Internet connectivity is a crucial part of the working culture of most organizations, so providing it is a necessity. Business Wi-Fi is the most common solution to the problem of connectivity. However, having a business Wi-Fi opens the doors to several issues, including the infiltration of your system by hackers.
The risk is much higher in organizations that let people use their own devices at work. Hackers can use social engineering to target staff and use their devices to access sensitive work documents from the network. As was seen with the recent hack at Twitter, both small and large organizations can be victims of hacking due to social engineering.
People bringing their devices to work increases your organization’s vulnerability, but since you can’t stop them, we’ve put together a couple of tips that can help you mitigate any problems that might arise.
Improve your Wi-Fi network technology.
Depending on the number of people you have working at your place, you may need to use more recent technology. More recent Wi-Fi technology typically comes with more advanced security protocols that can be implemented to protect you and your co-workers.
In fact, only Wi-Fi routers with WPA2 should be used. If you have older firmware without it, you’re due for an upgrade. Although WPA2 uses up more processing power than other security protocols, it’s also the fastest and more secure.
In addition to all of that, the more recent the technology, the faster the connection is. This means you can avoid your staff using cellular data to surf the web.
Prioritize data security.
The most important thing that criminals can get their hands on in a company is data. No wonder why they always seem to go for it. Knowing that your data will be targeted, it’s crucial to keep it as protected as you can afford.
One of crucial tips is to take sensitive data off the general company network. If too many people have access to the same network on which the company’s sensitive data is stored, then it’s just a matter of time before you’re hacked.
Encourage your workers to separate personal and work data.
One of the problems with staff using their own devices at work is that malware from personal data can find its way to the work data. As such, it’s vital to get them to separate their personal data from work data.
One of the most secure ways to do this is to set up partitions between their work data and personal data. That way, you can significantly reduce the chances of a crossover virus. On a PC, it’s as simple as creating an alternate work profile.
Android phones also have the option to install Android for work, a program that puts a blockade between your personal and work data. You’ll be required to access the other side of your phone with a strong password.
Use mobile apps management.
In most cases, it’s essential to know what kind of applications are being run on your organization’s network. While you may not be concerned about censoring social media websites and game playing websites, it’s still important to know that the sites that your workers visit are safe and malware-free.
Mobile apps management helps you to know the websites and apps being used over your network. Some Android devices allow devices to side-load applications. Those devices can install apps that are malicious without the knowledge of the user.
The system can also be used to track the productivity of your workers. A little gaming may not be wrong, but if their performance is getting sloppy because of that, you’d want to know.
Make encryption compulsory.
It’s not enough for everyone to have strong passwords. If your workers frequently alternate between your LAN and other networks, you have to get them to use encryption whenever they need to access data.
All data storage units must require passwords before they can be accessed. If your workers use their devices to access company data frequently, both the data center and device must be password-protected or with encrypted passwords.
Use tighter network security.
Even after securing your data, you have to ensure that your network is watertight. Protecting your network with a firewall is akin to building a fence around your home. However, even when it comes to implementing firewalls, you must look beyond generic solutions.
You have to create a firewall solution that’s unique to your setup, and then plug all the security holes you can find. You should also have a fire drill rehearsed with your staff in case a hack happens.
Implement an anti-malware policy.
When all is said and done, you’re unlikely to be able to completely prevent attacks from happening no matter how careful you are. This is why having an anti-malware policy across the board is essential. Anti-malware is a last stand against hackers that may want to use malware to infiltrate your company’s database.
Malware is the most common tool used by hackers as it can be directed to do specific things on a host PC like retrieve information. The information retrieved can be used to launch damaging attacks.
Ideally, your policy should cover all devices that are used in the office, i.e., all the devices must have anti-malware installed on them.
Conclusion
Every company gets targeted by hackers eventually. This makes it important to take preemptive measures to secure your company’s data. Companies like2Jdata[HB1] help others to set up secure Wi-Fi connections and can also conduct routine checkups to ensure that the system stays secure.
Wi-Fi is one of the main ways workers interact with an organization’s facilities, and securing it can be difficult. If you implement the tips laid out in this article, you’ll mitigate most of the threats to your company’s security.