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The UK has one of the highest rates of home and hybrid working in the world, making remote IT security a priority for businesses of all sizes.

In 2025, the average UK graduate spent 1.8 days a week working from home, second only to Canada (1.9 days) and 50% more than the global average of 1.2 days. (Source: Stanford)

Almost three quarters of IT professionals globally report that remote work has had a beneficial impact on the performance of their IT departments (Source: Statista). By adopting some simple remote worker best practices, you can ensure that you see the benefits too.

In this remote worker checklist, we have put together 25 steps to follow that cover the essentials of remote worker IT setup and security across the following areas:

  1. Secure access and 2FA
  2. Device setup and hosted desktops
  3. Internet connections and IP communications
  4. Cyber security training and reporting
  5. Data protection and GDPR
  6. IT support and remote monitoring

Complete our 25-step remote and hybrid security checklist, and you’ll be all set to see maximum efficiency and productivity from your home-based and hybrid employees, without putting sensitive business data at risk.

A. Secure access and 2FA/MFA

Access control and authentication are your first lines of defence when it comes to preventing connections to sensitive data by unauthorised individuals.

1. Use VPNs (Virtual Private Networks)

A VPN shields your connection against the wider internet. While 72% of UK professionals use a VPN on some of all of their devices, only 24% said that their employer requires this. (Source: Forbes)

2. Require 2FA (Two-factor authentication)

2FA adds a secondary authentication method, such as a one-time passcode or fingerprint/facial recognition, to the login process. Two thirds (67%) of UK consumers see this as a sign that you care about protecting personal data. (Source: Statista)

3. Consider MFA (Multi-factor authentication)

Even more security comes with a move to 3FA, 4FA or even 5FA. The market for MFA is growing 18% per year in the 2020s, with fastest growth in MFA-enabled password-less login. (Source: Allied Market Research)

4. Enforce access control

If you’re not confident enforcing access control, managed IT services can help. 18% of global businesses say identity and access management is a top 3 cyber security priority for their use of managed services. (Source: PwC)

5. Improve cyber security admin

This remote and hybrid security checklist should be your first step towards improving your cyber security admin overall. Just 6% of organisations feel confident about withstanding the full range of cyber attacks – with expert help, you can join them. (Source: PwC)

B. Device setup and hosted desktops

The devices your workers use can be a fundamental threat to remote IT security. Follow these remote worker best practices to reduce your risk from day one.

6. Require all devices to be encrypted

Mandatory data encryption is the hallmark of a comprehensive data protection policy. Among UK businesses with cyber security policies in place, 81% addressed the way data is stored and 80% controlled what employees are allowed to do on company IT devices. (Source: Statista)

7. Install security updates automatically

New threats emerge all the time. A policy to keep software updated can defend against novel cyber attacks. Nearly one in three (32%) UK businesses have a policy to apply software security patches within 14 days of availability. (Source: DSIT)

8. Consider secure remote data management

When buying software to store and access data remotely, prioritise security. Just 21% of UK businesses consider the security of new software “to a large extent” and 19% “to some extent”. Over a third (37%) just buy software from established companies – and 14% don’t factor cyber security into their software purchases at all. (Source: DSIT)

9. Keep comprehensive device logs

Automatic device logs should be a standard part of your remote worker IT setup, so you have a record of their activity for monitoring and compliance purposes. Yet less than half of UK businesses (45%) take action on logging and monitoring, compared with 90% of large UK firms. (Source: DSIT)

C. Internet connections and IP communications

The quality and reliability of internet connections is an often overlooked part of the remote worker checklist, yet it’s fundamental to enabling your employees to stay productive.

10. Adopt best practice communication platforms setup

IP PBX, also known as VoIP PBX, can allow remote workers to place telephone calls as if they were on-site. The National Cyber Security Centre advises encrypting these calls, restricting dialling patterns and keeping comprehensive logs of caller activity, as part of a long list of best practice for Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems. (Source: NCSC)

11. Make sure internet speeds are sufficient

The UK government says “decent broadband” is a download speed of at least 10 Mbps, enough to support HD video calls. 96% of rural properties have access to internet at these speeds. But only 56% can get 1 Gbps broadband, compared with 90% of urban households. (Source: Defra)

12. Establish secure file sharing protocols

One in eight (13%) British workers are now based exclusively at home, while a further 27% split their time between their home and workplace (Source: Statista). Secure file sharing allows them to collaborate on shared documents, a key aspect of remote IT security.

13. Provide remote access to admin and support

People who live in remote locations are more likely to work from home: 30% in urban areas, 34% in rural regions, and 43% in hamlets and isolated dwellings (Source: Defra). Adopting remote worker best practices should ensure that everyone has good access to IT support and admin.

