Since more and more companies have switched to a remote workforce, there has been an increase in cybersecurity risks. 

As per a survey conducted by CNBC, over one-third of senior technology executives reported that cybersecurity risks have increased since most of their employees work from home.

Now, communication that usually took place inside a secure corporate network is now being done at home. It gives hackers the perfect setup to take advantage of weak points in the communications protocol of businesses and access sensitive data. 

Statistics suggest that over 60,000 phishing sites were reported in March 2020, and 96% of all targeted attacks are made with the intention to gather intelligence.

If you are managing a remote team, these seven tips will prevent a successful phishing attack on your remote team:

1. Enhance email security

Blocking the emails at the source is an easy way to prevent phishing attacks. Though there is the standard Office 365 – Exchange Online Protection (EOP) anti-phishing solution that can block spam and standard phishing attacks, it can’t effectively block zero-day threats.

To enhance email security, you need layered defenses. Consider a third-party dedicated anti-spam and anti-phishing solution. It should feature predictive threat detection and advanced anti-phishing mechanisms to identify zero-day threats. 

SpamTitan will be a great choice as it features machine learning, threat intelligence feeds, dual antivirus engines, predictive technology, sandboxing, and more to add an extra layer of security and see that zero-day threats are blocked. 

2. Look out for keyloggers.

Another security threat that is gaining popularity is credential theft through a keylogger. The keylogger program can track the keystrokes that you make when you type on the keyboard. 

If hackers install a keylogger, they can scan your keystrokes to find out sensitive information like usernames or passwords. 

It is difficult to detect this cyberattack as the hackers can log in as you. They can install the program as you click on phishing emails or download malicious attachments.

3. Use a web filter

Web filtering entails stopping your team from clicking and viewing some suspicious URL links. Web filtering is done by preventing your team’s browser from loading pages connected to such sites or URLs.   

Naturally, this can help you add an additional layer to your system and you can easily block sites that are more likely to engage in phishing and malware attacks. If a phishing email or message asking you to click on suspicious URL does reach your inbox, the web filter can still prevent your team from clicking on the hyperlink. 

You can also use plenty of online tools that can help you block web-based attacks aimed at your office and remote workers. Such tools also allow you to change and set different controls depending on your team’s browsing habits.

4. Don’t click on the link yet.

Be extra careful when you receive emails or instant messages asking you to click on a link even when you know the sender. At the least, hover over the link to ascertain whether the destination is the right one. 

Since hackers use sophisticated tools for phishing attacks, some destination URL can look precisely like the genuine site. To prevent such attacks, go straight to the website via your search engine instead of clicking on the link.

5. Spot a phishing email

The best way to protect employees from phishing attacks is by teaching them how to quickly spot phishing emails. Since hackers utilize real company logos and add details to make their emails appear genuine, it is challenging to spot red flags unless you are very certain of what you are looking for.

Keep these elements in mind while trying to spot phishing emails:

• Since hackers are most likely not to have writers to craft their emails, they usually end up making noticeable mistakes. Thus, if you notice apparent typos or unclear text, this is a big red flag.
• Phishing emails usually seem generic without your name, reference, or other identifying information. It is because hackers won’t bother to spend time personalizing emails. 
• If you check the sender’s email address, phishing emails won’t have a domain name. Most reputable companies have their domain email, while hackers will change the address though they might have made an effort to make the address look real.
• Hackers will usually send unsolicited attachments or ask for sensitive information via email.

6. Implement two-factor authentication and strong passwords

Implementing two-factor authentication will provide an extra layer of protection and safeguard users’ credentials and access sensitive company data from hackers. Consider using security keys like the Yubico YubiKey for an additional concrete layer of protection and prevent phishing.

Also, ask your employees to maintain strong passwords and also to use different passwords across different services. In case a password gets revealed in a data breach, it will prevent the hackers from gaining access to other accounts.

7. Conduct company-wide cybersecurity training

The main defense against phishing attacks in your company is security-savvy employees. It is thus crucial to conduct company-wide security training so as to safeguard your company’s data. 

You can implement this training into your onboarding process and, of course, schedule regular refresher courses. Consider using employee training software to train your remote employees.

Whatfix’s real-time in-app training programs will let you train employees on demand while offering insights to measure training effectiveness. Moreover, your employees can access all the training resources from within your web application.

Try to make your program as effective as possible so that you can engage your employees. Training should be given on best practices, but that’s not all. See that your employees are taught about the steps to take if they notice something suspicious and alert management of the matter.

Wrapping-Up

Ever since remote work has surged, phishing attacks on businesses and companies have seen an increase too. Keeping your employees’ credentials and your company’s data safe should be your top concern even more than before. 

Start by enhancing your email security, look out for keyloggers, use a web filter, and more. Besides, make sure to avoid clicking on links before you ascertain whether the destination is the right one. Additionally, learn how to spot a phishing email, implement two-factor authentication and strong passwords, and conduct company-wide cybersecurity training. Also, always keep yourself updated with the latest trends in the cybersecurity industry.