5 Tips for IT Professionals: How to Help your Employees Work Safely

Work environments are constantly changing. With the new approaches such as BYOD, hybrid workspace, and remote work, it is more likely to experience a data breach. So it is always important to remember measures you can take to prevent data loss. 

The rapid switch to working from home has several data security challenges that in-house IT teams need to address in order to protect company data from external attacks on a daily basis. Although migration to the cloud and increased use of SaaS applications have added a layer of security, employees remain the weakest link in the chain. In addition to the threats posed by external attacks, IT departments also need to protect company data against malicious internal theft.

However, a much more common cause of data loss is simply employees’ negligence of company policies, which can make it easy for an attacker to get access to data. Thus, the only fool proof way to avoid making mistakes that could cost your company a lot of money is to always use caution when handling any company data and/or entering your credentials.

To make things more convenient for you, we have created a short, sweet, and simple guide consisting of 5 basic rules to follow daily. You may want to ask your employees to print it out and keep it close to their computers.

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Even when you follow these rules, it is impossible to guarantee 100% security. That is why backing up all your data is so important in mitigating threats. Follow the 3-2-1 rule: Have at least three copies of your data. Store the backups on at least two different media types (NAS, cloud, tape). Keep at least one of those copies offsite (another location). It is also critical to regularly verify that your backup data isn’t corrupted, invalid, or incorrect.

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The more data you store on your computer, the more damage any potential mishap can cause your company. Only store data that you need and keep the rest on the company’s official network/cloud storage. After all, you can’t lose data that you don’t have.

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Another tip that you could share with your colleagues is to keep their computers dust-free and dry. A lot of offices are equipped with an A/C unit which, while keeping you nice and cool, helps dust circulate. Dust can build up on your computer and cause it to overheat, so it is always good to check the state of your hardware.

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When working remotely, it is always helpful to use a VPN when accessing a company network. At the same time, MFA should be used when possible, as it provides a more robust authentication process.

What else can employers do for their employees?

Use a DLP solution and protect your data against leakage due to employee error. With Safetica, you can set security policies based on your own preferences.

What if an employee is about to send a sensitive document outside of your organization?

Safetica can notify the employee about the potentially risky operation and let them decide if they want to proceed. Or it can request a legitimate business justification for the operation. In every scenario, the user’s action is recorded and the admin is notified about high-risk incidents. Your employees will feel safe, and you will be confident that you know where your sensitive data is. We got your back! Find out more here.