D. Cyber security training and reporting

Two thirds of all fraud reported in the UK is now cyber fraud (Source: National Crime Agency). Proper training and reporting policies can protect your business against exposure to this risk.

14. Train all employees on cyber security basics

Don’t underestimate remote workers. Nearly two in five (39%) are early adopters of new innovations (Source: Statista). Cyber security training should cover the basics while accounting for all levels of existing tech knowledge and familiarity.

15. Protect against phishing and email scams

As of September 2025, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre had received over 46 million reports of phishing scams and had removed 232,000 scams from 415,000 URLs (Source: NCSC). Make phishing a main priority in your remote and hybrid security checklist.

16. Test employees on data handling basics

Fewer than a fifth (18%) of UK businesses test their employees on data security using methods like mock phishing exercises (Source: DSIT). Make sure you put your remote workers through their paces on a regular basis to see how they will respond to real-world phishing attempts.

17. Establish and enforce your reporting process

It’s essential to know when a breach occurs. Have a reporting policy in place and make sure you enforce it. Over three quarters (76%) of organisations inform senior management of detected data breaches, but less than half (47%) report breaches to their regulator when required to do so (Source: DSIT). Be sure to comply with your reporting requirements.

E. Data protection and GDPR

Data protection is a crucial component in any remote worker checklist. The number one cyber threat to the UK from serious and organised crime groups (SOC) is ransomware for financial gain. (Source: National Crime Agency)

18. All data hosted on secure servers

Access to secure servers puts data protection at the heart of remote worker IT setup. Secure cloud storage is one way to achieve this. Nearly one in three (32%) businesses globally rate cloud security in their top three reasons to use managed IT services, and 27% cite data protection and trust. (Source: PwC)

19. Sensitive info should be encrypted

Mandatory and automatic encryption of sensitive data can prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Among UK businesses with cyber security policies in place, 81% address secure data storage. (Source: Statista)

20. Set up automatic remote backups

Cloud backups can make remote workers’ files accessible from anywhere, ideal for hybrid working and to keep data under centralised control. This is one of the most widely used technologies on our remote worker checklist, with 71% of businesses already backing up data to a secure cloud server. (Source: DSIT)

21. Keep comprehensive access logs

24/7 logs of user access and activity ensure that you know if remote workers log on to your network at any time, from any location. Yet only 30% of businesses currently monitor their users (Source: DSIT), with 70% potentially missing instances of malicious or unsecure activity.

22. Compliance agreements

The Data Use and Access Act 2025 adds to existing legislation including GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (Source: ICO). Remote IT security needs to be compliant with all of these regulations, making it essential to work with a trusted managed IT services provider.

F. IT support and remote monitoring

Round-the-clock IT support and remote monitoring allow you to double-check your remote and hybrid security checklist on a regular basis and take action on any weaknesses.

23. Set up secure remote access tools

Just three in ten (30%) businesses use tools to monitor cyber security threats and breaches (Source: DSIT). Installing software that allows secure access to private network data should be a standard step in your remote worker IT setup, to avoid unnecessary exposure to risks from the public internet.

24. Configure automatic alerts for risks and issues

Real-time automated alerts for cyber attacks and data breaches allow you to respond quickly and avoid more serious ongoing impacts. But less than a quarter (24%) of businesses spend significantly more on proactive monitoring than reacting to breaches (Source: PwC). By adopting a more proactive balance in your cyber security spending, you can gain valuable peace of mind.

25. Regular reviews from a trusted professional team

External expertise can help you keep on top of emerging risks and ensure that your systems stay secure as your remote workforce grows. More than six in ten (62%) UK companies have an external cyber security provider, but less than half (48%) of small businesses conduct cyber security risk assessments (Source: DSIT). Make sure you are one of the protected.

Get your remote worker cyber health check

Every step on our remote worker checklist is there to keep your valuable business data safe, to avoid leaking unencrypted files to the public internet, and to comply with data protection regulations – protecting your organisation from costly enforcement action.

Contact Venom IT today to schedule your cyber health check, where we can review your existing policies and recommend remote worker best practices to keep you and your workforce safe from cyber threats both now and in the future.

Cyber security is an area where all SMEs need to regularly reassess their level of protection. The ever-growing prevalence of cyber threats to small businesses means that, even if you have taken action in the past, you may now be more exposed than you think.

At the same time, research shows that business owners often underestimate the financial cost and business interruption arising from SME cyber security risks.

Venom IT are the experts in cyber security for SMEs. As part of our suite of small business IT services, we can audit your risk level and make recommendations that will help to protect you against the type of cyber threats that are affecting SMEs like yours right now.

How has cyber security changed in 2024?

