Having a home office is great for many reasons. It’s quiet, it’s private, and you can get a lot more done there than you could at a coffee shop or co-working space. But while working from home might be beneficial in some ways, it also poses some dangers that don’t come up as often if you work in an office or other shared space. You have less visibility, less security, and more potential points of entry for intruders. Fortunately, with the right precautions and habits, having a home office doesn’t have to make your business any more susceptible to hackers or burglars. By following these tips, you can make sure that your home office is secure and that your data and property are protected. From setting up a strong password to making sure that your security software is always up to date, you can have peace of mind when working from home. In fact, by taking the right steps, your home office can make things safer for you in the long run. Here are the top tips to improve the security of your home office so that you’re safe while you grind away on that new project.
Change the Lock Right Away
If you buy a house with a lock on the door and suddenly decide to turn it into your home office, you might not realize that it was improperly installed. If that lock is not secured with a deadbolt, you risk leaving your most valuable asset vulnerable to theft and unable to be secured. Imagine buying a car and not ever checking the oil or gas tank. You fill up at the gas station and start driving. After a few miles, your car stalls and won’t start again. It turns out that your fuel tank was bone dry, and you had no idea how to fill it back up. That’s the same risk you take when you never check the oil on your car. You might be able to drive around town, but you won’t be able to get to work if you never check the oil in your car. This can make it easier for an intruder to break in, and it’s something that you should address. If you’re renting and have your landlord change the lock right away, you’ll avoid being locked out of your own home office. You may be able to get them to change the lock while they’re there, too. That’s one less thing that you have to worry about.
Have Good Windows (and Lock Them)
If you have a ground-floor office, you may have noticed that some commercial buildings have bars on their windows. Some businesses install these bars for security purposes. They keep unwanted people from breaking the glass and entering the premises. Bars can also keep unwanted things from entering your office, such as cold air during the winter months. If you work in a commercial building with uninsulated windows, you may have experienced ever-decreasing productivity as the temperature dropped. The cold air makes it difficult for employees to concentrate. It is impossible to get any work done when you are freezing. Bars can keep this cold air out and keep your employees comfortable. This is the kind of precaution you may have to take to protect your home if you don’t have a lot of privacy or external visibility. If your office is located on a lower floor, consider bars on the windows. They can help keep burglars from entering through the window and let you know if someone is trying to break in. They may also help you avoid having to pay for a window replacement if one is broken as a result of vandalism.
Keep Your Computer’s Software Updated
In addition to safeguarding your data, keeping your software updated will also help you protect against malware and hacking. Some software updates can include patches to fix software exploits that can allow hackers to gain access to your system. You can set your computer’s software to automatically check for updates. This can help you avoid having to worry about missing an update and leaving yourself open to an attack in the meantime.
Use Strong Passwords and 2-Factor Authentication
Strong passwords are one of the most important things that you can do to protect yourself. Having strong passwords means using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Keep your passwords in a secure location. Avoid writing them down on paper and store them in a file on your computer or in a password manager.
Watch Out for Dropbox and Other Cloud Storage Dangers
Cloud storage is a great way to share, store, and access your data from anywhere, but it does require some caution. If you use a free cloud storage solution like Dropbox, you should be aware that it is not as secure as it could be. To protect against hackers (or worse) breaking into your account and deleting or altering your data, you may want to consider upgrading your account to a paid plan.
Keep Your Devices Locked Up Tight
You already know that you should keep your devices secure and out of sight. But in addition to that, you should also keep them physically secure. If you have a large office, you may be fine keeping your devices out in the open. But if you have a smaller office or keep your devices out in the open, a thief could come in and walk right out with them. Keep your devices in a drawer or cabinet that can’t be opened without the key or combination. Also, make sure they’re not placed where they can be easily seen by the public. Avoid keeping your devices out in the open where they can be easily stolen or tampered with. Also, make sure to keep your devices in a secure location at work. Many employers now offer secure lockers for employees to keep their devices in. If you have a laptop, consider keeping it in a locking bag that can’t be pried open.
Be Careful with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are two ways that many people connect their devices to the internet. But Bluetooth connections can be easily compromised by nearby devices, and Wi-Fi can be hacked from a relatively long distance. If you use Bluetooth, be sure to keep it on a short tether to your phone or computer. Avoid leaving it out of range or forgetting to charge it regularly. Keep track of any updates or patches from your device’s manufacturer. Stay vigilant about the appearance of any signs of obsolescence or malfunction. If you have in-ear or wireless headphones, be sure to keep them clean to improve sound quality and block outside noise. If you use headphones with a microphone, keep the volume at a level where you can clearly hear your teammates but not so loud that you risk damaging your hearing. And if you use Wi-Fi, make sure to keep it on a secure network, reset the connection regularly, and update your router’s firmware as soon as possible when updates become available.
Conclusion
One of the best things about having a home office is that you get to control every aspect of it. You can create the ideal working environment, and you can keep it secure. With the right precautions and habits, you can keep your home office as secure as an office in a high-rise. And in the long run, it can make things safer for you. From setting up a strong password to installing security software, these tips will help keep your work safe from both physical and cyber threats. What might seem like common sense to some may be helpful information for others. We hope you find these tips helpful and enjoy working from home.
