Although we’ve talked many times about the security issues around employees working remotely from home or while abroad, we haven’t specifically touched on the issues that the self-employed face when working at home.

We talk many times about the importance of keeping private or sensitive information on the corporate network, accessed remotely, but not stored on mobile devices. At home, this is more of a challenge because that data is in your home, on your home computers. One must consider physical data storage (bank information, tax returns, receipts, etc), as well as protecting the data you store on your desktop or laptop computers.

Basic data security tips:

1. Use strong passwords, and don’t write them down
2. Install an anti-virus solution & encryption solution
3. Keep your software up to date
4. Don’t click links or open files from untrusted sources (and be wary of trusted ones too)
5. Log out of your computer at night
6. Set up a firewall
7. Read our Ten Steps to Laptop Security list

Absolute Software’s Computrace LoJack for Laptops comes with 2 editions, Premium and Standard, allowing you to protect all the computers in your home office. The Premium edition comes with the advanced capabilities to not just help recover lost laptops, but to remotely delete sensitive data.

The FTC also has out a guide for businesses wanting to protect personal information. This guide is geared to businesses of all sizes, but is particularly useful for the small business owner. If you are in the business of dealing with a lot of sensitive information, consider that there may be more advanced solutions to storing data off-premises, via a secure business network solution and even physical data storage.

Other articles on the blog you may find interesting:

• Handheld Devices Big Security Threat
• Hotel Network Security
• NCIX Mobile Security Tips for Overseas Travel
• Federal CISOs Green Light Telework
• Trusting Contractors with Laptops
• Unofficial Teleworkers Put Federal Data at Risk