Tips for Improving Information Security in Your Home Office

Are you spending more time in your home office during the pandemic? Working from home may keep you safer, but your data may be at higher risk. In this blog, we offer several tips for improving information security in your home office.

1. Protect Your Hard Copies

Sensitive information must be protected no matter where you work. Maintain a chain of custody for physical records with personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). Store documents in a secure area when not using them. Continue to follow your company’s “clean desk policy” when working from home, and lock your home office when you are not working.

2. Shred Unwanted Files

Criminals need not look any further than your curbside trash and recycling for opportunities to steal PII and PHI. Shredding expired documents keeps your unwanted information out of the wrong hands. Use a drop-off shred service to ensure thorough and secure destruction of confidential information. Home shredders do not provide the same level of information security provided by a top-notch shredding service.

3. Back Up Your Data

Unexpected power interruptions and storms can lead to data loss. Back up your data regularly. An electronic vaulting service automatically backs up your data to the cloud, offering an online data protection and recovery solution.

4. Click with Caution

Hackers have upped their phishing and malware game during the pandemic. Check email attachments and links before opening them. Always verify the sender’s email address before responding to requests for information. When in doubt, go directly to the official website for any downloads or to submit information via a web form.

5. Fortify Your WiFi

Unprotected WiFi networks are susceptible to cybertheft. Fortify your WiFi network with a strong password and WPA-2 encryption. When connecting remotely to your company’s server, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

6. Use a Password Management Application

Strong passwords prevent your accounts from being compromised, but are often impossible to remember. A password-management application generates and stores unique, encrypted passwords so your accounts can not be hacked.

7. Update Your Devices

Software providers often release patches to fix security vulnerabilities. You can set your computer, laptop, and other devices to automatically download and install these security patches. To maintain personal information privacy, do not use company-issued devices for personal use or share them with family members.

Use these tips to improve information security in your home office.

For more information security and data breach prevention tips, please contact us at 706-724-7982 or complete the form on this page.

Records Management Center provides businesses throughout Augusta, Evans, Thomson, and Martinez, GA, Aiken, SC, and the Central Savannah River Area with professional shredding and destruction solutions.