How to keep your business data safe when working abroad

Working abroad can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with some risks for your business data. Whether you are traveling for a conference, a meeting, or a vacation, you need to be aware of the potential cyber threats that can compromise your sensitive information. Here are 5 top tips to keep your business data safe when working abroad.

A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server in another location. This way, you can access the internet as if you were in your home country, and avoid the censorship, surveillance, or hacking that might occur in some foreign networks. A VPN also allows you to access your business resources, such as email, cloud storage, or intranet, without exposing them to prying eyes. Make sure you choose a reputable VPN provider that has a strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and a large network of servers.

Public Wi-Fi networks, such as those in airports, hotels, cafes, or libraries, are convenient, but they are also very insecure. Anyone on the same network can intercept your data, or even create a fake hotspot to lure you in. If you have to use public Wi-Fi, make sure you use a VPN to encrypt your traffic, and avoid accessing any sensitive or confidential information, such as your bank account, your credit card, or your business documents. Alternatively, you can use your mobile data, or a portable hotspot, to create your own secure connection.

Before you travel, make sure you update your devices and software to the latest versions. This will ensure that you have the most recent security patches and bug fixes and that you are protected from any known vulnerabilities. You should also enable automatic updates so that you don't miss any critical updates while you are abroad. Additionally, you should install reliable antivirus and firewall software on your devices and scan them regularly for any malware or viruses.

Physical security is also important when you are working abroad. You should always lock your devices when you are not using them, and never leave them unattended in public places. You should also use strong passwords, or better yet, biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or face recognition, to unlock your devices. Furthermore, you should enable encryption on your devices, and use a password manager to store and generate your passwords. This way, even if your devices are lost or stolen, your data will be safe from unauthorized access.

Finally, you should always backup your data before you travel, and regularly while you are abroad. This will ensure that you have a copy of your data in case something happens to your devices, or if you need to wipe them remotely. You should also enable the find my device feature on your devices, so that you can locate, lock, or erase them if they are lost or stolen.