This year will be remembered for years to come thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has triggered numerous changes. Changes have taken place in the way we meet people, spend time, and work. Today, most employers are encouraging their employees to work from home. This change is not only helping to prevent the infection from spreading but also allowing companies to save a significant amount of money.

It’s obvious that you must belong to certain professions to get the opportunity to work from home. Examples include copywriting, graphic designing, tax consultancy, etc. This write-up is meant particularly for graphic designers. While working from home provides these people with the peace of mind required to think and create, they need to work without the facilities they get when working in an office.

One of the biggest hurdles graphic designers face when working from home is a lack of cybersecurity hygiene. This not only makes their personal information (for instance, sensitive data like credit card info, contact info, social security no., etc.) accessible to cybercriminals but also leaves their creations at risk of getting stolen. If you are a graphic designer working from home, the cybersecurity tips below will surely come in handy for you.

1. Protect Your Network

Top graphic designing companies typically hire software experts (or agencies) for setting up a protected network to keep their workstation connected securely. However, network security turns out to be a big concern when these companies need to share their internal database with employees working from remote locations.

When graphic designers start working from home, they focus primarily on arranging the latest versions of the designing software they use and increasing the capacity of their computer’s hard drive. They often forget to take the necessary steps to protect their network.

It’s difficult to find a local Wi-Fi supplier who offers network security. Thus, if you keep sending and receiving data to and from your company’s database, the network might get access to spies and hackers.

The easiest way to get rid of this problem is by using a VPN. According to ExpressVPN’s guide on what is a VPN, VPN offers users an encrypted channel that keeps all their online transactions secure. Additionally, VPN also hides their location and identity.

2. Prevent Unauthorized Access

When you are working from home using your company’s database and tools (these include stock photos, fonts, expensive software, etc.), it’s your duty to leave no stone unturned to protect those from cybersecurity threats. You must take the necessary steps to ensure that your computer/laptop and accounts are accessed only by authorized people.

The first thing you should do is select strong passwords for all your accounts. Your passwords should be unique, complex, and difficult to decode. According to experts, they should contain a random combination of symbols, letters (both lowercase and uppercase), and numbers. Strong passwords are the most powerful weapons when it comes to preventing unauthorized access.

For increasing the security of your company’s database even further, you can opt for 2-step-verification for gaining access to your system.

3. Ensure Your Devices’ Security

Ensuring your device’s security is also crucial for stopping cybercriminals from accessing your company’s database. When working from home, graphic designers usually need to use their own computer/laptop.

As personal devices rarely have advanced security features, make sure you have the updated version of quality antivirus software installed on your PC/laptop. This should be coupled with a Firewall for added protection. The combination will reduce the machine’s chances of becoming a victim of cyber-attacks significantly.

You will not need to worry about your device’s security if it has been provided by your employer.

4. Configure Your Router’s Setting

Routers are known to come with default passwords and settings. Most graphic designers are either unaware of this or never think of configuring their router’s settings. This leaves their work and sensitive data at high risk of being accessible to unscrupulous people.

If you want to increase the security of the remote connection, you must change the password of your router at regular intervals (at least once every month). This will stop cybercriminals from gaining access to your router settings to carry out malicious activities.

Certain routers don’t remain protected by a password. If you are using one such unit, update it to a WPA3 or WPA2 router.

5. Always Use Encrypted Software and Tools

Every data sharing software and tool doesn’t offer end-to-end (E2E) encryption. Communication and shared files on those platforms don’t have enough protection. As a result, gaining unauthorized access to them is easy.

This problem can be solved by using encrypted data sharing and communication tools and thereby maximizing online data protection. When you communicate or share data with your colleagues, team leaders, and clients, you should always use these encrypted tools and software.

Conclusion

If you are a graphic designer who is planning to start working from home, you must first ensure that your system is protected from various cybersecurity threats. The process should begin by encrypting your network and keeping your online activities hidden from cybercriminals spying on you.