The modern workplace has completely transformed since the COVID-19 pandemic. While many members of the workforce were forced to work remotely by necessity, they are now working from home by choice. According to the Pew Research Center, 76% of workers working from home say preference is a major reason versus 60% in 2020. According to data scientists at Ladders, 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2023.
While flexible work environments continue to become more and more popular, having a remote or hybrid staff raises serious concerns over cybersecurity measures and securing network connections. If your business employs hybrid or full-time Work From Home (WFH) employees, it’s imperative to take the time to review your enterprise Wi-Fi security and privacy measures. Your Wi-Fi connection is one of the common access points cybercriminals use to steal your company information.
So, how do you secure your Wi-Fi network especially with most employees working remotely? Read on to learn more about Wi-Fi network security issues to be aware of and how to secure your wireless network.
Enterprise Network Security Issues to Be Aware of
Cyber-attacks have increased since the beginning of the pandemic with over 40% of businesses reporting significant cybercrime attempts. Cyber attacks don’t show any sign of slowing either. According to the 2022 Allianz Risk Barometer, a report based on the insight of over 2000 risk management experts, cyber incidents are the top global business risk in 2022.
With the increase in remote employees, it is important to set strict security guidelines and provide the proper tools to employees to create and maintain a safe and secure work environment. Here are the common ways that your company can be hacked and enterprise solutions.
1. Use of Vulnerable Networks
Accessing your company information over an unsecured network increases the chances of being hacked. Often, hackers scan networks to establish possible vulnerabilities to utilize. In case your network is vulnerable, they will attack and steal your company information.
2. Social Engineering Passwords
Some passwords are easy to guess. For instance, some people use easy-to-remember passwords such as their names or year of birth. Just as they are easy to remember, they are easy to guess. In most cases, hackers will target individuals who access their company information remotely. Therefore, using a strong password can help lower the chances of being hacked. Implement stricter password requirements or in addition to implementing two-factor authentication.
3. Compromised Wi-Fi Network
Most companies have been hacked through a compromised Wi-Fi connection. If your wireless network has legacy wireless encryption or open access, it becomes easy for hackers to invade your system. With most employees working remotely, the temptation to work and use a public wireless connection in places like cafes is high. Hackers can use this open environment to look for unsecured Wi-Fi connections to attack. Require remote employees to use additional levels of security when working in open environments and provide VPN services to employees who frequently travel.
4. Shared Passwords
We all do it. A friend comes over or a family member stays at your house, and we’ll naturally share our Wi-Fi password. Some of us still have cell phones with limited data plans! But each time a password is shared, it’s exposed to another layer of risk. Set expiration dates for routers and offer assistance in replacing routers over 3 years old. Provide employees with instructions on how to enable Wi-Fi encryption settings on new and existing routers.
4 Enterprise Wi-Fi Security Tips for Your Remote Employees
As your employees continue to work remotely, you should adopt stringent security and privacy measures to keep your company information protected. Here are reliable tips for securing network connections over Wi-Fi.
1. Avoid Using Default Network Name
Default network names are easy to crack. To secure your Wi-Fi network, change its default settings including the network name. In most cases, cyber criminals manage to hack into Wi-Fi because they have mastered a few vulnerabilities among router manufacturers. With the new settings, you reduce the probability of hackers establishing the router that you are using.
2. Opt for Robust Encryption
Find out what protection your access point uses. A majority of Wi-Fi access points are still stuck with the fundamentally broken Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) standard of protection. Such protection is easy to hack even with simple hacking suites. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) protection is stronger encryption. You can as well opt for the newer version of this encryption – the WPA3.
3. Use a Secure Virtual Private Network (VPN)
As technology evolves, so do hacking techniques. A slight mistake in your security protocols such as an IP leak can give hackers access to your Wi-Fi network, and subsequently to your company information. Using a VPN can boost your security as it provides data encryption making it hard for hackers to determine your online activities or even your location.
4. Don’t Reveal Your Work-From-Home Status Online
While one might want to brag that they never work in anything but sweatpants, resist the temptation to reveal your remote status to a public audience. It can create an opportunity for hackers to deduce your work info and attack unsecured workstations. Consider switching your social media accounts to private or avoid tweeting about how you haven’t been to your cubicle in 7 months.
5. Turn Remote Administration Off
Hackers can access your Wi-Fi network via your router’s remote administration feature. This feature makes it possible for anyone within the proximity of your home to access your network settings. Leaving remote administration means that any hacker near your home can interfere with the Wi-Fi settings. Ensure that this feature is off whenever you are not connected to your Wi-Fi router remotely.
Remote Work Needs Secure Enterprise Wi-Fi
Sweatpants, cats on keyboards, or your kids wandering into your Zoom call should be the least of your concerns when working from home. As remote work continues to become more popular, it’s time to adopt strict privacy and security measures for your enterprise Wi-Fi network and make sure they become the standard for your business, whether it’s at home or in the office.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on 10/01/2020 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness on 2/7/2024.