Ensure enterprise data protection while working remotely

June 20, 2022

How to ensure enterprise data protection

We can all agree that the pandemic has turned our lives upside down. And although it was exciting to work from home at the beginning, as time passed by, we were becoming aware of the disadvantages of remote work as well. One of the weaknesses of remote working is enterprise data protection.

So, if your business has shifted to a remote work model, you should focus on enterprise data protection. There are plenty of file-sharing methods out there, but not all of them can ensure enterprise data protection. To avoid cybercrime, be sure to employ the following secure file share practices.

3 ways to initiate enterprise data protection

When companies are switching over to remote work, they are afraid of the possibility of hacking or security breaches. But fortunately, you can ensure enterprise data protection by implementing these five tips.

Email phishing

Remote employees send a lot of emails back and forth to their co-workers, managers, and clients. It’s possible that an employee could fall victim to an email phishing scam if they aren’t careful. To ensure enterprise data protection, teach your employees to use a reputable email platform that helps automatically filter out spam messages that could have malware, untrustworthy links, or downloadable files.

Securing Wi-Fi and desktop with passwords

Ask your employees to change and strengthen their passwords on their Wi-Fi and desktop computer for that extra level of security. Inform them that using public Wi-Fi could leave them open to a cyberattack, but a VPN or file sharing server can protect them as long as they remain online. Employees should change their passwords regularly to avoid potential breaches.

Backing up files

Most employees will have a thumb drive or a separate hard drive where they can keep duplicates of client files. Every person at the company must have a copy of each client document if a hard drive becomes corrupted or the file is deleted by accident. Your employees could also upload these files to an encrypted Cloud sharing platform.

3 essential processes to ensure enterprise data protection

Once your organization has numerous operating units based in different locations, your needs clearly become more complicated than a one-location business with one IT department. To ensure enterprise data protection, make sure you apply the following tips to your business.

Best practices for organizing work remotely

Even though file integration is probably the most challenging part, remaining organized is a necessity as well. That way you will make sure you don’t mix up your personal files with work-related data. 

Use the following tips to ensure you don’t get confused after switching to a remote office.

 

  • Folder structuring: Create separate folders for different departments, projects, and types of information. Keep things simple and straightforward.
  • File naming: Decide on a common naming convention. For example, you could name a folder like this: Client Name, Date, Work Type, Draft/In-Progress/Final.
  • Tagging: Use different tags to look up the product, department, or the purpose of the project, like “internal use only” or “brochure.” 
  • Granular permissions: Some of your documents will contain sensitive information, so it’s essential to tag employees who have access to these files.
  • Password managers: Use password management tools to keep work-related passwords safe in one place with a possibility to share necessary data with your colleagues. .

Sharing a local file server over the internet

If you already have a local file server setup, you can quickly turn it into an Internet file share server. Remote workers are consistently involved in internal and external company functions, and they may need to visit customers to show them data locked on a central file server. You’ll need a file sharing solution based on the on-premise file server; your workflow depends on it. With a file-sharing server, users can create a mapped drive without using a VPN, can lock files, provide mobile sharing and folder access, all from a web browser-based interface.

Share files with a VPN

A VPN is another, although more complicated, way of sending secure files over the Internet. Whether you buy a premium VPN or use the Windows 10 built-in settings to set one up between computers, you can create a VPN server on the host PC to access all incoming connections. It does require a bit of computer know-how and a great Internet connection to work. Additionally, the benefits of VPN extend beyond secure file transfers, providing enhanced encryption when used in conjunction with a file-sharing server.

Conclusion

Cyber attacks can bring major damage to corporate IT infrastructures and result in substantial data leaks. That being said, you should definitely focus on enterprise data protection, starting with these practices that can be done by you and your employees.

 In the end, if you are unlucky and a victim of a security breach, make sure you act properly so you can minimize the damage.

More must-read stories from Enterprise League:

Related Articles