The flexibility to work from anywhere offers great freedom, but it also presents additional challenges. When you’re on the move, maintaining security requires more precautions than you would take at home.
However, it’s more than possible with a proactive approach. Keep reading for key strategies that can help you stay secure and productive, wherever your workday takes you.
Use a VPN
Many remote workers rely on public Wi-Fi to stay productive while travelling. However, these networks are typically unsecured, leaving your privacy at risk. Any bad actors on the network could intercept your internet traffic and gain access to sensitive data. Using a VPN can protect you against this risk.
What does a VPN do? It is a virtual private network that secures the connection between your device and a remote server by encrypting your internet traffic. This encryption makes your data unreadable to third parties, protecting your sensitive information.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Work in private spaces whenever possible. If you do work in public, try to sit in the corner of a room facing away from a wall. This position will prevent others from “shoulder surfing” you, which means looking over your shoulder at what’s on your screen.
Alternatively, consider getting a privacy filter – a type of physical screen that attaches to your laptop. It uses limited-angle technology to prevent anyone not directly in front of the screen from seeing the content it’s displaying.
Protect Physical Security
Always keep your devices with you. In particular, be careful to never leave them unattended in public places. For extra security while working in public, use a security cable to lock your laptop to the workstation. This device deters theft by making it difficult for opportunist thieves to remove the device and run off with it.
Have a Backup Plan
Besides someone stealing your device, there’s also the risk of loss or hardware failure. If all your important work data is on a single device, these situations could cripple your productivity.
That’s why it’s crucial to keep multiple copies of important data. It’s best to store these in different media, such as on an external hard drive and in cloud storage. By keeping these separate from your main device, you can ensure you always have access to the information you need, no matter what happens.
Some Final Tips
Successful remote work while travelling requires more than a laptop and an internet connection. It demands a heightened awareness of security risks and proactive steps to mitigate them. By adopting the practices suggested above, you can maintain the peace of mind that lets you focus on what matters most: staying productive.