Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the UK has seen working from home become common practice. According to ONS statistics, throughout 2022 the percentage of working adults reporting having worked from home varied between 25% and 40%.
However, whilst many employees are now enjoying greater flexibility and work-life balance, there is no doubt that the home office is increasingly becoming a target for cybercrime. The use of desktops, laptops and mobile phones without proper consideration for cybersecurity measures leaves many at risk of attack.
High-profile cases such as the data breach at the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which focussed on a database of employee details including the home addresses of serving officers, have shown the responsibilities faced by all organisations. Commenting on the case, John Edwards, the Information Commissioner, said: “People have the right to expect that their personal information is kept safe and not disclosed when it shouldn’t be. This incident raises serious concerns as it shows how even the smallest of human errors can have major consequences.
“The incident demonstrates how important it is to have robust measures in place to protect personal information, especially in a sensitive environment. The Information Commissioner’s Office works to support organisations to get this right so people can feel confident that their information is secure, and harms can be prevented.”
More generally, with growing numbers of people working in hybrid patterns, moving sensitive information for use outside the regular work environment, companies need to understand how to prevent the loss, theft or compromise of confidential material.
Failure to do so can lead to data breaches, identity theft, financial damage and reputational damage. There can be significant legal consequences, including fines, lawsuits and criminal prosecution.
Top tips for cyber security when working from home
- Use strong and unique passwords for all your online accounts: Avoid using easily guessable information, such as your birthday or common words, in your passwords. Use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols to create strong passwords.
- Enable two-factor authentication for your online accounts: It adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a code from your phone or another device in addition to your password when you log
- Be careful about what information you share online: Do not share personal information, such as credit card information in emails.
- Keep your software up to date: Software updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Make sure you are running the latest versions of your operating system, web browser and other software.
- Use a firewall and antivirus software: A firewall blocks unauthorised access to your computer, while antivirus software protects your computer from viruses, malware and other harmful software.
- Be careful about clicking on links in emails and text messages: Hackers often send phishing emails and text messages that contain links to malicious websites. If you are not sure whether a link is safe, do not click on it.
- Be careful about using public Wi-Fi networks: Public Wi-Fi networks are not secure, so you should not access sensitive information, such as your bank account or email, when you are connected to a public Wi-Fi network.
- Back up your data regularly: In case of a cyberattack, it is important to have a backup of your data so that you can restore it.
- Be aware of the latest cybersecurity threats: Keep up to date on the latest cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities so that you can take steps to protect yourself.
- If your company has remote work or cyber security policies, make sure you follow them.
Why cybersecurity matters
Cybersecurity matters because people have the right to expect that their personal information is kept safe and not disclosed when it shouldn’t be.
After the initial focus on implementing General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, companies across Europe have had to maintain compliance or face the consequences. For the largest companies there have been eye watering penalties. Internet giant Meta’s EU base in Ireland was fined €1.2bn by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) for breaching the flagship data protection law.
Ensuring you carry out good practice around cybersecurity will help prevent the company you work for falling foul of the regulations.
Alongside careful consideration for cybersecurity, all employees working from home should also make sure to carry out good practice around document destruction and recycling to ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) says: “Deleting records that you no longer need, or are not proportionate to retain any longer, is an essential part of a good records management system.”
How we help
ShredPro is a professional paper shredding company specialising in secure, efficient and cost-effective shredding and recycling services for a range of customers. Working to accredited levels, our customers receive the highest standards in the industry to ensure maximum protection of confidential information while helping the planet, recycling your shredding to reduce the demand for natural resources.
If you’re looking for a paper shredding company that can help you, contact us today. We offer a variety of paper shredding services to fit your needs, and we’re committed to protecting your data.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our paper shredding services. We are confident that you will be happy with our services.
“ShredPro look after several of our sites, they are a professional, reliable and friendly shredding company who provide us with a first class shredding service. The cabinets that they place around our facilities are secure and blend in well with our surroundings. I would recommend this shredding company to anyone who needs a cost-effective service for their confidential waste needs.”
About ShredPro
ShredPro recycles 100% of the paper we shred, all in compliance with the environmental management system ISO 14001. This ensures that our own environmental impact and therefore those of our customer is controlled. All our paper is recycled at local UK mills, again reducing the impact on the environment and investing in the local economy.
Contact us today to learn more about our paper shredding and recycling services and get your free quote.
