Cybersecurity Best Practices for Remote Employees

As employees embrace remote work—whether from a lakeside cabin, a family vacation, or just their backyard—it's crucial to stay ahead of cybersecurity threats. With added flexibility comes added risk. Here’s how to keep your workforce secure, even when they’re on the go.

Start with Secure Access Every Time
The first step in working remotely is ensuring a secure connection. Employees should always access work systems through company-approved tools like a secure VPN or remote desktop environment. These protect sensitive data and shield network activity from outside threats, even when using unfamiliar Wi-Fi.

Treat Public Wi-Fi with Caution
Public Wi-Fi networks—like those at airports, cafés, and hotels—are often unencrypted and vulnerable to cyberattacks. If public Wi-Fi must be used, it should always be paired with secure access tools. Ideally, remote workers should rely on mobile hotspots or tethered smartphone connections to ensure greater control over the network they’re using.

Secure Personal Devices Used for Work
Many remote employees use personal laptops or smartphones for business tasks. These devices should be treated like any company-owned asset. Encourage the use of strong passwords or biometric locks, keep software updated, and enable device encryption. Separating work data from personal use with separate profiles or workspaces can also help minimize risk.

Disable Auto-Connect Settings
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi auto-connect, and location sharing can all open the door to unintended security risks. Disable these features when they’re not needed, especially in public places, to reduce the chance of malicious access attempts.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA is a simple but highly effective defense. Adding a second step—such as a verification code or authentication app—ensures that even if a password is compromised, unauthorized access can still be blocked. MFA should be used on all critical platforms, including email, cloud storage, and remote access tools.

Have a Plan for Lost or Stolen Devices
Travel increases the odds of misplacing laptops or phones. Make sure remote employees know what to do if a device is lost. With the right tools in place, your IT team should be able to lock or wipe devices remotely to protect company data.

Stay Aware of Seasonal Scams
Phishing attacks often spike during travel seasons when employees may be distracted. Watch for emails that appear to offer travel discounts, alert you of missed deliveries, or mimic company communications. Encourage employees to double-check senders and report suspicious messages right away.

Let TEAM ITS Keep Your Remote Workforce Secure
Remote work doesn’t have to mean sacrificing security. At TEAM ITS, we help small and mid-sized businesses implement robust cybersecurity solutions tailored to flexible work environments. From secure access and endpoint protection to employee training and ongoing monitoring, we’ve got your workforce covered.

Working from anywhere should be productive, not risky. Let us help you keep it that way.

TEAM ITS, LLC has been serving the Central and Southern Illinois area since 2016, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses. Book a complimentary consultation today.