Take the risk out of working-on-the-go

used with permission from Microsoft For Your Business

The future of work is mobile. But you may be worried that working from anywhere, on any device, could expose you to added security risks. Whether you’re a road warrior or remote worker here are some simple tips to stay protected.

Bring your own WiFi

Working on the go can sometimes make you feel tethered to public WiFi. But free access points can be slow, unreliable, and worst of all, unsecured. Thankfully, you can use your Windows Phone as both a WiFi locator and a hotspot* to get connected on the go.

*Worried your WiFi hotspot will drain your battery? The Surface Pro 3 offers up to 9 hours of battery life when using WiFi. And a Windows Phone offers a battery-saver mode as well as cases that charge your phone on the go, like the camera grip case for the Nokia Lumia 1020.

Beware of ‘evil twins.’

An evil twin is a rogue WiFi network that appears to be legitimate, but has actually been set up by hackers for the purpose of stealing private information. (It’s the wireless equivalent of phishing.*) When in doubt, avoid doing sensitive business on public WiFi hotspots.

*Phishing – This is the attempt to acquire confidential information, like passwords and credit card info, through bogus emails that look like they’re from a trusted source.

TIP: Don’t share sensitive info via email, don’t click on unknown links or attachments, do install security updates and antivirus software, and check financial statements regularly.

Use a VPN if you’re not already.

If you must use public WiFi to get work done on the go (at the airport, coffee shop, or wherever), consider setting up a VPN, or virtual private networks, for your business. This allows employees to access private company data securely over a public network.

Make firewalls your friend.

A firewall prevents hackers and malware from accessing your computer via the Internet. Ensure that all company devices have firewall software installed and running, along with antivirus programs. This is a solid first defense against suspicious traffic.

Of course, nothing beats common sense. Be sure to talk to your employees about the importance of creating secure passwords, changing passwords frequently, and avoiding downloads or files from unfamiliar sources.

Losing a device shouldn’t mean losing sleep.

It can happen to the best of us—your shiny new phone or tablet, left in an airplane seat pocket or the back of a cab. Consider installing a device tracking app, password protecting your device, and always keeping your valuable data backed up in the cloud. And consider managing devices for your team so they don’t have to worry – Office 365 and Windows Intune allow you to remotely lock access, wipe data, and reset pins in the event of technology gone missing.

Remember – don’t panic. Everything you need is backed up in the cloud and accessible from anywhere:

  • The latest versions of your business documents are saved and accessible online, thanks to automatic version control from OneDrive for Business.
  • You still have easy remote access to on-site business apps, like accounting, HR, or CRM from your other devices.

Carl Mazzanti is Co-Founder and President of eMazzanti Technologies, Microsoft’s four time Partner of the Year and one of the premier IT consulting services for businesses throughout the New York metropolitan area and internationally. Carl and his company manage over 400 active accounts ranging from professional services firms to high-end global retailers.

eMazzanti is all about delivering powerful, efficient outsourced IT services, such as computer network management and troubleshooting, managed print, PCI DSS compliance, green computing, mobile workforce technology, information security, cloud computing, and business continuity and disaster recovery.  

Carl Mazzanti is also a frequent business conference speaker and technology talk show guest and contributor at Microsoft-focused events, including frequent prominent roles at the Microsoft Inspire (Worldwide Partner Conference / WPC).

Carl, a serial Entrepreneur, gives back to the community through Entrepreneur teaching engagements at Georgetown University, the company’s ocean wildlife conservation effort, the Blue Project, and Tree Mazzanti.

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