If you are a cloud client, you should certainly consider ways to keep the home networks of your employees secure. Despite relying on advanced cloud technology and your provider’s approach to safeguard your data, there are still ways to minimize the risks from data breaches even further.

In the next few sections, we are sharing some tips on the best practices to keep the home networks of your employees secure from unwanted intruders.

What are the dangers of home networks?

Your signal footprint

 

Home networks are a broad term for physical networks which are limited to a single device, and wifi networks that can connect multiple devices at a time. Wifi systems are clearly a more popular choice among remote workers these days because of the flexibility it gives users to connect from any device, at any home spot. The signal extends within the walls of the home, but unfortunately also in the outside world. This is certainly one of the main issues with Wi-Fi home networks, which cloud clients should be taking into account. Picking up a signal from outside after having highjacked the home network can expose all of your corporate information in no time.

Limited access

 

Another main problem with wireless home networks is the shared access that different members within a household usually have. Often times, people share their router passwords with people from outside their household, which can definitely present an even bigger issue. This could pose a risk even if the employee is using a device that is connected to a safe cloud desktop service. The devices of visitors and other members of the household are not protected through cloud security and your home network can easily become compromised.

How can you reduce the risks of unprotected home networks?

 

Frequent Password Change

 

One of the easiest ways to minimize the risks of data leaks if you are a cloud client is by educating and training your employees on how to keep their networks safe. Frequent changes of the router passwords are one of the best and most common practices by employees since it takes a lot less effort than changing the credentials of individual applications containing sensitive information. Making password changes a regular occurrence forthnighly or at the beginning of each month can really limit unwanted access to home networks!

Router credentials

 

Apart from having a router password, a lot of manufacturers offer an extra feature with router products for extra security. If the employee is the administrator of the home network account, they could easily access their console with unique credentials from any device. This allows the admin to set a new password and user name, as well as make other adjustments to the network configurations. As a function, it could be useful to connect and make changes to the router remotely. Nevertheless, employees should also remember to change router passwords frequently in case there are malicious attempts at unprotected devices.

Network name

 

Making adjustments to home networks should not only limit to changing passwords and user names. Changing the network’s name can be a useful way to reduce the risks of hacker attacks since most routers come with standard admin software and consistent model names. Unfortunately, internet cyberpunks are rather inventive and they use detection software to find networks that belong to the device manufacturer and figure out the default credentials. If the name is different, finding out this information would be virtually impossible.

Hiding your home networks

 

An easier alternative to changing the names of home networks is simply hiding them altogether. This makes the devices of employees invisible for intruders who are looking for identifiers to gain unauthorized access to their networks.

 

VPN to your cloud service

 

Adding an extra layer of protection to your cloud desktop or cloud-based software can always be achieved with a VPN solution. Whether the employee is using home networks or public networks, virtual private networks will help hackers attempting to break into the device through unprotected networks. These devices can be carried everywhere and they give employees the peace of mind that there is additional protection to their data applications.

Final words

 

Being a cloud client gives your employees and your company immediate protection against data breaches. Cloud providers like we-IT are working to monitor and protect the performance of all devices connected to the cloud via home networks or public networks. However, it is important for employees to be trained well into keeping their devices and home networks protected at the front end as well! This gives a company comprehensive internet security and peace of mind that your sensitive data is safe and in good hands.