Cybersecurity for remote employees doesn’t stop at the company-issued laptop. When employees work from home, their home Wi-Fi networks become part of your business environment. Their home Wi-Fi gives them access to email, cloud applications, files, and other company resources.
That means the router sitting in an employee’s living room deserves more attention than most businesses give it. A poorly secured or outdated home router can introduce risks that endpoint protection alone can’t completely address.
And the concern doesn’t end at home. If employees work from coffee shops, hotels, airports, coworking spaces, or anywhere else using a network your company doesn’t control, those connections need to be considered as part of your remote work cybersecurity strategy.
For small and midsized businesses with remote or hybrid teams, protecting the business increasingly means thinking beyond the office walls.
Remote Work Cybersecurity at a Glance
A strong approach to remote work cybersecurity should include:
- Secure, company-managed computers whenever possible
- Endpoint protection and ongoing device monitoring
- A business VPN for home and other untrusted Wi-Fi networks
- Multi-factor authentication for business accounts
- Strong, unique passwords and password management
- Secure home Wi-Fi configurations
- Updated router firmware
- Cybersecurity training for remote employees
- Clear procedures for reporting suspicious activity
The goal isn’t to take control of an employee’s home network. It’s to establish reasonable security standards while putting company-managed protections in place that don’t depend entirely on how an employee has configured their Wi-Fi.
Why Home Routers Matter to Business Security
A home router connects everything on an employee’s network to the internet. That may include their work computer alongside personal laptops, phones, smart TVs, gaming systems, security cameras, and other connected devices.
If the router is poorly configured or compromised, it can create additional opportunities for attackers. Weak administrator passwords, outdated firmware, insecure encryption, and unnecessary router features can all increase exposure.
Home routers can be particularly problematic when default credentials haven’t been changed. Keeping firmware current is also important because manufacturers release updates to address security vulnerabilities.
Businesses can educate employees about these risks, but there’s an important limitation: you generally don’t control your employees’ home routers. That’s one reason a business VPN is such an important part of a remote work security strategy.
Why Businesses Should Use a VPN for Remote Employees
A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, creates an encrypted connection between an employee’s device and the VPN service. This helps protect business communications when employees are connected to networks the company doesn’t own or manage.
At Cloudbunker, we typically deploy NordLayer, NordVPN’s business VPN service, for organizations with remote employees.
Using a company-managed VPN provides another layer of protection without requiring the business to manage every employee’s personal router.
A VPN is particularly important when employees connect through:
- Home Wi-Fi networks
- Coffee shops
- Hotels
- Airports
- Coworking spaces
- Conference centers
- Other public or untrusted Wi-Fi networks
Even if an employee believes a network is safe, the business has little visibility into how that network is configured, who else is connected to it, or whether it’s properly maintained.
A business VPN helps reduce the amount of trust you have to place in the network itself.
Common Work from Home Cyber Threats
Remote employees can face many of the same threats as people working inside an office, but businesses have less control over the surrounding network.
Potential risks include phishing, credential theft, malware, ransomware, unauthorized network access, and compromised personal devices.
An attacker who gains control of a router may be able to interfere with network traffic or target other connected devices. A compromised home network can therefore create risks for both an employee’s personal information and the business resources they access.
That’s why remote cybersecurity should use multiple layers of protection. A VPN can help secure communications over an untrusted network, while endpoint protection, MFA, email security, password management, and employee training address other areas of risk.
How Businesses Can Improve Home Router Security
You don’t need to turn every employee into a network administrator. A straightforward remote work security policy can cover the basics.
Change Default Router Credentials
Employees should change default router administrator credentials and protect their Wi-Fi with a strong, unique password. The router administrator password and Wi-Fi password should also be different.
Keep Router Firmware Updated
Like computers and phones, routers run software that can contain vulnerabilities. Employees should enable automatic firmware updates when supported or periodically check for updates from the manufacturer.
Businesses should also encourage employees to replace routers that are no longer supported with security updates.
Use Modern Wi-Fi Encryption
Employees should use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption rather than older, less secure options. They should also review potentially risky convenience features such as WPS and remote management and disable them when they aren’t needed.
Separate Untrusted Devices
Guest networks can help keep visitors and their devices separate from the primary home network. They can also reduce the number of devices sharing the same network as a work computer.
