Stay Safe and Take Care

In this hour of crisis, where the lockdowns are not observed at state level, but even at country level ranging from few weeks to months and the entire world economy is in a topsy-turvy state, the only hope for the businesses to ensure that lights are on is on Technology. Businesses including the governments worldwide has activated their Business Continuity Plans wherein they are asking their workforce and employees to work from home – either using their company provided client systems – desktops and laptops or their own devices. This has altered the network traffic and usage patterns, widened the threat landscape and put a huge challenge to ensure that IT systems and networks are secure. While our Information and Cyber Ninjas are putting up brave effort to thwart these increased threats and attacks to secure the technology stack and landscape, it also the responsibility of these WFH Professionals to do their bit to secure the IT Network and leakage of any confidential or proprietary business information.

Tips to remain secure while Working from Home

Security :

• Use Your home Wi-Fi or Your Own Portable Hotspot ONLY for hooking up the company laptop or desktop or your own device to the internet.
• Avoid using any free or unknown Wi-Fi Network.
• Secure your home Wi-Fi or your own portable hotspot by using WPA2 - Personal (PSK) Security.
• Ensure that your home Wi-Fi or your own portable hotspot is password protected and the same is not shared.
• Ensure that your home Wi-Fi or your own portable hotspot password is changed every 15 days especially during this crisis period as most of the people are working from home.
• Do not share any password of the system with your children.
• Avoid using any of your Smart IOT Devices especially while you are being hooked to the Company Network as they devices might use the same Wi-Fi Network.
• Reduce the usage of SMART IOT Home Devices to reduce the chances of IOT Devices being used to launch cyber-attack.
• Do not turn off the Anti-Virus Scan or the software updates to the company allotted System.
• Use Multi-Factor Authentication or company VPN to login into the Company IT Network or the Applications wherever feasible.
• Do not surf any unwanted and illegal websites including porn sites as it may increase the risk of getting infected.
• Do not download any unwanted free software on your mobile or company laptop/desktop as it may increase the risk of getting infected by ransomware or malware.
• Be Cautious while downloading any application or surfing any websites or disseminating any information related to Corona virus as it may a trap to infect your system.
• Avoid taking prints of the documents unless it is necessary to do so. Store the prints securely or shred or torn into bits if not required.

Emails :

• Do not open any mail from unknown person or having suspicious subject
• Be Cautious while opening any mail or links containing any information about Corona virus as it may be a trap to infect your system.
• Avoid sending large attachments over email, instead use the company secure FTP.
• Do not disseminate or spread any information related to Corona virus using your company resources.

Online Meetings and Calls – Collaboration Tools :

• Use only company allotted or allowed Collaboration Tools for Online Meetings and Calls.
• Mute the microphone when you are not speaking in a conference call.
• Ensure that webcams are blocked by default.
• Lock your system whenever taking a short break to wash your hands or attending any matter.
• Do not take your call or meeting from public place.
• Use the Chat Option cautiously and ensure that it is saved for future reference.

Privacy:

• Respect the Privacy of your clients, employees, vendors while interacting with them over email or meetings or calls.
• Be careful of the Peeping Toms especially when you have visitors at home.
• Avoid writing or storing any personal data for your clients or employees on paper or temporary file. Shred or Torn paper into small pieces and delete the unwanted files.
• Be Vigilant about your systems in case if you have any visitor (called or uncalled) at home.

Backup:

• Backup your data on daily basis without any fail on the approved storage location.

Privilege Users - IT Staff or Senior or TOP Management:

• Apart from above measures, Privilege Users should take extra care while accessing confidential or proprietary information or carrying out any privilege tasks.

Incident Logging and Response:

• Log any incident - machine behaving abnormally, phishing email, etc. to IT Help desk
• Have Patience and extend full co-operation to IT Support Staff while they are sorting out the logged incidents. Last but not the least ensure that your home laptops and desktops are cleaned from dust and other particles on regular basis and don't forget to wash your hands after that.

Lets be United in our efforts to put up brave fight against the tough times. Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do. So Stay Safe and Take Care of your Family and Business while Working From Home.