How to protect your business and your home workers
We launched C2S Digital in response to COVID-19 and to provide support, advice and help to the business community.
This week we held our first web event Focus Groups. Our Cyber & Technology group provided excellent advice on how to protect your business with remote workers. The temptation for businesses is to let their employees use their own devices as we scramble to get them set up effectively at home, the advice from our expert’s is DON’T DO IT! With a shortage of laptops and computers it’s all to easy to take the quick option but it will make your business vulnerable!
What the IT experts are also seeing is the lack of governance and following of the usual company policies. Employees need to be reminded that they MUST adhere to the same safety policies and procedures at home as they did at work when using their computers or home devices. Hackers are just laying in wait for unsuspecting home workers to click that scam link that looks official. With many scams now out there about Furloughed Working, Government advice, updates on funding available – it’s all too easy for home workers to click that scam link!
So, what can you do?
- Remind all your home workers of your policies and procedures for cyber security and update them for home working
- Ensure you are all using 2 Factor Authentication (This will protect you even if hackers get your password through a scam as they need 2 forms of authentication – it’s an excellent layer of protection)
- Make sure everyone has an emergency contact number/email to get in touch if they suspect something is wrong – Don’t Just Leave it!
- Ensure all employees notify you immediately if they think they have clicked anything untoward
- Contact your IT provider if you have any worries or concerns so they can ensure your systems are still secure
This is a new way or working for us now and we must ensure we take to appropriate steps to keep our businesses safe in these unprecedented times of remote workers. Please don’t underestimate the vulnerability of your business if your remote workers are not working securely.
Gloucestershire College Update on New degree launched
We also had an exciting update from Gloucestershire College on the launch of their collaboration with UWE to deliver new cyber skills to Gloucestershire. Andy Bates and the team at Gloucestershire College updated us on the launch of their new Cyber Security Degree Apprenticeships. These will be taught by UWE Bristol lecturers, apprentices earn a UWE Bristol degree, in new, world-class facilities within easy reach of work or home. Join them at their online event on 1st April to find our more. Since this crisis they have been inundated with enquires about these new courses to upskill your existing team and take on apprentices, their will be a huge demand for cyber and digital skills going forward so please do find our what’s available on your doorstep!
https://www.circle2success.com/cyber-degree-apprenticeship-online-event/
A big thank you to our Official Partners Bamboo Technology Group, Tech Op (part of Bamboo Technology Group), Gloucestershire College and System 15 for their advice and input this week.
Next Virtual Cyber & Technology Focus
Join us and our experts every Wednesday between 4.00pm – 5.00pm for our Virtual Technology & Cyber Focus . Book in the usual way via the website https://www.circle2success.com/events/
