Why Digital Privacy Protection Is Crucial for Remote Workers

Digital privacy protection is especially important for organizations with remote workers.

Data breaches made headlines throughout 2021 as several high-profile companies fell foul to email phishing scams and ransomware attacks. A study by Forbes found that as many as 84% of C-level executives were targeted by cyberattacks in 2021, with 78% of IT leaders saying the C-Suite is the most prone to phishing attacks. These types of attacks often use personal information scoured from online sources to trick victims into passing over sensitive data.

The situation highlights the fact that strong cybersecurity measures alone are often not enough to protect your company's data. A 2020 survey from Newsweek found that 52% of executives believe the majority of data breaches arise as the result of inadequately trained employees. This suggests that the standard IT security training that most companies currently use is not enough to combat the rise of personal data theft. Companies need to introduce proactive digital privacy solutions to preempt and reduce the risk of any possible data breaches.

Many remote workers also use their own devices, which are incompatible with corporate security tools and susceptible to intrusion. A study from IBM and the Ponemon Institute found that:

This shows just how important it is for employees to receive digital privacy training and know-how to use privacy protection tools.

Why digital privacy protection matters

With a lot more personal information online and an increase in people working from home (WFH), digital privacy is now more important than ever. The pandemic has forced thousands of employees to work remotely without providing companies the time they need to train employees in the importance of a secure WFH environment. With many companies now planning to adopt a permanent remote or hybrid work arrangement, the WFH model and its inherent dangers are here to stay.

This puts company and client data at risk, as cybercriminals are rapidly taking advantage of the reduced security measures. Employees who access company data on personal devices that aren't adequately secured put that data at risk. When working from home or in public cafes or workspaces, this risk is heightened due to the use of unsecured WiFi networks.

While traditional security measures cover issues like password policies and VPN use, they often fall short of digital privacy protection. Besides the standard IT security procedures, employees need to know what data privacy tools are available to them to help protect company and customer information.

Train your employees to use data privacy tools

The biggest threat to online privacy is all the information that's collected in the background when you visit websites and use social media apps. Many people are unaware of just how much of their personal data is collected online and stored on computers and in data centers around the world.

Fortunately, rising privacy concerns are now making it easier for individuals to protect their social media, secure their WiFi, and request the removal of their personal information from websites and data brokers. Safeguard your digital privacy with these four data privacy protection tools available from IDX:

Combat phishing and ransomware fraud by removing personal information

The internet is packed full of personal information collected by data brokers and sold to companies that use it for marketing purposes. In the wrong hands, this information can be used to hack into systems, create phishing scams, or facilitate ransomware attacks.

IDX's ForgetMe feature will automatically find and remove personally identifiable information from the internet. The service can scan and delete personal information profiles from over 100 data broker websites and continue to monitor when your information has been added again. Show your staff the value of removing personal information from people's search sites and limit the further collection of information in the future.

Reduce risks of social media account takeovers

With SocialSentry from IDX, users can mitigate the security risks presented by social media account takeovers. Recently, hackers took control of India Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Twitter account, posting scam messages and sending panic across the nation. This type of social media hijacking can be reputationally devastating to a company or individual.

SocialSentry also includes a remediation service to help users take down offending content and remove malicious links.

Protect sensitive information when using WiFi with a VPN

Remote workers need to protect the WiFi connections that they use, both at home and in public places. With IDX's VPN service, companies can rest assured that any company data transfer over the internet is encrypted and protected from theft even on employees' personal devices.

IDX's Safe WiFi VPN service creates a private, encrypted connection directly to your office network. In addition, a VPN hides your location and blocks websites from tracking and storing your personal information online.

Stop third parties from tracking and storing your information

Your employees may not see it happening, but websites consistently track and store their browsing behavior while online. While they may think they have nothing to hide, this information could be stolen and used against them by hackers or ransomware attackers.

The IDX Privacy platform includes an internet browser extension that stops companies from tracking online behavior. This useful tool works in the background without interrupting browsing, ensuring any transmitted data remains private at all times.

Digital privacy protection with IDX

Digital Privacy threats are changing rapidly. Companies that adopt the right solutions to stay ahead of privacy demands will earn trust and stand out in the market. As the world's leading digital privacy protection platform, we have all the tools necessary to provide effective data privacy protection.

When it comes to reducing privacy exposure and minimizing cyber risks, IDX has all the resources you'll ever need to protect both your employees and your organization. Our suite of world-renowned data protection tools is trusted by 40 million consumers worldwide and supported by an unprecedented commitment to privacy.

Start your journey towards better privacy data training with IDX today.