5 March 2009
Teleworkers taste more than lattes
Telecommuting aides many a worker to toil remotely, at home, or while sitting at a sunny café. However, there is danger in a public network.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has updated its guide on maintaining data security while teleworking.
Newswise reported together with the preponderance of dangerous malware on the web, the vulnerability of wireless transmissions from mobile devices has created dramatic new security challenges.
“In terms of remote access security, everything has changed in the last few years. Many web sites plant malware and spyware onto computers, and most networks used for remote access contain threats but aren’t secured against them,” said Karen Scarfone of NIST’s Computer Security Division. “However, even if teleworkers are using unsecured networks, the guide shows the steps organizations can take to protect their data.”
The new guide provides recommendations for organizations. A companion publication offers advice for individual users on securing their own mobile devices.
While intended primarily for U.S. federal government agencies, the guide is in broad language to be helpful to any group that engages in telework.
It is available at the NIST Computer Security Resource Center’s draft publication web site, http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/PubsDrafts.html.
For related information, go to www.isa.org/security.
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