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Last Updated on October 9, 2018 by Work In My Pajamas
For those that work from their own home office, the priorities are usually focused on making your workspace as professional as possible. With the technology now available for home use, the home office setup is now comparably better than most dedicated premises. However, one of the most important areas that most home office workers neglect to consider is security. Protecting your home office is a priority, but between managing clients and liaising with other workers, all while under the hammer of a deadline, security can often take a backseat. Working from home has many benefits, but if you’re not giving security any thought, then you are leaving yourself exposed to risk.
Cyber protection
It’s vital that your cybersecurity measures are as robust and up to date as possible. No matter how disconnected you may be from your head office, the fact is that cybercriminals find it much easier to break into unprotected home computer systems than those protected by IT departments. That’s why your online security needs to be maximized at all times. This means staying up to date on the latest threats and making sure that basic online security is handled effectively at every stage. Vary your passwords on a regular basis, and make sure that your Firewall and virus protections are updated as needed.
Secure your building
Keeping your home secure is always important, but when you’re working from a home office, your security awareness needs to be amped up. That’s because any break-ins will affect not just your home life, but your work as well. The smart burglar will always prioritize the theft of technology, and if your home office is connected to a larger premises, then your systems may allow for backdoor access to sensitive information. Make sure that your doors and windows are secure and sturdy, and also make use of security cameras and burglar alarms from eurolinksecurity.co.uk to ensure that your home and office are as protected as possible. A more secure environment means that you will be able to focus more on your work without worrying about having lax security in place.
Invest in a shredder
In the digital age, paperwork is often minimized and forgotten about in terms of its importance. However, those with a malicious intent love paperwork, because it can give them the vital information that they need to access more sensitive areas. That’s why everything that you have as a hard copy file should be assessed and destroyed if it’s not needed. This has to be more than simply screwing it up and throwing it in the bin. Criminals are not opposed to rummaging through bins to find bank statements and access codes. Instead, use a shredder to ensure that nobody will have an easy time of gathering any important information. Make sure that you know what forms of information are the most important to shred, and you’ll go a long way to maintaining a higher security level that you imagined.
Your home security needs to be constantly checked and assessed in order to identify weak areas that need improvement. Taking these initial steps will go a long way to protecting your home office and protecting your livelihood.