The threat landscape changes all the time, as hackers discover new vulnerabilities and exploit different techniques to gain access to private data.

Here are just some examples of cyber security trends in 2024, which are worth taking into account when planning ahead for the coming year.

1 in 4 SMEs concerned about remote working cyber risks

The pandemic led to an overnight surge in the number of people working remotely, with many employees still reluctant to return to the office five days a week.

This has raised concerns for UK SMEs. According to a survey by small business insurer Markel Direct, a quarter of SMEs are worried about how to properly secure their remote working environments.

Alongside this dilemma, a massive 62% said they are troubled by the increasing sophistication of cyber threats.

Nearly half of the survey’s respondents did not think they were ready for an attack – and said that they would not know what steps to take if they were to fall victim.

Zero-day vulnerabilities top list of biggest cyber threats

Cyber attacks can happen fast. In November 2024, the national cyber security centres of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand co-authored an advisory note warning about zero-day exploits.

Zero-day vulnerabilities are weaknesses in software code that have not yet been patched, and are one way hackers can gain access to high-profile networks.

Among the 15 most-exploited vulnerabilities in 2023, more than half were zero-day weaknesses, highlighting the importance of real-time protection backed by regular software updates.

Ollie Whitehouse, chief technology officer at the UK National Cyber Security Centre, said: “We urge network defenders to be vigilant with vulnerability management, have situational awareness in operations and call on product developers to make security a core component of product design.”

What are the most common cyber security issues that affect SMEs?

The UK government published its Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024 based on surveys conducted over the winter of 2023-24. It detailed the most common SME cyber security risks during that time.

According to the report, the most common cyber threats to small businesses were:

Many businesses report experiencing multiple kinds of attack during the same time period, which is why the percentages shown sum to more than 100%.

The research also found the average cost of each respondent’s most serious breach to be around £1,200, although this increased to more than £10,800 for medium to large businesses.

What happens when there’s a breach?

When a breach occurs, the first and foremost thing to do is to plug the hole. Allowing a vulnerability to remain exposed opens you up to repeat attacks, which could increase your financial losses both directly and as a result of any later enforcement penalties.

This is why Venom IT offer 24/7 support as part of our IT services for small businesses. Hacks can occur at any time of day or night and we want to be here for you when they do.

It’s important to identify the source of the breach. Once you know how the hackers have gained access to your systems, you can take mitigating action, either by changing login passwords, reinforcing your network’s firewall, updating virus definitions, and so on.

Do I need to inform the ICO of a data breach?

You may need to inform the Information Commissioner’s Office if a breach of customers’ personal details has occurred. That doesn’t mean you’ll be investigated.

In Q3 2024, 50% of incidents reported to the ICO featured fewer than ten people’s personal data. Only 2% of these resulted in an investigation by the ICO.

We can help you decide whether you need to report an incident – but we would rather help to stop it from happening at all.

Can SMEs afford cyber security?

Investing in security solutions is largely a business decision. While you might want to protect your customers’ data as an ethical concern, it’s obviously preferable for any profit-making company if this decision is backed by solid financials.

However, research by Sky Business found that SMEs underestimate the cost of cyber threats to small businesses by nearly 70%. Companies who had suffered a breach in the past said it cost them around £124,000 and an average of four days’ interruption to trading.

In comparison, SMEs not yet affected by a cyber attack estimated that it would cost them just £40,000. One in six thought they would be able to continue trading without any closure, whereas one in four SMEs who had been through a cyber attack expected any future incidents to take them offline for at least eight days.

Assess the added value of cyber security

All of this is to say that you need to make an informed decision based on real industry data, and on your company’s own unique circumstances.

Venom IT’s Cyber Security Risk Assessment can do this for you, identifying potential vulnerabilities so that you know the threat level to your business, and can accurately forecast the significant added value of investing in cyber security for SMEs.

How does a small business get the right protection?

Navigating the world of SME cyber security risks can be challenging, especially if it’s not an area you’ve dealt with in your past personal or professional life.

This isn’t really something you can guess. If you want to guarantee the best level of protection for your business, work with an IT company like Venom IT with a proven track record of helping smaller businesses.

It’s a good idea to have a checklist of key cyber security questions to ask your IT provider, so that you know their recommendations are comprehensive and well-informed.

We’re always happy to discuss our services with SMEs, with no upfront obligations. To talk about how to get the right cyber security protection for your business, contact Venom IT today or call our sales team on 0330 202 0220.

Cyber detection is an important part of cyber security, enabling a rapid response to detected threats so that attackers are not able to access sensitive data.

Some threats are known, and automated cyber detection programs can monitor for these and trigger automatic or manual responses when a threat is detected.

