Discover in this article how to secure your sensitive data in all circumstances : telecommuting, travelling

In France, 33% of employees work from home at least once a week. On average, employees also make two business tour per week outside their usual workplace and one business trip per year.

The security of sensitive data is a main issue for companies whose employees regularly work remotely. What are the cybersecurity risks associated with individual mobility? What solutions should be implemented to protect the sensitive data of employees working remotely or travelling?

The cybersecurity risks associated with individual mobility?

Remote work increases the company's attack surface on several levels. Firstly, some employees use unsecured connections, such as the public Wi-Fi available in cafes, train stations or airports. These connections do not always encrypt data, which can easily be intercepted by hackers.

Using personal devices (computers, smartphones, tablets) for remote work also presents certain risks. On the one hand, these devices can be used by external people, other than the employee. On the other hand, many employees do not systematically install the latest security updates available on their personal devices. They may also tend to use weaker passwords than in the professional sphere.

In addition, personal devices are not equipped with the security solutions that the company's professional devices have, so they are more vulnerable to malware, vulnerabilities, etc. Finally, the risk of loss or theft of the device must also be taken into account, particularly when traveling.

What solutions should be implemented to protect the sensitive data of employees working remotely or travelling?

VPN: An essential solution to secure remote connections

Remote workers' connections can be secured using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN fulfils several functions: it masks the user's IP address, encrypts communications, allows the use of any network securely and ensure the user's anonymity on the web. VPNs are therefore an essential solution for securing the sensitive data of employees working remotely or traveling.

Do not rely on free VPNs: they have the unfortunate habit of monetising their users' data. It is important to choose a VPN capable of encrypting all communications: voice calls, text messages, application data, etc. to protect your sensitive data. The ideal solution is to opt for a sovereign VPN, which is free from extraterritorial legislation such as the Cloud Act. This best practice is crucial for government entities, the defence industry and Vital Operators: these organisations are exposed to significant cyber espionage risks and attackers with particularly substantial resources.

Additional best practices to strengthen remote work security:

Beyond the VPN, several best practices can be implemented to secure remote work: 

• Multi-factor authentication, which verifies the identity of the person trying to access sensitive data.
  
  
• MDM (Mobile Device Management), to remotely supervise the entire mobile fleet, install the latest security patches on devices, wipe data from a device in case of theft, etc.
  
  
• Training employees on security risks and good cyber hygiene practices to reduce human error.
  
  
• Implement robust security policies, such as requiring the use of strong passwords, prohibiting the installation of risky applications, or limiting access to sensitive data to the smallest possible number of employees.
  
  
• The use of secure file sharing and collaboration solution like Cryptobox ensures end-to-end encryption of documents, compliance with current regulations such as the NIS2 Directive and strong protection against unsecured access.
• Responsive IT support to assist remote employees if needed and ensure that security measures in place are still effective.

Remote work increases your organisation's attack surface. Vital Operators, government entities and the most sensitive industries, such as defence, are exposed to particularly complex and devastating cyberthreats. To protect your most sensitive data, you can choose ANSSI-approved security solutions such as Cryptosmart PC, the sovereign VPN, and Cryptosmart Mobile, to benefit from the highest level of security and enable your employees to work remotely on all their devices with peace of mind.