Protecting Your Personal Information at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Protecting Your Personal Information at Work - Introvert Whisperer Protecting Your Personal Information at Work Data privacy is a concern for many workplaces. This relates to the way that they collect, store, and process personal information. The concern goes farther than business functions, however, as the privacy of their employees information is something to seriously consider when discussing cybersecurity as a whole. So, how does this impact you as an employee and how can you protect yourself against the impacts of a data breach or personal invasion? As a busy employee, you likely have several thoughts running through your head during the 8+ hours on the job. Oftentimes, these thoughts extend past office tasks and require making appointments, running errands, or checking on a personal matter. When these tasks are completed on devices over the office network, your employer is able to see your search history. This can leave many employees feeling like they have no ability for privacy. Ultimately this could lead to a decrease in employee morale and productivity. Additionally, if your company should fall victim to a data breach, this could also put you at risk of more serious risks such as identity theft. Look into your company policy Familiarizing yourself with the policies that your company has set in place regarding data privacy and collection can help you better understand how they will be monitoring and utilizing your data. This information is likely to be found in the company handbook or by asking human resources and/or the IT department. Separate work and personal life The best way to keep the information you don’t wish to disclose private is to separate work and personal business completely. This means avoiding using your work computer for personal matters. Even bring your own device, such as a mobile phone to the company’s network leaves it susceptible to an investigation. For example, checking job board sites on your mobile phone while on the network can signal your company that you’re actively looking for a new job. Save this and other personal tasks for your own time such as lunch breaks, or after hours. Additionally, make sure that you are using different passwords for each device and that these passwords are unique and hard to guess. Use a VPN If you wish to have your internet activity almost completely private, you may want to consider using a virtual private network. This software is easy to install and ensures that your session is private by encrypting your data. It works by routing your internet actions to a server and changing your IP address to hide it from any potential eavesdroppers or cybercriminals. This can also be a helpful tool for anyone who travels for their job as many airports, hotels, and cafes have unsecured wireless networks making them more susceptible. Don’t overshare personal information A general rule of thumb but something that is often forgotten, is avoiding the practice of oversharing information about yourself at work. Though you may build trusting relationships and friendships with coworkers one slip up can land you in dangerous water. Always keep your passwords to yourself and put your computer to sleep when you get up from it. The only person that you should ever need to provide your social security number, address, or phone number to is someone in HR and even then, the case is rare. If you must provide them with this information, make sure that you do so in person or in writing and definitely not via email or chat. Use common sense Take responsibility for your actions online and use common sense. Whether its a questionable picture you’re sharing, an angry tweet you sent in the heat of the moment about a coworker, or an email with non-work-related content always think twice. Under the law, your company has a legal right to monitor and hold you accountable for this information. More employees are being let go from their jobs each year due to compromising social media posts. It’s always better to take time to think a situation through then end up regretting it when it comes back to haunt you. Author Bio: Scott is an advocate for cybersecurity and identity theft prevention and enjoys writing on such topics. Go to top Power-Influence-Office Politics: it comes down to your Strategic Relationships and understanding of how you build each one of these elements. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my video that outlines all of this and meaningful actions you can take today!  Start watching now by clicking here! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer