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Ways to Keep Employer Data Secure When Working Remotely

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In today’s digital age, data runs the world. Companies of all sizes rely on data to make informed business decisions. However, with the rise of remote work, data security has also become more challenging.

As more companies adopt remote work arrangements, the need to secure employer data has also become increasingly important. Working remotely poses a risk to the security of sensitive information, such as financial data, customer information, and intellectual property. The responsibility to keep employer data secure falls on both the employer and the employee. In this article, we will discuss ways to keep data secure when working remotely.

Create Strong Passwords

Passwords are the first line of defence against cyberattacks, which is why remote employees should use strong passwords that are difficult to guess. A strong password should include a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. They should be complex, long, and unique for each account. Employees should also avoid using the same password for multiple accounts as it increases the risk of a data breach.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication

Using multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an effective way to secure employer data when working remotely. MFA requires users to provide additional forms of identification beyond just a password, making it much more difficult for cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access. Remote workers should enable MFA on all devices and accounts used for work-related activities, including email, cloud storage, and virtual private networks (VPNs).

Secure Wi-Fi Networks

Remote workers often use public Wi-Fi networks when working outside, such as in coffee shops or coworking spaces. However, networks in these places are often vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cybercriminals can intercept data transmitted over unsecured Wi-Fi networks, putting employer data at risk, which is why avoiding using public Wi-Fi networks whenever possible is ideal. If they must use public Wi-Fi, they should use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt their data.

Use A VPN

Which brings us to the next tip: using a virtual private network (VPN). Using a VPN is an essential step in securing employer data when working remotely. VPNs encrypt internet traffic and create a secure connection between remote workers and their company’s network. This helps to prevent cybercriminals from intercepting sensitive data transmitted over the internet. Remote workers should use a VPN whenever accessing company resources, such as email or cloud storage, to ensure that all data transmissions are secure and protected from potentially malicious attacks.

Invest In Residential Proxies

Residential proxies are becoming increasingly popular among remote workers who want to keep their data secure. This type of proxies are residential IP addresses assigned to a residential internet user by their internet service provider. These proxies are used to hide the remote worker’s real IP address, making it difficult for cybercriminals to track their online activities. Residential proxies also offer better performance than data centre proxies, which are often detected and blocked by websites.

Keep Software And Operating Systems Up-To-Date

Another important tip to secure employer data when working remotely is to keep software and operating systems up-to-date. Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software and operating systems to gain unauthorised access to sensitive data. This is why remote workers should ensure that their devices are updated with the latest security patches and updates to prevent the risk of cyberattacks. Employees should also be cautious when downloading and installing new applications, only using trusted sources and verifying the authenticity of the software.

Work From Anywhere Safely

Working remotely has become the new norm for many businesses, and it’s crucial to take the necessary steps to ensure that employer data is secure. Remote workers must be vigilant about the security of their devices and networks, as cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorised access to sensitive data. By implementing the tips outlined in this article, employees can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks and protect all kinds of sensitive information.

However, it’s also important to remember that these measures alone may not be sufficient to fully secure sensitive employer data. Employers should also stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and trends and work closely with their employees to develop and implement effective security protocols. With the right approach and mindset, remote work can be just as secure as working in a traditional office environment.

Easy to Add Things That’ll Improve Your Home Office Setup

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Working from home is becoming more and more popular, as people are realising the many benefits it has to offer. If you’re one of the many people who have made the switch to working from home, congratulations! There are a few things you can do to improve your home office setup and make it feel more like an actual office.

In this blog post, we will discuss six easy ways to make your home office feel more professional.

Black shutters

Black shutters are a great way to make your home office feel more like an actual office. They help to block out light and noise, so you can focus on your work. If you don’t want to invest in actual shutters, you can use black-out curtains. However, black shutters are an eye-catching and stylish addition to any home office.

If you can swing it, we say go for the shutters. They’ll make you feel like you’re working in a chic, high-end office space.

Headphones

If you live in a noisy household or have nosy neighbours, headphones are a must-have for working from home. They’ll help you to block out distractions and stay focused on your work. We recommend investing in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They’re definitely worth the extra money. If you don’t want to spend too much, there are some great options under $100.

Also, make sure to get a pair that’s comfortable to wear for long periods. No one wants to be stuck with a headache after a long day of work.

Air scent

An easy way to make your home office feel more inviting is to add a pleasant scent. This can be done with an essential oil diffuser or a scented candle. We recommend choosing a calming scent like lavender or eucalyptus. These scents have been shown to reduce stress and promote relaxation. If you’re not a fan of lavender, there are plenty of other options to choose from.

Find one that you like and that makes your home office feel more pleasant. For example, if you have a window in your office, you might want to choose a citrus scent to freshen up the space. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a cosy ambiance, vanilla might be a better choice.

Plants

Adding a few plants to your home office is an easy way to make the space feel more inviting. Plants help to purify the air and can boost your mood. They also add a touch of nature to your office, which can help you feel more relaxed. If you’re not sure which plants to choose from, we recommend starting with some easy-to-care-for options like succulents or air plants. These plants can thrive with minimal care, so you don’t have to worry about them too much. You can also get creative with your plant choices and choose ones that match your décor or personal style.

If you want to add a pop of colour to your office, you can choose brightly coloured plants. Or, if you’re going for a more minimalist look, you can stick with green plants.

