Maybe you know someone who works from home, or you even work from home yourself. That wasn’t the case a few years ago; physical offices were the norm. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen an unprecedented surge in the adoption of remote work.
This means companies are expanding the reach of their resources to allow their employees to access all the information they need from home, which poses security challenges.
Remote access security and VPN usage have become the industry standard to overcome these challenges, but some organizations still need expertise. Let’s look at how you can protect remote workers through VPN and other remote access security practices.
Understand VPNs and remote access
VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a tool that allows you to connect to the Internet using a different IP address than your local IP. The main goal of VPN services is to reduce traceability and increase online anonymity and privacy. Although it is used for both individuals and commercial purposes, companies usually use it to create private networks to protect their business resources from unauthorized users.
As the purposes of VPN usage change from case to case, VPN types also vary. Traditional VPN solutions, which rely heavily on hardware, are designed to provide a secure connection to a specific location. like the company headquarters.
The advent of the remote working model and the need for remote access has also revolutionized the VPN services in the market. Cloud-based VPN services dominated the market after remote work became the new normal for most industries.
These solutions provide secure remote access through a private tunnel between the server and the client, which is the end user. Remote workers generally use public WiFi or personal devices, so modern VPN solutions connect these users to work resources through this private tunnel that encrypts all communications to protect the network.
Such solutions became known as corporate VPN tools and are offered by online providers; making them hardware and maintenance free. Through encryption and access authorization, these tools reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on corporate networks.
Another benefit is the online vendors’ expertise, making it practically the best choice for smaller businesses that want a remote workforce and don’t have a dedicated IT security team.
Best practices for VPN and secure remote access
Even though remote access security has probably been discussed a thousand times, there are still some things to know and consider to maximize your security and eliminate potential threats. Securing a remote workforce has its challenges, but fear not because we’ve put together all the tips you need.
1-) Strong authentication and encryption
Authentication is ten times more important when you have a remote workforce. You can’t see your team members, so you need a robust authentication system to ensure they’re actually authorized users. A great way to solve this problem is to use MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), which adds layers to this process by asking for biometrics, OTPs, or simply a verification code.
Another key point when it comes to remote work security is encryption. Some employees use public WLAN connections, which are questionable from a security point of view. By using a corporate VPN, you can encrypt all communication between the client and the server through your private tunnel so that malicious users cannot track them.
2-) Enforce frequent software updates
Employees may not be aware of the importance of software updates if they are not well trained in cybersecurity. What you need to do is check these updates and remind them when necessary.
Software updates include significant security improvements and fixes for known vulnerabilities. When you consider that businesses used to suffer from cyber attacks due to outdated software, you can understand why this is indeed crucial.
By constantly updating the software you use and making sure employees do the same, you immediately better protect your networks since criminals cannot exploit these known vulnerabilities.
3-) Monitor and audit remote access
Visibility needs to be improved when you have a remote workforce. A network where everyone can access whatever they want is inherently insecure, and you need to be able to say when, how, and why they access information.
If you have the budget, it would be best to have an IT team that regularly monitors and audits remote access. Staff should have limits on what part of the network they are authorized to do better cleaning of the network. Internal threats typically rely on unnecessary access permissions, so auditing mitigates this risk.
4-) Use a reputable VPN provider
Your choice of provider will be crucial when attempting to secure a remote workforce. Essentially, they are the ones offering the security tools and expertise they have, so you need to choose the best one for your business.
One way to evaluate potential VPN providers is to look at their history; Are there any known instances where their customers have suffered an attack due to their fault? What encryption protocol do they use and do they have encryption at rest? Finally, do they have a no-logs policy?
There are so many companies offering these solutions online that you really need to be careful when choosing. In addition to the security side, it would be a huge plus if they had 7/24 customer support.
Penetration testing (also known as penetration testing) is a method of assessing the security of a private network through simulated attacks performed by authorized IT personnel. The main purpose of these attacks is to detect vulnerabilities before they are discovered by actual cyber criminals.
If you’re using a VPN solution to secure remote access, running these tests regularly will give you valuable insight into your system’s potential vulnerabilities and help you fix them before an attack occurs. In large organizations, penetration testing is typically a planned, periodic process that must be performed to improve overall security.
Combination of VPN and remote access security
We live in a world where more and more workers are looking for remote jobs. Even employers prefer this type of work to more traditional office workers. A big question with remote work is how to ensure cybersecurity when people are connecting to private resources thousands of miles away.
The simple answer to this question is to use cloud-based enterprise VPN solutions that can secure the connection between users and the private network, no matter where they are located. However, this is new to most organizations, so adopting the above best practices will immediately increase the security of your network.
How can I check if my employer is monitoring my computer usage without them knowing?
Can my employer see my screen without me knowing? In order to monitor your home computer or a private laptop, your employer must be granted access. Access is required to install some type of computer monitoring software. Remote desktop sessions do not grant access without permission. Even your employer can’t monitor your home computer without your permission.
How do you know if your employer is monitoring your computer? Check your company’s audit policy. You can also ask your company’s HR department how the company uses monitoring software. Keep your work and personal devices separate. Don’t use your work computer to send or receive personal email.
Can I tell if my computer is being monitored? If you suspect your computer is being monitored, you need to look in the Start menu to see what programs are running. Just go to “All Programs” and see if something like the software mentioned above is installed. If so, then someone is connecting to your computer without you knowing about it.
What can be used to establish a secure connection to a remote computer?
A virtual private network (VPN) gives you a more secure way to connect to your organization’s network and the Internet. This is particularly useful if you use public WiFi, for example. For more information, see Connect to a VPN in Windows 10.
How do I secure a network connection to a remote location? Solution: Establishing an encrypted network connection, known as a Virtual Private Network (VPN), between the head office and the remote site or between two remote sites ensures that all communications are secure.
Which of the following methods can be used to securely connect a remote user’s laptop to a corporate server? A VPN creates a secure and encrypted connection over a less secure network like the Internet. VPN technology was developed to enable remote users and branch offices to securely log on to corporate applications and other resources.
What is the best way to connect remotely?
TeamViewer is our top pick for best free remote access software. It’s completely free for personal use, and it’s not a gimmick. Free users get access to the same features as commercial users.
How can we connect remotely? How to use Remote Desktop
- Set up the PC you want to connect to to allow remote connections: Make sure you have Windows 11 Pro. …
- Use Remote Desktop to connect to the PC you set up: On your local Windows PC: In the search box on the taskbar, type remote desktop connection, and then select Remote Desktop Connection.
How do I secure my remote workforce?
Why do I need to secure remote access?
- 1) Assume threats will emerge.
- 2) Create a telecommuting policy.
- 3) Encrypt sensitive information.
- 4) Designate and secure specific devices for remote work.
- 5) Use user authentication.
- 6) Set up a VPN.
- 7) Securely manage sensitive data.
- 8) Collaborate with third parties and vendors.
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How do I secure remote access to my network?
Use Virtual Private Networks (VPN) – Many remote users want to connect over insecure Wi-Fi or other untrusted network connections. VPNs can eliminate this risk, but the VPN endpoint software must also be kept up to date to avoid vulnerabilities that can be introduced by older versions of the software client.
Which method of remote access is the most secure? Virtual Private Network (VPN): VPNs are the most common form of remote access. They use authentication and encryption to connect securely to a private network over the Internet.
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