Last month we discussed how to better manage IT vulnerabilities at the office to make sure your business continues to function well but what about IT risks at home?
Smart homes
Being able to control your home’s key functions such as heating, lights and door mechanisms can be extremely convenient, however as all these apps run over the internet, it’s wise to consider potential risks as well. Fans of The Big Bang Theory might well remember the humorous Remote Control episode but smart home owners have been locked in/out or had the lights turned off and on – either accidentally or maliciously. The safety tips below can help you retain control (and perhaps unsurprisingly are based on similar principles for office safety):
- Secure your network – make sure your Wi-Fi is properly secured
- Strengthen device passwords – use combination of upper/lower case, numbers, symbols or better yet a password manager
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) – this adds an extra layer of security to help keep unwanted people out
- Regularly update firmware – this is essential for fixing security vulnerabilities
- Research your devices – go for those with a history of prompt updates and robust security features and continue to keep yourself informed
- Isolate sensitive devices – consider having these on a separate network or VLAN
- Review app permissions – make sure you know what the device is trying to access before granting permission
- Voice assistants – check privacy settings and be careful about what information you share
- Check your devices regularly – look for unusual behaviour
- Device data usage – review the privacy policy to make sure you understand how it uses your data
Sustainable tech habits
We’ve discussed in previous newsletters how we can all contribute to making our technology more sustainable but have you thought that it might also be more cost-effective? Some of the techniques below could help you manage your outgoings more efficiently:
- Energy-efficient hardware and appliances
- Virtualisation and cloud computing
- Renewable energy sources
- E-waste recycling programs
- Paperless office
- Eco-friendly office supplies
- Software optimisation
- Remote monitoring and control
- Supply chain sustainability
- Lifecycle assessments