Best Practices for Working from Home |

Working from home has become a new reality for many workers across the globe in many industries. The reality is that if your job can be done via a computer, or simply doesn’t require you to be physically present at your office in order for it to be completed, then working from home is the optimum solution in times like these. 

The global coronavirus pandemic has forced hundreds of millions worldwide to adapt to a new way of working. However, it seems that this unforeseen trend isn’t just temporary and is here to stay, at least to some degree. While productivity and performance vary in different industries and locations, many employers consider this working-from-home model, in full or hybrid mode, to be ideal for their business, especially when it comes to business expenses.

Whether you’re an employee or an employer, it’s good to learn some of the best practices for working from home.

1. Manage your time wisely

Working from home can oftentimes prove to be hard as it easily blends the lines between work and personal life. For instance, you may be in the middle of preparing for your morning Zoom meeting when all of a sudden your child, who may be home due to schools being closed, is suddenly hungry or bored. It becomes easy to stay off track in both areas, so managing your time wisely is crucial to avoid the stress that comes with trying to juggle both.

• Create a daily routine that allows you to set clear boundaries between work and personal life. If you live with a working partner or a spouse, divide the house chores so that you can both meet your work requirements. 
• Get help from an outside source-your next-door neighbor wants to make a little extra cash? Offer him to watch your kids for a couple of hours a day or take your dog out on a walk. 
• Make sure to stock your fridge with ready to eat food and snacks so that you don’t spend too much time cooking during the day.
• Ask for those who live with you to respect your quiet time during these set hours and set up your meetings to fit these work hours. 

2. Create a quiet, well-lit work environment

If you don’t have a home office, aim to set up a work station in a bedroom or near the living room. However, if you don’t live alone, try to be facing away from the rest of the house so that you don’t get distracted easily. 

3. Take care of yourself

Working from home can take its toll on people’s emotional well-being. Whether it’s being in isolation or having your family around you 24/7, this concept has proven to be burdensome on many. In fact, during 2020, anxiety and depression cases have tripled. This can be attributed to corona’s effects on people’s growing fears in light of uncertainty and lack of human contact. In order for you and your employees to remain productive and capable while working from home, it is essential to apply the following:

• Take breaks often. Whether it’s to make a phone call to a family member or friend, make sure to get some human interaction a few times a day while working from home.
• Depending on where you live and the local rules, if you can, go outside for a walk or some fresh air. Engaging in an outdoor activity, such as a walk, run, stretching, yoga, or meditation, can really help you stay focused and energized when working from home.

4. Avoid public Wi-Fi

As staying at home can get tough on all of us, some may choose to work from outside. Whether it’s from a park that offers free Wi-Fi or on a bench in front of a café, many prefer to work outside in the fresh air. However, using public Wi-Fi can be very dangerous, as it gives hackers easier access to your computer, putting your data and company in jeopardy. We suggest that if you still wish to work outside, do the work that does not require internet access and get all the docs you need prior to going outside when still using a secured network.

5. Keep work data on work computer

If you were given a laptop from work, chances are that it’s secured with the workplace’s internal VPN and other security measures. However, it’s recommended to have a good and reliable security suite installed and running on the device you’re working from to lower the chances to have the business data leaked. Keep on reading to see our recommendation for one. 

6. Change passwords on a regular basis

It goes without saying that using an easy to guess password is the fastest way someone can hack into your device. Find out how to choose a good password in this article, and make sure to change them often.

7. Use A Firewall

When working from home, protecting your computer and network from unnecessary traffic and malicious attacks is crucial. ZoneAlarm Pro Firewall protects against inbound and outbound cyberattacks, unwanted traffic to the internet and PC, and makes you invisible to hackers.

8. Get strong Anti-Phishing protection

Phishing is a scam tactic that fools the user into inserting their credentials on a fake site and the hacker stealing them for their own use on the real site. It is also one of the easiest cyberattacks to fall victim to, as the fake sites are nearly identical to the original websites (Think Amazon, Chase Bank, etc.). Phishing attacks can get very costly and dangerous as you’re revealing your email address and password to a hacker who can use it in multiple ways to steal your or your company’s money and data, and even sell it on the dark web. ZoneAlarm Extreme Security offers strong Anti-Phishing protection from not only known attacks, but from Zero-Day, or unknown attacks that threaten, thus helping you avoid any possible phishing attacks. 

9. Get top notch Anti-Ransomware

Ransomware attacks have been on the rise and are a top concern for businesses and consumers alike. For larger organizations, ransomware can cost millions in fees and repair. To avoid ransomware attacks, we recommend ZoneAlarm’s Anti-Ransomware. It uses enterprise-grade technology by Check Point, a global cybersecurity leader that protects enterprises and governments worldwide. It’s also the winner of PCMag’s Editors’ Choice award for Best Anti-Ransomware for three years in a row. 

10. Most importantly, use a good real-time Antivirus

The good ol’ Antivirus still remains the top protection measure for companies to use to protect their devices from cyberattacks. Getting a real-time antivirus with next-gen protection is preferred. 

Want it all? ZoneAlarm Extreme Security has all you need for protection from the most advanced cyberattacks when working from anywhere. It contains the essentials: a Firewall, Antivirus, Anti-Ransomware, and Anti-Phishing, but also extra layers of protection for PC and mobile devices to ensure you have the maximum protection needed for peace of mind.