Home office and mobile work have become part of everyday life for many companies. This means IT security has to extend beyond the protected confines of the corporate network to wherever employees actually work – on the home router, on personal devices, and in unsecured Wi-Fi networks on the go. Without clear guidelines here, you open up additional attack surfaces for attackers.

Securing the connection to the company network

VPN instead of open shares

Access to company resources should only happen through an encrypted VPN connection. Shares reachable directly from the internet, open remote desktop access, or unsecured port forwarding are among the most common entry points for attackers and should be avoided entirely.

Two-factor authentication

A password alone is no longer enough to secure access today – too many credentials end up in the wrong hands through phishing or data leaks. Two-factor authentication (2FA) for VPN, email, and cloud services prevents a stolen password alone from being enough to gain access.

Secure network access across changing work locations

If you don't work exclusively from one fixed home workstation but switch between the office, home, and travel, you need a network connection that works reliably regardless of location. A centrally managed VPN solution with clearly defined access rights ensures that security stays the same no matter where an employee connects from.

Separating devices and accounts

Separate business and personal use

Wherever possible, work tasks should be handled on company devices – separate from personal apps, downloads, and accounts. If a personal device is used for work, at least a separate user account with its own access rights should be set up.

Keep updates current

Operating system, browser, and all installed programs should update automatically. On devices outside the company network, which are monitored centrally less often, outdated software is a popular target for attackers.

Managed mobile devices

Smartphones and tablets that access company email or documents should be managed centrally. This makes it possible to enforce security policies, remotely lock or wipe devices if lost, and manage updates consistently – regardless of whether they are company or personal devices covered by a usage policy.

Encrypting laptops and portable storage

Devices that leave the office are more likely to be lost or stolen than stationary workstations. Full disk encryption ensures that company data stays protected even if a laptop ends up in the wrong hands. The same applies to USB drives or external hard disks used to store work data.

Physical security at the home workstation

IT security doesn't stop at software. Simple but effective rules apply at the kitchen table or the home office room as well:

Lock the screen whenever you step away from your workstation, even for short breaks.
Don't leave confidential documents lying around where family members or visitors have access to the room.
Set up work video calls so that visible screens or documents in the background don't reveal sensitive information.
Store printed materials containing company data securely, or dispose of them in a privacy-compliant way after use.

Securing the home Wi-Fi properly

Not every home workstation has a professionally configured network. A few basic rules should still apply:

Enable encryption using the strongest standard currently available and change the router's default password.
Update the router firmware regularly.
Where possible, run company devices on a separate (guest) network, isolated from smart home devices and personal endpoints.
When working on public Wi-Fi, such as in a café or at a train station, only access company data through a VPN.

Don't forget backups

Files created or edited in the home office also need to be backed up reliably. If data is stored locally on the device instead of centrally on company servers or in the cloud, it risks being lost for good if the device fails. Clear guidelines on where work files should be saved are therefore part of a secure home office setup.

Clear rules for everyone

Technology alone isn't enough – without binding guidelines, home offices quickly end up with inconsistent, uncontrolled setups. A short checklist to get started:

Access to company resources only via VPN.
2FA enabled for all important accounts.
Business and personal use cleanly separated.
Automatic updates active on all devices in use.
Mobile devices managed centrally and remotely wipeable if lost.
Binding rules on Wi-Fi security and device use documented in writing.

Conclusion

A secure home office workstation results from the combination of technical safeguards, managed devices, and clear rules. With our mobile device management you keep an overview of all devices used in home offices and can enforce security policies centrally. To see how you can secure your entire IT environment against current threats, visit our IT security section. Reach out via our contact page if you need support setting up secure home office workstations.