Remote work isn’t going away, and neither are the risks that come with it

Every time someone logs in from a coffee shop, hotel lobby or personal laptop at home, your business’s attack surface expands. That’s not fearmongering. That’s math. More connections, more devices, more opportunities for hackers to find a weak spot.

The good news? Securing a remote workforce doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be done right, and consistently.

Here’s how to keep hackers out, no matter where your team works from.

1. Route all remote connections through a VPN

A VPN isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s the difference between secure traffic and an open invitation for anyone listening on the network.

• Every remote employee uses the company-approved VPN. No exceptions.

• Keep it patched and up to date.

• Add multi-factor authentication (MFA) so stolen credentials alone can’t be used to gain access.

2. Eliminate the public Wi-Fi problem

Coffee shop Wi-Fi is hacker heaven.

• Encourage personal hotspots or secure home networks instead.

• If public Wi-Fi is unavoidable, verify the network before connecting.

• And yes, the VPN should still be on.

3. Take mobile devices seriously

Phones and tablets carry as much sensitive data as laptops.

• Encrypt them so stolen devices are useless.

• Enable remote wipe in case they go missing.

• Install mobile security apps to stop malware before it spreads.

4. Treat training like a contact sport

Hackers love human error.

• Run phishing simulations regularly.

• Reinforce security policies until they become second nature.

• Make it easy for employees to ask for help when something seems off.

5. Limit access like it’s gold

If someone doesn’t need access to sensitive data, they shouldn’t have it.

• Use role-based permissions.

• Review logs for suspicious activity.

• Remove access the moment someone changes roles or leaves.

6. Fortify email, still the No. 1 attack vector

Most attacks still start in the inbox.

• Use advanced spam and malware filters.

• Encrypt sensitive messages.

• Restrict risky attachments.

7. Secure the cloud

Your cloud apps and storage are only as secure as their settings.

• Work with vetted, trusted providers.

• Encrypt data at rest and in transit.

• Monitor access for suspicious logins.

8. Have an incident response plan that works

When a breach happens, speed matters more than anything.

• Establish clear steps for reporting and containing threats.

• Provide direct lines to IT.

• Run drills so everyone knows exactly what to do.

9. End the password madness

Weak or reused passwords remain one of the biggest open doors for attackers.

• Require strong, unique passwords.

• Provide employees with a password manager.

• Ban password reuse completely.

10. Patch like your business depends on it (because it does)

Hackers love outdated software. It’s essentially an unlocked door.

• Turn on automatic updates whenever possible.

• Set up a process to test and deploy patches quickly.

• Run vulnerability scans to find holes before someone else does.

The bottom line

Remote work is here to stay. If you’re not locking down every device, connection and account, you’re leaving the door wide open, and hackers don’t need much of an invitation.

If you’re already a client, these protections are in place for you. If not, consider this list your minimum standard for survival in today’s cyber landscape.