Is this the end of working from home? Learn good security practices to adopt at the office
The new coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV2) forced Brazilian companies to adopt a work format that was rare here, but relatively common in more advanced countries — known by Brazilians as "home office" (which in other English-speaking countries is known as ‘working from home’). For the first time in history, millions of Brazilian professionals learned how to perform their professional tasks in their own homes, maintaining the responsibilities of daily demands even with the temptation of "resting a little on the sofa" or "staying in bed."
However, for many, this period is becoming part of the past. Although many companies have perceived the advantages of remote work (such as lower physical space leasing and maintenance costs and greater staff productivity), with the reduction in the number of cases of COVID-19 other companies have decided to adopt a hybrid format or even require their entire team to return to the office. If this is your case, we would like to ask the following: do you remember (or do you know, if you started your professional career working remotely) how to protect yourself in this environment?
Hey! Confidential information is being exchanged
When the environment changes, threats also change. And that is why it is important that those who worked at an office before the pandemic remember certain peculiarities of this environment, and those who have never set foot in an office during their careers also learn about them. And the first rule of thumb is: be careful with what is said regarding professional projects and activities in the so-called "elevator conversations".
This is particularly dangerous if the office is located in a coworking arrangement, where several other companies work in the same area, often sharing common spaces such as the pantry, terrace, and leisure areas. It's okay to meet informally with your coworkers in these locations, but pay attention to the volume of the conversation so that others won´t be able to eavesdrop on sensitive plans your team is working on; after all, you never know when the person next door is your competitor.
When working in person, following the clean table policy is more important than ever. Precisely because we do not have control over any third parties who may enter the premises, avoid leaving papers scattered, reports on desks, and post-its with important information in plain sight. Another big mistake made by many (especially in a coworking arrangement) is leaving workstations with their laptop or computer unlocked. In fact, if you use a laptop, take it with you. Aside from unauthorized access, who can guarantee that someone won't connect a malicious USB device to your machine?
Physical environment, physical risks
Finally, another golden tip for coworking (which is becoming more popular among startups for being cheaper) is to be careful with the Wi-Fi networks you connect to. The establishment's official network is as insecure as a café or library — any criminal can intercept your data. Only use your company's official hotspot, which certainly will be properly configured and have adequate security layers to avoid any kind of problem.
Working in an office can give you the false impression that you are more protected than at home. Bad mistake. The physical environment is also subject to physical threats and social engineering — such as someone posing as a service provider, with a fake credential to access the interior of the building and collect information from an unlocked laptop or sensitive reports left in the print tray. If you are going to return to presential work, remember these threats to avoid future headaches.
