Among the many benefits that make technology revolutionary, one of the highlights is mobility. The possibility of remote access is a great asset for the business.
Cost reduction and agility in service are two of the benefits that remote access brings, especially in times of pandemic and financial crisis.
However, some precautions related to information security are necessary so that some of the benefits of mobility are not lost.
The large flow of information published and sent over the internet streamlines many tasks but can also pose security-related risks.
That is why companies of all sizes have been concerned with monitoring their networks and the entire IT infrastructure.
Because of this, the need to create a remote, secure and controlled working environment, to avoid, for example, intrusion attempts.
With the increase of the home office, several benefits related mainly to cost reduction were detected, but the problems related to digital security also increased.
It's about this concern with the need to maintain the advantages of remote access without compromising data security that we'll talk about in the next few topics.
First, let's explain what remote access really means and how it works. Then, we will list some steps for you to follow and ensure the digital security of your business.
Keep reading!
After all, what is remote access?
First, we need to say that the new coronavirus pandemic and the resulting financial crisis were not responsible for the rise of remote access.
In fact, this was already a trend from the digital transformation, due to the various advantages it represents both for the company and for employees.
Certainly, you have already been in the situation of needing to access a file or software installed on a specific computer that was not with you at the time.
Remote access aims to avoid problems like this, which can affect your productivity and the efficiency of your work.
So, to define what remote access is, we can say that it corresponds to enabling access to a computer or device from any remote location.
For this, it is necessary to install remote access software on this computer. Then you can access it using some other device.
With this connection, you can have full control over that computer, even if it is far away from it, including using all installed applications and accessing any files saved on the device.
In this sense, cloud computing is also a type of remote access, although it does not occur after installing a software.
In the case of installing a software for full access to a certain device, there are many options available on the market.
When purchasing one of them, you simply install it on the computer or device you need to access remotely and also on the device from which you will access.
Obviously, you have to be concerned about data security and that is what we are going to talk about in the next topic.
How to ensure security in remote access?
In the following subtopics, we will list some tips for your business to benefit from the advantages of remote access without taking security-related risks.
Shield your mobile devices
If remote access is carried out through notebooks or smartphones, the security risks are greater and, therefore, it is necessary to resort to all possible resources to protect your information.
Among the solutions that can be used are encryption, combination of passwords, the use of firewalls and, of course, keeping antivirus and antispam always up to date.
Use security features linked to passwords
Two-factor authentication is already a reality and has been increasingly used. In addition to this, you can also adopt a password generation scheme that allows only one authentication.
This way, if a password is obtained by an unauthorized person, access to the system will only be possible once.
Empower your team for remote work
Establish rules to be followed and organize training for employees who will use remote access.
Nobody pays much attention to the precautions related to information security until something serious happens. Because of this, it is important to make employees aware and alert about the risks incurred, so that they know when to be suspicious and what to avoid during remote access.
Use active encryption
Personal and confidential data needs to be as protected as possible, especially if it's contained on mobile devices.
In addition to cyber attacks, users must be concerned about the increase in thefts and robberies of this type of device. If they contain sensitive information, the consequences of improper access can be catastrophic.
That’s why it is important always use multi-layered cryptography within your security systems. This way, you can make it difficult to read the data if the device falls into malicious hands.
Be careful with emails
No one thinks they're going to click a link or open a malicious email attachment until it happens and has consequences.
That's why it's necessary to keep your employees trained and alert to prevent against viruses and other malicious software that can be installed on devices with just one click.
Therefore, establish methods of prevention and detection of messages of suspicious origin.
Use a VPN
The VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a low-cost solution aimed at the privacy of information in remote access. It is a connection that allows private data traffic within a virtual public network, in this case, the internet.
If during remote access you need to transfer confidential information, you need to be even more cautious.
Standard VPN protocols are already available for several operating systems, however, in these cases, user accreditation is done through a simple login and password.
To be sure that data travels securely, stronger encryption and authentication are needed. This way, the organization is able to inhibit malicious actions by hackers and reduce risks to digital security.
If, by reading this article, you became aware of the risks with regard to digital security, it is time to put all our tips into practice.
We suggest that, to ensure secure remote access, you read other blog articles about resources that will help you in this quest. Among them is our VPN content.
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