Empowering Productivity Anywhere
Enabling Secure Remote Access to Your Office Network
How to guarantee corporate data and infrastructure safety while working remotely
One of the biggest benefits for employees today is the possibility of working remotely. And of course, if business owners are interested in high-quality and motivated specialists, they need to offer such an option. Though this can significantly enhance productivity and collaboration, this kind of employment can bring new security challenges for your business. What is the solution? How to guarantee complete data and infrastructure safety? Is it possible to provide a secure and convenient workspace for your remote employees? Let’s figure that out.
What Office Infrastructure Requires Secure Access
Office infrastructure is a complex system of devices and networks bearing tons of corporate data that is critically important to keep safe. And it is a must to provide decent confidentiality, integrity, and availability for it. Especially in the case it has to be accessed remotely.
Access to Office Printer
Printing documents remotely seems an easy task without any risk to the corporate network and data. But if third parties get access may seem like a hard task, but with the right setup, it can be accomplished smoothly and safely. To enable remote printing, consider implementing a VPN that allows employees to securely connect to the office network. By implementing a VPN service, you provide a secure tunnel for your employees between their remote workplace and office network. So they can access printers as if they were physically present in the office. Additionally, ensure that the necessary printer drivers are installed on the remote devices to facilitate seamless printing.
Access to Office File Storage
Office servers are usually used as storage for tons of valuable information and providing secure remote access to it can be vital. For this purpose, you can also set up a VPN connection or implement cloud-based file storage solutions. They usually offer various security features like encryption and access rights management, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data. But the best practice is to use all security measures available. With VPN, your employees will be able to have convenient and secure access to files from any location.
Access to Office Resources
Apart from file storage, employees often require access to various office resources, such as Sharepoint for document management, Jira for project tracking, and Jenkins for continuous integration and deployment. To enable secure access to these resources, configure your VPN to grant remote employees access to the internal networks where these services reside. This way, employees can seamlessly connect to these tools and contribute to projects from any location, promoting collaboration and productivity.
SSH Access
For businesses that rely on secure shell (SSH) access to manage servers and network devices, enabling remote SSH access is crucial. A VPN can facilitate secure and encrypted connections to these devices, allowing system administrators and IT teams to remotely manage and troubleshoot servers and network infrastructure. It’s essential to ensure that SSH access is protected with strong passwords or, preferably, SSH keys to enhance security.
Implementing a Virtual Private Network
Having reviewed the secure access measures above, we’ve seen that a Virtual Private Network serves as a vital tool for this. It establishes an encrypted tunnel between the remote device and the office network, ensuring that all data transmitted over the connection remains private and protected from unauthorized access. But the next challenge is to find a reliable and strong VPN solution. We don’t even consider free solutions, because the only thing they can provide is the risk of data loss and additional headaches. Choose a reputable paid app with a set of robust encryption protocols, user authentication mechanisms, and support for multi-factor authentication to enhance security.
Strengthening Security Measures
While a VPN is a strong brick in your security system, there are additional measures you can implement to enhance the overall security of your office network. Some key security practices include:
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Using 2FA, you add an extra layer of security by requiring employees to provide an additional verification factor, such as a unique code or biometric authentication, in addition to their password. As a result, unauthorized access to your corporate network is minimized.
Regular Security Updates
Ensure that all office network devices, including routers, firewalls, and servers, are regularly updated with the latest security patches and firmware updates. Manufacturers are regularly reviewing all the known vulnerabilities and bugs and release fixes.
Employee Education
Informing employees about the risks and consequences of inappropriate remote access is also crucial. Educate your employees about best practices for remote access, such as avoiding public WiFi networks, using strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and identifying phishing attempts. Regular training and awareness programs can significantly reduce the risk of security breaches.
Conclusion
Enabling secure remote access to the office network is critical for businesses looking to adapt to the changing work environment. By implementing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and using robust security measures, business owners can empower their employees to access office resources, collaborate effectively, and maintain productivity from anywhere in the world. Embracing remote access technologies ensures that your business remains agile, resilient, and capable of thriving in the face of evolving work dynamics.
