Working from home can have many advantages, but cyber security has been an issue for many, as was seen in 2020, when the National Cyber Security Centre had to act to fight against a rise in cybercrime, partly aimed at those working from home without better security, but also against scams linked to COVID-19, like fake claims to have found a cure.

With far more people working from home at least some of the time since the pandemic, threats have evolved, but so have the responses and in some cases, the right tech installations can add extra security for home workers to stave off cybercriminals looking to steal data, hack databases or use ransomware to encrypt data until they get paid.

According to Tech Gig, five key steps should be taken to protect remote workforces in 2024:

·       Securing remote access to systems and data. A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the most effective ways to do this

·       Regular software updates – this enables the software to stay ahead at a time when cybercriminals may be detecting vulnerabilities in older programmes

·       Training and awareness of threats

·       Endpoint security – this is where anti-virus systems and monitoring in real-time can enable threats to be spotted and dealt with swiftly

·       Data encryption and file-sharing – this makes it harder for third parties to access data without having access

Your own circumstances will determine which of these should be your priority. For example, a VPN is what you need when communicating and sharing data remotely with others within a company, so it wouldn’t be so useful for a self-employed sole trader whose clients are all external.

However, regular software updates, awareness of threats and strong anti-virus software are essential. That is why you should never hesitate to seek regular support from the experts, ensuring that you go into 2025 and beyond ready to deal with whatever threats are out there.