Is your business at increased risk of a cyber-attack, while staff work from home? Well according to a recent survey from the UK and US-based security firm, Tessian, it could be.

With many employees forced to work from home, the IT security protocols that are in place in the workplace are not always mirrored at home. The survey found that 56% of senior IT technicians believe their employees have picked up bad cyber-security habits while working from home. And nearly two in five employees questioned admitted they had.

Things such as; sending work to a personal email account or not updating the latest version of software, were examples given. COVID has also meant that we’ve been asked to scan QR codes on our phone. This isn’t a problem if it’s from a trusted source. But, if we’re not careful, we can become less likely to check what we’re scanning or downloading and could fall foul of a cyber-attack.

Our Managing Director, Lloyd Harris, advises businesses to:

• Remind staff of the cyber security risks.
• Emphasise the protocols that the business has in place and why.
• Consider ‘Pen Testing’ (a controlled form of hacking).
• Invest in staff training.

We can provide training for staff at different levels. And by sending out controlled phishing emails, we can see the responses that come back and if further user training could be beneficial. Our IT health checks are also a great way to highlight issues before they become a problem.

As many businesses welcome staff back into the office, some will continue to offer flexible working options. So, keeping your business protected wherever your staff log on is vital. Good cyber security not only keeps your business safe, but it helps your clients and customers to feel more secure too.