Home Office Security and Productivity Gary Micander Sierra - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Home Office Security and Productivity

Gary Micander

Sierra Computer Group

Topics

Cybersecurity at Home WiFi Optimization and Home Networking Creating a productive Home Office

Cybersecurity at Home

How secure is your WFH setup?

Do you work from a company- provided device or a personal device?

Company devices are usually much better protected than personal computers

Does anyone else share your device at home?

Family members may not have malicious intent, but can still compromise your device’s security

How do you access company data?

Cloud (Sharepoint, Dropbox, Salesforce) VPN (Hardware or Software) Remote Desktop (Splashtop, GoToMyPC, Teamviewer, Microsoft RDP)

Why am I a target?

• Every WFH user is another door to the office that

needs to be secured

Your computer is a gateway to the corporate network

• Not monitored by IT
• Not running the same security software and policies

Home computers and networks are usually easier to compromise

• Phishing (fake emails)
• Phone scams pretending to be IT Support
• Pre-existing malware that can be repurposed

Cybercriminals will try to gain access to your home computer and network

Keep it secure

 Keep your work and personal

computing separate

 Do not allow others to use your work

computer

 Run business-grade security software

(Antivirus, Antimalware, EDR)

 If possible, use a separate network  Stay vigilant, be extra suspicious of

emails and links

WiFi Optimization and Home Networking

Home Networking

• Wired is usually faster and more reliable
• Not all devices have a wired (Ethernet) connection
• Not practical or cost effective for many homes

Wired vs WiFi

• Modem translates one technology and connection type to another
• Phone Line -> Ethernet
• Coax Cable -> Ethernet
• Router directs traffic between networks (stop light)
• Firewall decides what is allowed in and out (security guard at a building entrance)
• Most home devices are combination Router/Firewall

Modems, Routers, Firewalls, Access Points

WiFi Basics

• A, B, G, N, AC, WiFi6 (AX)
• Newer standards for higher speeds,

density, and security

Types of WiFi

• 2.4GHz has longer range but lower

speed

• MANY non-WiFi devices use 2.4GHz

2.4GHz

• 5GHz has shorter range but higher

speed and less interference

5GHz

What does a WiFi signal look like?

What does a WiFi signal look like?

WiFi Solver/Jason Cole

Testing WiFi

General Purpose Mobile App

WiFiMan (Android, iPhone) NetSpot Wifi Analyzer (Android, iPhone)

Router Manufacturer Mobile App

Google Home TPLink Tether Netgear Genie Linksys

Laptop

inSSIDer (Windows) NetSpot (Mac/Windows)

Optimizing WiFi

• Central location, or shortest straight line to coverage area
• Avoid dense objects (metal, concrete, water)
• Tabletop or higher

Router Placement

• Microwaves (2.4GHz)
• Non-WiFi Wireless devices (phones, garage door openers,

etc)

Causes of Interference

• Extends WiFi without cabling
• Speed can drop with each hop
• Spreads load

Mesh WiFi

Home Internet

Good WiFi needs good internet Home Internet options usually include Cable, DSL, Wireless, or Satellite Stability is sometimes more important than speed Run a speed test at different times

https://speed.measurementlab.net/ http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest

Creating a Productive Home Office

Home Office Productivity – Technology

VOIP vs Cell Phone

• Use a VOIP phone from work or a softphone on your computer with a headset for better quality than cell phone.

Physical phone vs computer audio

• User preference, but computer audio can often be better quality with the right headset.

Power Protection

• You can get a sub-$100 UPS that will keep you running long enough to save your work or ride-out a short brown-out or outage.

Multi-monitor

• Multiple monitors can help you keep on task. Use one for email, one for your primary application.

Headphones/headsets

• Some people can focus better with some background noise/music.
• Noise-cancelling headphones can help focus.

Webcams

• Look for name brands (Logitech, Microsoft, Razer).
• 1080p resolution with built-in microphone.
• Use a ring light if your room lighting is dim or uneven
• Consider a green screen if you have a busy or distracting background

Backup your data!

• Your home computer should be backed up just like servers at work.
• Especially important if working on local data instead of server/cloud.

Home Office Productivity – Environment

Proper Desk and Chair

• Table-top sit/stand desks
• Stack some books to position your monitor at eye level
• Good chair or chair cushion
• Proper mouse and keyboard position

Lighting

• Full spectrum bulbs
• Cool White vs Warm White, tunable bulbs

Temperature

• Fans/Heaters – Keep yourself and your equipment at the right temperature
• Don’t plug heaters into battery backups

Set boundaries - physical and time

• Office space should be separate from living space, even if that’s a virtual boundary
• If you work in the kitchen, make sure that no one is preparing food during “work hours”

Limit bad noise, create good noise

• If physical separation isn’t possible, noise cancelling headphones can make a huge difference
• White noise or background noise devices/apps can help

Useful Software and Apps

To Do Lists

• Trello
• Outlook Tasks

Time Management/Tracking

• RescueTime
• Todoist

Collaboration

• Zoom
• Teams
• Slack

Print to PDF

• Microsoft Print to PDF
• CutePDF
• Adobe

Questions