Cloth

If you have a lot of electronics in your home office, you’ll want to make sure they’re properly protected. A great way to do this is to use cloth covers for your devices. This will help to keep them dust-free and looking new. You can find cloth covers for almost any type of device, from laptops to tablets. If you can’t find a cover that fits your device, you can always make your own. Cloth covers are an easy and affordable way to keep your electronics in good condition.

They’re also much better for the environment than plastic covers. You can find cloth covers online or at your local craft store.

Charger storage

Chargers are one of those things that always seem to be in the way. They’re always tangling up and getting lost. A great way to keep them organised is to get a charger storage box. This will help to keep your chargers in one place and prevent them from getting tangled. You can find charger storage boxes online or at your local home goods store. They’re usually pretty affordable and worth the investment.

There are many easy ways to improve your home office setup. By adding some simple things like black shutters, headphones, air scent, plants, cloth, and charger storage, you can make your office more inviting and efficient. These small changes can make a big difference in your work-from-home experience. So don’t wait any longer, make some changes to your home office today.

Tips for HR to Maintain an Employee Handbook while Working Remotely

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Remote working is an employment arrangement in which employees do not commute to a central place of work. The cornerstone of communication for HR departments is their employee handbook. Outdated policies not only cause confusion among the employees but also puts the company at jeopardy for several lawsuits.

Therefore, it is really important for businesses to review their employee handbook twice a year as a policy as well as revise it every time a new law concerning the employees is introduced. E.g. the recent pandemic has raised serious questions about several compliance policies in companies and to remain clear HR needs to add and subtract several things to this corporate policy document.

Here are 4 tips to keep your employee handbook up to date while we have all started working remotely:

1. Remote Working Policies

As the entire world was forced to shift to remote working, a lot of employees complained that remote working meant they had to be available 24/7 or that their families might be close by when they are taking important work calls. To deal with such things, HR has to upgrade their company privacy policies as well as the timings of employees as well. Having access to the internet all the time should translate into working anytime and every time, especially when it comes to remote working parents, or people who have sick relatives at home etc, they should be given the flexibility of when they want to work or whether they want to work task based or time based etc.

2. New Tools For Communication

Employees who are remote can communicate via calls or SMS all the time, SaaS tools for communication such as slack should be introduced throughout the organisation to make communication easier. Some organisations do use tools like skype but skype does not offer a full range of apps it can connect to such as slack. Introducing new policies to communicate at appropriate timings and on appropriate channels according to the company need to be added to the upgraded employee manuals.

Some policies on accessing company documents and other data through your personal laptops or work laptops should also be in place to avoid data leakage. These policies are to upgraded in the document as well as communicated to the entire company over email or a short meeting

3. New Applicable Laws

New laws regarding employee welfare, different businesses, taxes etc are being introduced all the time. One of the most tedious responsibilities of an HR person is to be on the lookout for these and then after documenting the laws into the handbook, explain them to the employees too. To avoid expensive litigation, federal and local law compliance is of vital importance.

We recommend keeping your employee handbook handy in a word or google doc file and keep updating the chances as they come to you. HR is recommended to convert these policy upgrade meetings into a fun presentation or a 15-20 minute training so that its can become fun for both the parties.

4. Pandemic Contingency Plan

The covid-19 pandemic brought the remote work wave with it. A Lot of people loved working remotely but many questions arose with this plan. Such as what would the company do if another pandemic is to show up ? Would the employees be let go ? How can you make business digital if you were to lose your physical location tomorrow? How will the aggrieved employees who were let go be compensated and several other questions.

We recommend HR needs to ask the employees to send their questions that were looming in their thoughts during the pandemic and devise policies to answer those questions for the future. An entire pandemic contingency plan section should be a part of all the employee handbooks from 2020 onwards.

Whether you are starting from scratch or just upgrading the previous handbook, the two important steps include taking feedback from employees and keeping your handbook up to date according to the employee issues as well as the law. Let us know what interesting policies your company came up with to help their employees.

Notary Public Services To Be Provided Remotely

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A notary public of the common law is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with general financial transactions, estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business.

A recent circular from the Notary Public in Dubai confirmed that due to COVID-19 all Notary Public services, in all branches, would cease up till the 9th April 2020.

Up until this date it has been confirmed that certain Notary Public services may be conducted remotely.

The following Notary Services can be conducted remotely:

  • i) Power of Attorney notarisation;
  • ii) Notarisation of legal notices;
  • iii) Acknowledgements;
  • iv) Notarisation of Local Service Agent Agreements;
  • v) Notarisation of Memorandums of Association and addendum’s thereto for civil companies.

All services relating to commercial companies’ memoranda and addenda have been transferred to Dubai Economy and are no longer dealt with by the Dubai Notary Public.

The remote working times for the Dubai Notary Public will be from 8am till 4pm from Sunday to Thursday.

The service requires a subscription to BOTIM and the Notary office will contact the attestor to the document through this video connection to establish identity and knowledge of the document which must be sent to the Dubai Notary Public’s dedicated email address in PDF format with an approved reference to the remote signing on the bottom of each page.

The fees will be payable by credit card and the courier will deliver the document at a cost of AED21 to your address.

There is therefore no need to wait for 9th April 2020 before important notarisation’s are attended to and BSA is able to assist you in finalising the arrangements for notarial execution of your documents during this already stressful time.