beach house or on a summer cottage veranda.