The normalization of remote work has been a game-changer for entrepreneurs, creating new opportunities to balance business and pleasure in ways never before possible. In the Philippines, the country’s ongoing digital transformation has given rise to a new generation of freelancers and digital nomads who have left on-site work in favor of doing business wherever they please. Even those that have had to stick with traditional offices are also working more remotely than ever before thanks to the country’s maturing digital infrastructure.
However, working while traveling introduces significant security challenges that not all entrepreneurs are necessarily prepared for. For one, even as cyber threats evolve, longstanding threats to mobile devices are still very real, and it only takes a few moments of complacency to compromise critical customer data or e-commerce payment systems.
Thus, securing your remote work setup is essential both for your growing business and for your personal data. This is, of course, a serious challenge in any environment that you do not directly control. Whether you’re at your overseas business HQ or checking in from a hotel, situations like device damage, theft, public WiFi threats, and phishing attacks directed at travelers need to be taken seriously. Protect yourself against these threats with these practical tips to enhance your remote work security:
1. Regularly Update Your Software and Payment Systems
Keeping your e-commerce platform, payment processing software, and other tools up to date will keep malicious parties from using known security holes to compromise them. In particular, make sure you integrate the best payment gateway for small business travelers. Payment information is especially sensitive and having a payment data breach happen when you’re on the road can be especially frustrating to deal with. With up-to-date systems, such breaches are far less likely to occur, giving you more peace of mind when you’re traveling.
2. Use a Virtual Private Network
A virtual private network or VPN encrypts your internet connection, preventing successful “man-in-the-middle” attacks over public Wi-Fi. As a bonus, it also masks your browsing activity so anyone snooping in will have a significantly harder time accessing your data.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Modern payment systems and cloud storage accounts typically have the option for two-factor authentication (2FA) to provide an additional layer of security other than passwords. While enabling it does slow down your access to the system, it provides a valuable means of preventing unauthorized access to your payment portals or customer data. Indeed, regardless of whether you’re traveling or working at the office, enabling 2FA is an important step in achieving credible security.
4. Encrypt Sensitive Data and Payment Information
Encrypting sensitive customer details and transaction records on your e-commerce site ensures that even if hackers gain access to your database, the information is unreadable without the correct encryption key. Simply put, always choose e-commerce platforms that offer built-in encryption and don’t forget to enable it before use.
5. Secure Physical Devices with Strong Passwords and Biometrics
Regardless if they’re laptops, smartphones, smart watches, or anything else, all internet-capable devices must have strong passwords or biometric locks since they are points of access for malicious parties. Strong device security is particularly important if you’re a traveling entrepreneur because your devices probably have direct access to sensitive systems.
6. Backup E-Commerce Data Regularly
Hackers and cyber criminals aren’t the only threats out there. Your hardware can also get damaged or stolen when you travel—and if customer data is stored locally on those devices, it may be lost forever. The most straightforward solution is to invest in a secure cloud service that automatically backs up your data at regular intervals. To supplement this, you’ll also need to schedule regular backups so that any data losses are kept to a minimum.
7. Be Vigilant Against Scams Targeting Travelers
Online and offline scams targeting clueless travelers are exceedingly common, even in highly developed countries. Falling victim to these scams can lead to the loss of your devices or, worse, sensitive business and personal data. Never trust anyone you’ve only met online or by chance in real-world encounters, especially when it comes to financial transactions. Most importantly, never think that you’re too smart to be scammed, as scammers rely on misplaced confidence to achieve their goals.
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| A DIGITAL NOMAD WORKING ON THE BEACH ~ PHOTO BY OLEKSANDR P FROM PEXELS |
Setting Up Safety Nets for Today’s Digital Jetsetters
Traveling as an entrepreneur is hardly just fun and games. Once your customers entrust you with their data, your responsibility to shield yourself and your devices against hackers becomes as much business as it is personal.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be especially creative or technologically savvy to protect your business against malicious actors as you explore the world. Staying vigilant and following the vetted strategies above will give your business a credible defense against the majority of hacking attempts. However, at the end of the day, remote work security isn’t just about technology or best practices—it’s about cultivating a mindset of constant awareness and good common sense, wherever you are in the world.
~ WORDS CONTRIBUTED BY K. SANTOS, COVER PHOTO BY ANDREW NEEL FROM PEXELS