However, attackers are developing new ways to compromise secure systems all the time, and it is essential that threat detection and response should allow for these previously unknown attacks.

What are the different types of detection services?

There are many different types of detection services, and these are often referred to using three-letter acronyms (and in some cases, four-letter acronyms).

Some of the most commonly used TLAs in cyber detection services include:

Commonly seen four-letter acronyms include SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) and SIEM (Security Information and Event Management). These can refer to general approaches to network security, incident alerts, automated and manual responses.

ITDR (Identity Threat Detection and Response) is a specific discipline within the wider field of TDR, and is specifically concerned with protecting identity systems, e.g. by preventing unauthorised access using compromised employee credentials.

What is the difference between detection and prevention in cyber security?

Prevention is better than cure, and a well secured network will include measures to stop attempted cyber attacks at the network perimeter, e.g. a network firewall and incoming email scans.

Cyber detection is a little different. It’s about identifying threats that exist on your network, so that any active exploits can be ended and repaired.

This does not mean that your preventative measures are inadequate (although it may indicate that a review of network security is needed), but can be a consequence of newly developed exploits and newly discovered zero-day vulnerabilities.

Managed detection and response (MDR) puts cyber detection in the hands of experts like Venom IT, so any newly found vulnerabilities can be patched quickly and data integrity restored.

What is the difference between TDR and EDR?

TDR (Threat Detection and Response) is a general term for detecting and mitigating cyber threats and can include specific disciplines like EDR, NDR and ITDR.

EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) is a specific niche within TDR and focuses on endpoints such as computers, laptops, smartphones, IoT-enabled devices, peripherals and wireless devices.

By creating a point of connection from the outside world to a business network, these endpoints represent a common target for cyber attacks – EDR recognises this exposure and uses it as a starting point for cyber detection, helping to prevent attacks at their source.

How can cyber detection services help my business?

Cyber detection services are an essential investment for any data-driven business, to reduce network downtime, protect sensitive data and prevent enforcement action from the ICO.

Venom IT’s managed detection and response services give you peace of mind that your business is professionally protected against cyber attacks through a convenient Security as a Service (SECaaS) subscription plan.To find out more, contact Venom IT today or read our guide to Cyber Security Basics.

Just as in medicine, cyber threat prevention is better than cure. A vigilant approach to cybercrime prevention can keep would-be hackers from gaining access to sensitive data or maliciously encrypting files as part of a ransomware attack.

Preventing cyber security attacks is not easy. New exploits and vulnerabilities emerge all the time, and cyber security prevention is a race between criminals and ‘ethical hackers’ whose goal is to identify weaknesses so that they can be proactively patched.

Venom IT’s cyber attack prevention services form part of our Managed Cyber Security solution, and can be accessed by businesses through a flexible and convenient SECaaS (Security as a Service) subscription.

What are the different types of prevention?

Cyber threat prevention depends on several layers of proactive measures aimed at preventing cyber security attacks.

These include:

An ongoing approach to cyber security prevention involves finding zero-day vulnerabilities – new weaknesses that could be used by a hacker to enter your network via the back door – and installing patches that close these programming loopholes before they are exploited.

What does a cyber security service provider do?

As a SECaaS cyber security service provider, Venom IT adopt a comprehensive cybercrime prevention plan.

We verify user identity and access, filter out unauthorised connections, block malicious content from entering your network, and test new security controls on an ongoing basis.

The cloud model of our SECaaS cyber attack prevention service means you benefit from ever-evolving protection, giving you state-of-the-art safeguards to keep your organisation a step ahead of the hackers.

How do cyber threat prevention services help my business?

Cyber attack prevention helps your business in mission-critical ways:

Prevent Downtime

Keep critical business networks available and protect data against malicious encryption, ransomware attacks and other exploits.

Reduce Costs

Vigilant cybercrime prevention reduces the cost of responding and repairing in the event of an attack, by ensuring malware does not take hold of your network.

Improve Compliance

Avoid enforcement action from data commissioners by protecting individually identifiable data against leaks and theft.

How high is the cyber threat risk?

Preventing cyber security attacks is an existential issue for many businesses. High-profile ransomware attacks in recent years demonstrate that even big brands are not immune to cybercrime and can experience protracted downtime following a successful exploit.

UK Government research shows that in 2022-23, one in three businesses (32%) experienced a cyber attack or breach in the previous 12 months, rising to three in five (59%) medium-sized businesses and nearly seven in ten (69%) large businesses.

Just one in five (21%) businesses of all sizes have a formal cyber incident response plan in place, highlighting the need to prevent cyber attacks in the absence of a plan for how to respond.

Venom IT provide comprehensive cyber attack prevention, detection and recovery services as part of our flexible subscription-based SECaaS model – contact us today to find out more.