Data Protection While Working from Home: Tips for a Remote Work Policy

If your office-based employees recently transitioned to working from home, now may be the perfect time to take a second look at the security tips included in your remote work policy. Not sure where to start? Sharing these best practices with your employees can help to make sure everyone is following the same standards, no matter where they work. Consider adding the three suggestions below to your policy (be sure to talk it over with your security team, first). 

1.  Keep conversations private

Are your kids video chatting with their classmates? Is your roommate on a business call in the same space? Consider who may be able to see documents or overhear conversations while working from home. 

• Secure computer screens: Angle computer screens so confidential information can't be seen during video conferences, or consider a privacy screen. 
   
• Disable listening devices: Disable mics on listening devices (such as, Alexa, Google Home, Siri, etc.) before making a business call or joining a remote meeting.
   
• Wear a headset: Use a headset if you're in a place where others may be able to overhear your conversation. 

2.  Connect securely

• Connect to the company VPN: Always connect to the virtual private network (VPN) before working. The VPN creates a secure connection to the internal network and protects data that's sent and received.  
   
• Use approved video meeting tools: Only use company-approved video communication tools and chat services.

3.  Keep your physical and virtual desktop clean

• Save data on company-approved platforms. Only save electronic documents on company approved platforms or internal servers. This will help to ensure that confidential and sensitive data is properly protected.
   
• Put away records when not in use: Before joining any video chats, close all electronic documents and browser tabs unrelated to the call. Lock your computer every time you step away.

Everyone across the company must work together to protect personal and confidential information. Review your remote work policy to make sure employees have all the information they need to connect securely from home. By regularly educating (and reminding) employees on work-from-home best practices, you can help employees to better protect and secure company data.

For HR teams looking to store, share and manage documents containing sensitive employee data, PeopleDoc's Employee File Management platform makes it possible no matter where you work from.