Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1248324
48 PCB007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2020 Feature by Ken Michael DOX ELECTRONICS INC. The COVID-19 pandemic made everyone rush to start working from home. Most of this quick-start remote work was launched without considering the employment of necessary se- curity features, such as multifactor authentica- tion, anti-virus programs, and safety nets for internet of things (IoT) devices. As a result, many businesses are being hacked and paying the consequences for failing to be prepared for employing an instant remote workforce. Did You Forget the Safety Nets? With nearly no notice, a multitude of busi- nesses and employers were asked to continue operations with a remote workforce, the likes of which has never before been seen in modern history. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, businesses were either deemed "essential" or "non-essential" by our local governments. Those that were essential were asked to keep working through the crisis despite the health risks. This has included many businesses such as grocers, truck drivers, healthcare profes- sionals, postal workers, fast-food chains, and more. While most of these frontline workers must still attend work in their regular capacity, other businesses that were non-essential were forced to either shut down completely or find an alternative means for their work to contin- ue. The obvious answer was using technology to produce an instant remote workforce. With access to a computer and the internet, most businesses found their employees could continue working—at least to some degree— from the comfort of their own homes while under shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders. While this modern technology has allowed ma- ny companies and organizations to stay afloat amidst the chaos of such an unprecedented time, many have overlooked the basics of se- curity hygiene in the rush. This means many businesses gave up their proper security safety nets in exchange for a fast fix to keep moving forward. Where's Your VPN? Most business leaders now know that when working remotely, all of your devices should employ a virtual private network (VPN) to