Working from home has many wonderful perks, like working in your PJs or being able to eat healthy throughout the day because the kitchen is just a few steps away. What’s more, you can do almost any job nowadays from the comfort of your home office or living room, whether you are working for another company or if you’re starting up your own online store and stepping into the entrepreneurial world.
However, succeeding as a work-at-home professional is not just about making your office space more comfortable or using the right software to get things done, it’s also about protecting yourself and your work. All of your valuable business assets are now located in your home, and it’s important that you keep them safe – this includes your living environment and its contents, but also your computer and data stores.
Let’s explore these challenges and consider the key safety tips all work-at-home leaders should know.
1. Consider installing a smart camera
First things first, it’s important to get a better view of your property from the inside, and you can only do that by installing a camera or two in strategic places. You don’t need anything fancy here, but it’s important to choose smart cameras that you can access via smartphone whether you’re home or if you’re out.
Smart home cameras have a range of useful features that will make home monitoring a breeze, as they can come online when something triggers their motion sensors, and you can hook them up to motion-sensor lighting outside to illuminate the space when it’s dark. By placing a couple of these cameras around the property and maybe even inside the house, you will be better equipped to protect your home and your work.
2. Prioritize network security
Working from home means that you’re working from your personal computer, which is where all of your sensitive personal and business data is stored. Sure, you might be storing your data on the cloud, but that data is still accessible via your PC, laptop, and any connected device you use, so it’s imperative to take data security seriously.
If you also have your own website, make sure to upgrade the security of your WP site by choosing a reliable hosting company and by investing in an SSL certificate. When it comes to data security, on the other hand, you have to start creating stronger passwords for all your logins and devices.
Make sure to install complementary security measures like two-factor authentication, login monitoring and history, data encryption, and the like. Always have a reliable antivirus program working in the background as well to stop any malicious code or apps from affecting your system.
3. Insure your home and its contents
Now that you are running your business from home, it’s time to start looking into insurers and coverage plans that will insure your property and its contents against various risks and business-busting scenarios. This is especially important now that people are increasingly working from home and are spending time in lockdown.
For example, Australia is still in lockdown as are many other countries around the world, and business leaders are using home and content insurance like this to protect their personal and professional assets from natural disasters, theft and break-ins, and many other hazards that can ruin your business. That said, wherever you are located right now, it’s important to get the right coverage for your home and business assets so that if something happens, you can resume your operation and keep your company afloat.
4. Be wary of online scams
You can have the most advanced security software and tools at your disposal, but if you are not vigilant yourself in the online world, you won’t be able to maximize the safety of your home-based business. Because you’re working on the web and you’re managing your company online, you can bet that your business will be a prime target for online scammers and hackers, all of which you need to keep at bay.
The best way to do that is to have a cloud strategy and a cloud-based security framework provided by a reputable cloud company. The second thing you need to do is to educate yourself on phishing scams and other nefarious online activity. You need to be able to spot these scams and delete suspicious emails, report suspicious messages, and refrain from downloading any executables or following any suspicious links.
5. Install door and window sensors
Lastly, consider upping the security of your home, and especially your home office by installing door and window sensors. If you’re looking to secure your home and property as much as possible now that you’re running your business there, you should consider adding these sensors that will automatically notify you or the authorities. This will go a long way towards preventing unlawful entry and will prevent the thieves from actually taking anything of value.
Wrapping up
Working from home is a wonderful way to build work-life balance, and a great way to build a successful business. That said, for any of your dreams to come true, you need to secure and protect your assets, so consider these tips and do what’s necessary to safeguard your personal and professional belongings.
BY TECHIE MAMMA