Guidance on working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many SMEs to adopt new strategies to cope with the social distancing requirements. One of them, which has been implemented by a huge number of companies, is smart working practice, implying employees working from their own houses. 

The need to interact within the work team, however, remains. This is the reason why many platforms, such as Skype for Business, Slack, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, and Zoom, have become very popular, since they allow communication and exchange without meeting physically.

The increase in the use of such tools brings two sorts of risks connected to cybersecurity:

1. On one hand, malign actors are exploiting these new challenging circumstances to target remote workers.
2. On the other hand, most of the platforms mentioned above are not security-tested, validated, or approved by Cyber ​​Security centres.

ICT Legal Consulting has collected official resources from across the world, in order to provide guidance on cybersecurity-related information about working remotely in the context of the pandemic. You can find them all listed below.

Australian Signals Directorate – Australian Cybersecurity Centre, Cyber security is essential when preparing for COVID-19

Danish Center for Cybersecurity – Use of communication and collaboration platforms 

European Commission, ENISA, CERT-EU and Europol – COVID-19 Joint Statement

EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) – Tips for cybersecurity when working from home

Europol –Safe Teleworking Tips and Advice; How criminals profit from the COVID-19 pandemic; Make your home a Cyber Safe Stronghold

France – Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr platform, IT security recommendations for teleworking in crisis situations; Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés Employees in telework: what are the best practices to follow?; and CNIL’s advice on setting up telework

Irish Data Protection Commission –Protecting Personal Data When Working Remotely and Staying safe online during a pandemic; Data Protection Tips for Video-conferencing

Office of the Australian Information Commissioner – Coronavirus (COVID-19): Understanding your privacy obligations to your staff

Switzerland – Home Office: Securing Remote Access

UK Information Commissioner’s Office  – Data security – a guide to the basics

UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) –NCSC issues guidance as home working increases in response to COVID-19

United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency – Defending Against COVID-19 Cyber Scams; Risk Management for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19); Enterprise VPN Security Alert

United States Federal Trade Commission – Seven Coronavirus scams targeting your business