Tips for creating a secure work-from-home environment

The COVID-19 pandemic could be shifting the way we work. While remote work has picked up in recent years, companies have mainly offered it as a flexible option to help ease logistical challenges for employees, such as frequent travel, long commutes, or working outside of normal business hours. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, 18% of U.S. employees worked remotely full-time, according to SmallBizGenius. With companies incorporating social distancing guidelines, that percentage has skyrocketed, as remote work has become a necessity.

If working remotely has unexpectedly become new policy for your credit union during this crisis, it has likely forced some major adjustments to your working environment and team’s structure. You may now be juggling work with kids home from school, cohabitating with other stay-at-home workers, or dealing with various technology issues, not to mention learning virtual meeting software and finding a place to store your files.

Whether you are a first-time telecommuter or accustomed to working off-site, here are some practical tips for effectively setting up a home office while protecting your devices and personal information.

• Remember the basics. Keep your security software up to date and use strong passwords on all of your devices and apps. The passwords should be long and unique. It’s good practice to make them at least 12 characters that are a mix of numbers, symbols and capital and lowercase letters.

 

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