How to Keep Business Devices Secure While Using Public Wi-Fi

It used to be that business computers were all desktops, but that’s no longer the case. Nowadays, most businesses provide their employees with laptops. It’s a perfect match since laptops are so portable – team members can work from home, take their projects with them to conferences or meetings, and generally manage things easily on the go.

However, there is a fly in the ointment: the security of public Wi-Fi. These networks can allow your team to get work done while they’re out of the office, but they do present some risks. Make sure you follow these best practices.

No Sharing

Your business devices are probably part of your business network, connected to other devices to facilitate easy sharing. When one of those devices is on a public network, you need to turn sharing off. Just check online to find out how to do that with your chosen operating system, then educate your team appropriately.

Check for Rogue Networks

You’ll also want to teach your team exactly how to avoid false networks. Say you go into Starbucks, check for networks, and find Starbucks1. It sounds legitimate, but a hacker could have set up that network themselves to fool people, and connecting to it will compromise your security. Check that the network you connect with is the same as the one advertised.

Consider a VPN

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Essentially, these process all your activity through a separate network, providing enhanced security when you’re using public Wi-Fi. There are plenty of VPNs available, so try picking one to install on your business laptops, then let your team know how and when to use them.

Keep Security Up to Date

If you don’t have managed security, it’s likely that some of your security software is behind the times. Even if it’s current, it might be lacking the latest updates. Make sure you invest in proper IT security – it’s a lot easier to hack a system on a public network, so your business devices will need every defence running at 100%.