How To: Manage Security Risks When Connecting to Your Work Network From Home

Remote Access Risks

The overriding risk of remote access services and software is a hacker gaining deeper access to your organization, exposing you to a host of IT security threats.

Once they gain privileged access to your system, it will be difficult to prevent data loss, prevent phishing, protect against ransomware, etc.

Here are 4 remote access risks you should guard against.

Remote Access Through Home Computers

• Home computers are often accessed by multiple people who visit various websites and execute many different pieces of software, any of which can infect your computer with malware – making it easy for a hacker to attack your business the next time you remotely access your office network.

• Home computers usually use weak passwords or no passwords at all, making it easy to gain access to your machine, which can then be used to access your office data if you remotely connect to your business’s network.

• Most consumer-ready antivirus products won’t stop sophisticated hackers from targeting your organization – which is what most home computers are running.

Easy Logins and Passwords

Many remote access endpoints only require a simple ID and password to log on to your network.

Since most people use hackable passwords, this single sign-on method is highly problematic.

Lack of Computer Inspection

Many remote access software solutions don’t scan the remote computer for viruses or malware.

If your home or work PC has been infected, and you’re using it to access your office network remotely, then a hacker could easily install malware onto your business’s servers and spread it to every machine in your office.

Endpoint of a VPN

Connecting to an unsecured Wi-Fi network, visiting malicious sites, and downloading hazardous software are practices that many endpoint users engage in – making a man-in-the-middle attack and other hacking methods for infecting your computer very easy.

Even if your VPN is secure, the infected machine can grant the hacker access to your private network.