Require a Business VPN
Even when employees follow home Wi-Fi best practices, businesses shouldn’t assume every remote network will be secure.
Providing employees with a centrally managed business VPN adds protection whenever they’re working outside a company-controlled network. This is especially valuable for employees who travel or regularly work from public locations.
Don't Forget Remote Worker Endpoint Security
A VPN and a secure router are only two layers of protection. Remote worker endpoint security is equally important because the laptop or desktop remains the device employees use to access company systems and information.
Businesses should consider Endpoint Security Solutions that provide protection and monitoring regardless of whether an employee is working at headquarters, at home, or somewhere else.
Security controls can include:
- Endpoint protection
- Device updates
- Access controls
- Multi-factor authentication
- Password management
- Email security
- Secure backups
- Device monitoring
- Business VPN access
This layered approach is important because even with the best intentions, employees may sometimes connect to networks that aren’t completely trustworthy.
What About Public Wi-Fi?
Home networks aren’t the only concern.
An employee traveling for work might connect to Wi-Fi at a hotel in the morning, a conference center during the day, and an airport that evening. The company doesn’t control any of those networks.
That makes a VPN especially valuable for mobile and traveling employees. Rather than expecting an employee to determine whether every network is trustworthy, the business can establish a simple rule: use the company VPN whenever you’re connected to a network the company doesn’t manage.
That’s easier for employees to remember and gives the business a more consistent security standard.
Make Security Part of Your Remote Work Policy
Small businesses can create clearer expectations by including home network and VPN requirements in their remote work policies.
Employees should know how to secure their routers, when to use the company VPN, how to recognize suspicious activity, and how to report potential incidents. Cybersecurity training can reinforce these habits without expecting employees to understand complicated networking concepts.
The policy should also clearly distinguish between what the company manages directly, such as work devices, business accounts, endpoint protection, and VPN access, and what employees are expected to maintain in their home environment.
How Cloudbunker Helps Protect Remote Teams
Although remote work expands the number of places where businesses need effective security, managing that environment doesn’t have to become overwhelming.
Cloudbunker is a cybersecurity service company based in Utah that serves small and midsized businesses nationwide. We help organizations build practical layers of protection through endpoint protection, password management, email security, cybersecurity training, cloud and network security, backup and disaster recovery, business VPN services, and managed IT services.
For businesses with remote and hybrid employees, Cloudbunker can deploy and manage NordLayer, NordVPN’s business VPN solution, to help protect company communications when employees connect from home or other untrusted networks.
Our team also provides proactive monitoring and rapid incident response, helping businesses protect employees whether they’re working from the office, home, or on the road.
Protect Your Business Beyond the Office
Your security perimeter no longer ends at the office door. If employees can access company systems from home or while traveling, their devices, accounts, connections, and network habits are part of your overall cybersecurity picture.
You may not be able to control every router or Wi-Fi network your employees encounter. You can control how company devices connect through them.
Combining a business VPN with properly secured endpoints, MFA, password management, employee training, and basic home router security standards creates a much stronger approach to remote work.
Get a quote to talk with Cloudbunker about protecting your remote and hybrid workforce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a home router create a cybersecurity risk for a business?
Yes. A poorly secured or compromised router can create additional risk for work devices and business information accessed through that network.
Should businesses require remote employees to use a VPN?
A business VPN can provide an important additional security layer when employees work from home or connect to public and other untrusted Wi-Fi networks.
When should remote employees use a VPN?
Employees should follow their company's VPN policy. A simple best practice is to use the business VPN whenever connecting through a network the company doesn’t own or manage, including home, hotel, airport, and coffee shop Wi-Fi.
Does a VPN replace endpoint protection?
No. A VPN protects network communications, while endpoint protection helps secure the device itself. Businesses should use both as part of a layered cybersecurity strategy.
What should remote employees do to secure home Wi-Fi?
Employees should use strong passwords, WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, keep router firmware updated, and disable unnecessary features that could introduce additional risk.
How can Cloudbunker help businesses with remote work cybersecurity?
Cloudbunker can help protect remote teams through business VPN deployment, endpoint protection, email security, password management, cybersecurity training, cloud and network security, proactive monitoring, and managed IT services.
