Hybrid Work: Do you know what safety practices to adopt in this work format?

With the easing of COVID-19-related protocols, many companies are opting for the hybrid work format, which mixes days of work at the office with days of remote work. 

In order to ensure the security of your company's data with this return to face-to-face work, it is necessary to list certain precautions and good practices regarding face-to-face relationships and activities.

How to maintain cybersecurity in the hybrid work format?

1. Use a single computer for work: Prefer only using the device provided by the company, whether at home or at the office. This is because the transfer of files and the storage of these files on a personal computer can facilitate the action of cybercriminals.

2. Meetings and corridor conversations: With the return to the physical environment, we need to be careful with the famous corridor conversations or the more informal meetings. After all, there may be people from other teams (and even from other companies, in cases of coworking) eavesdropping on sensitive and confidential information. 

3. Clean-table policy: In all situations, keep your work table organized and do not allow other people to have access to important documents. This practice, however, should be reinforced in the hybrid work format, as many teams and companies may transit through the same environment, and you may not return to a given table for a few days, increasing the chances of others gaining access to confidential documents and information.

4. Beware of physical devices: If you use flash drives, external hard drives, or other storage devices, remember to encrypt them. This way, in case of loss or theft, the data are more likely to remain protected.

5. Social engineering scams: While this type of scam was discussed in more detail when people were working remotely during social isolation, these can also happen in offices – like someone impersonating a service provider or a company employee with a fake credential. When accessing the building, these people may collect information from an unlocked notebook, documents forgotten on a table, or even the printer.

What about when the company's office is replaced by a coworking environment?

If working in the hybrid format also involves a coworking environment, in addition to reinforcing all the precautions mentioned above, it is important to adopt additional practices.

1. Use a VPN: VPNs encrypt data transferred over the network and are essential in any situation. However, in environments that involve sharing Wi-Fi networks, they are even more important. Always use a reliable VPN, preferably one recommended by your company's IT department.

2. Be careful what you say: It is highly likely that numerous meetings will continue to be held online, even if you work in person with part of the team. Remember to use more private environments, wear headphones, and keep your voice down. After all, people around you can try to take advantage of what they hear. 

Conclusion

With the advancement of hybrid work, the challenge is following all the cybersecurity practices learned while working remotely and, at the same time, returning to the good practices that are specific to face-to-face work. 

Here, a general tip is this: always be aware of who is around you, be discrete and organized, and take good care of your devices.