Businesses that can safely stay open with remote workforces have largely transitioned to work-from-home scenarios because of the COVID-19 crisis, and in part one of our blog we focused on these system enhancements to support remote work:
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- Cloud Collaboration
- Access and Monitoring
- Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)
- Bandwidth/Firewall Upgrades to Enable Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
But businesses – small ones in particular – need more tools to secure remote workforces. Now is not the time for resting on our laurels and hoping our network access and security measures are solid. With cyber criminals hovering at every turn, we need stronger protection for our remote workers, and they need additional resources to stay productive while working from home. Consider these three requirements for your remote workforce:
Cloud-Based Data Storage and Sharing
Storing data in the cloud has several advantages for small businesses, including affordability, flexibility, and scalability. You’ll only have to pay for the space you need – saving your organization an added expense. And sharing files couldn’t be any easier as your employees and clients can access the data from anywhere with a secure internet connection.
Internal/External Secure File Exchange
Files can be stored internally and externally. Internal options include USB thumb drives or network-attached storage systems that can be incorporated into your system via new hardware. External storage is primarily cloud-based and can be accessed from anywhere and shared easily.
Data Center Migrations
Setting up a physical location to house data can be very expensive. Fortunately, migrating to a cloud-based data center can save small businesses valuable time and money. Additionally, they provide unlimited storage space, improved access and connectivity, solid security, and formidable compliance opportunities.
Security
Taking added security measures need not be an expensive proposition. They can be as simple as upgrading access passwords or adding in another layer of protection into the process.
Password Policies and Management
Make sure your employees create strong passwords that cannot be hacked. Avoid using personal information such as birthdays or anniversaries that can be uncovered during a social media search. Also, avoid simple passwords such as “password1234.”
MFA
Using multi-factor authentication is a good strategy for practicing effective password management. Granting access to your network should not be an easy task, so we suggest incorporating MFA where the requestor has to present two or more pieces of information.
Backup and Recovery Process and Policy
Losing data and files happens all the time, so it’s best for small businesses to back up their data regularly and have plans in place for recovery should a data loss occur. Physical hard drives and jump drives can be lost or damaged, so don’t rely solely on those options. Storing a copy in the cloud is your best bet to recover lost data. Plus, the costs are affordable for many small businesses.
Finalizing your network with these three enhancements – coupled with the four discussed in part one of this blog – results in a secure, comprehensive network for your small business and helps ensure many years of solid growth opportunities.
If you’d like to incorporate these technologies into your network, Xceptional’s experienced team of professionals can help get you started. Contact us by clicking here.