{"id":15239,"date":"2011-08-30T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2011-08-30T00:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/power-up.space\/?p=15239"},"modified":"2011-08-30T10:00:58","modified_gmt":"2011-08-30T00:00:58","slug":"home-based-workers-open-door-to-risky-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.impulsegamer.com\/wordpress\/?p=15239","title":{"rendered":"Home-based workers open door to risky business"},"content":{"rendered":"

Time to address security as teleworkers\u2019 time comes, AVG (AU\/NZ) warns\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Melbourne, 30 August 2011<\/strong> \u2014 Australian companies looking to reap productivity benefits by allowing employees to work from home are putting their business in jeopardy if they do not address the added security risks of an increasingly mobile workforce, leading anti-virus and Internet security software distributor AVG (AU\/NZ) Pty Ltd<\/a> has warned.<\/p>\n

In Australia, about one in four employees spends at least part of their working week on the job at home\u00b9. While the rate has remained steady for six years\u00b2, the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and rapid uptake of powerful mobile computers, tablets and smartphones is set to drive growth in the number of teleworkers and non-office based workers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy has said the NBN will make it easier for people to work from home. On the flip-side, it will also make it easier for company networks to be hacked and valuable information to be lost or stolen if businesses do not put the right protection measures in place for newly mobile workers,\u201d said Lloyd Borrett, Security Evangelist<\/a> at AVG (AU\/NZ).<\/p>\n

Mobile devices and home-based connections can significantly boost employee productivity when used conscientiously. Teleworking can increase output, reduce sick days and lower costs, by allowing businesses to operate from smaller premises and help retain skilled staff by fostering trust and loyalty.<\/p>\n

Home-based workers in a US survey\u00b3 said they would rather give up their favourite TV show (54%), an extra hour of sleep (48%), swear off a favourite food (40%) or take a pay cut (40%) than stop telecommuting.<\/p>\n

Yet all the benefits of teleworking will be lost if fundamental security issues are not addressed. In the US survey, more than two-thirds of telecommuters said they didn\u2019t receive IT security training in preparation for home office work. One in three never backed up their data.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn external data connection will always represent additional security risk, especially if mission-critical business data is being transmitted,\u201d Borrett said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe changing mobile worker landscape has created a constant need to define and measure the parameters within which these new worker types operate and implement back up and security measures that protect them.<\/p>\n

\u201cMobile workers now exist in many forms. In addition to home-based employees, remote connections to company data may extend to field staff, partner companies sharing data links with the business, freelancers, consultants and contractors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese workers are very often mobile, semi-permanent, occasionally \u2018hot desking\u2019 or completely reliant upon an Internet connection to work with or for the company. They work on a range of potentially unsecured devices to connect in numerous ways including through email, Instant Messaging services and video conferencing services from Skype to Google+ to Facebook and Microsoft Live Messenger.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis set-up poses a security risk and needs to form part of an IT security policy, no matter how basic, a company decides to follow,\u201d Borrett said.<\/p>\n

Traditional desktop and network security solutions need to be coupled with mobile protection offerings such as AVG Mobilation<\/a> security software for Android smartphones and tablet computers. It\u2019s built to ensure employees stay safe at home or on the move while connected back to the business, even using insecure Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder a robust and up-to-date Internet security umbrella, companies of all sizes should be able to reap rewards by empowering their workforce with mobility and flexibility to work from home or other locations \u2013 while protecting their business information and networks,\u201d Borrett concluded.<\/p>\n

To help SMBs address the policy, technology and process issues involved with securing their smartphones, tablets, workstations and\/or servers, AVG has created a set of AVG Small Business Security Guides<\/a> which provide simple but effective steps small business owners can take to secure their business. Also, for video tips from AVG (AU\/NZ), see: www.youtube.com\/user\/avgaunz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00b9 The Sensis\u00ae Business Index <\/em>\u2013 Teleworking, 2009.<\/p>\n

\u00b2 The Australian Bureau of Statistics, Locations of Work, November 2005.<\/p>\n

\u00b3 Staples Advantage survey, USA, May 2011.<\/p>\n

Keep in touch with AVG (AU\/NZ)<\/strong><\/p>\n