10 Safety Tips for Business Travelers This Summer

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10 Safety Tips for Business Travelers This Summer

Now that the weather is warming up, many workers may be considering spending some time away from their desks. You may be more inclined to go to a conference in Barcelona or take a family trip, but keep your work phone with you.

Whether you’re hopping on a plane or enjoying a vacation at home, removing your business from your regular workplace brings with it new security risks. These include unsecured Wi-Fi networks, infected public charging ports, and Bluetooth attacks.

So if you’re heading on vacation this summer with your laptop in hand, TechRepublic spoke with experts to find out their best tips for keeping your digital devices and business data safe.

SEE: Essential travel tips for business professionals from TechRepublic Premium

1. Consult with your internal safety team before traveling

Tim Rawlins, senior advisor and chief security officer at NCC Group, said it’s important to talk to your company’s security department before traveling with work-related devices to make sure you’re familiar with any policies and procedures.

“Working abroad isn’t always allowed; there can be visa issues or security restrictions like geo-blocking and data sovereignty issues that you may not have thought about,” he told TechRepublic.

“Stay up-to-date with local developments and be aware of common scams and threats in the region you’re visiting. Report any suspicious activity or potential security breaches to your organization’s IT or security team immediately.”

2. Don’t use public Wi-Fi networks

Martin Lee, EMEA leader at cybersecurity firm Cisco Talos, told TechRepublic in an email: “There’s always the temptation to save on data roaming fees and add-ons by joining public networks or Wi-Fi. However, it’s worth considering paying extra to keep your data safe.”

“Shared public networks can be shared with shady characters, and a seemingly free network can be a malicious decoy network designed to trick the unwary. A criminal spying on your network can steal cookies or session tokens to gain access to your confidential services.

“Alternatively, an attacker could conduct a man-in-the-middle attack by impersonating a critical system while intercepting and modifying data.”

3. Use a VPN

VPNs can be used on phones connected to local cellular networks abroad, as well as on laptops. Trevor Horwitz, founder and CISO of TrustNet, told TechRepublic in an email: “By encrypting data before it leaves the device, a VPN ensures that any data intercepted remains unreadable.

“Another benefit of a VPN is that it can mask your location by assigning you a new IP address. This helps bypass any restrictions imposed by your Wi-Fi provider and increases your online anonymity.”

SEE: 5 Best VPNs for Travelers in 2024 (Free & Paid VPNs)

4. Keep your devices out of sight while traveling

“Keep your devices safely out of sight when traveling,” Lee said. “Be aware of your surroundings when using your devices; thieves are adept at snatching devices in crowded areas and stealing them stealing them when attention is elsewhere.”

Rawlins said he should be especially vigilant when using his phone’s mapping app to get directions. “Phones are often snatched in the street by criminals on e-bikes or when doors on public transport are about to close,” he told TechRepublic in an email.

5. Use dedicated work devices or virtual desktop solutions

Horwitz told TechRepublic that frequent travelers should consider having a designated work device that only contains the data and capabilities needed for their trip. “This strategy increases security by isolating travel-related activities from primary devices, which allows for tighter security measures and reduced risk,” he said.

“Before and after your trip, wipe and restore your dedicated devices to a clean state. Finally, review and analyze any suspicious activity that may have occurred during your trip.”

Any data stored on a work device should be encrypted and backed up. Horwitz said it’s better to keep backups in the cloud than on an external drive, so you can access a copy when you’re away from home, if needed, and have it automatically updated.

Alternatively, consider using a virtual desktop solution that connects remotely to a device in the office. Horwitz said, “All the information and files they use are stored in the virtual environment, not on the local device. If the device is stolen, there shouldn’t be any data to access.”

6. Secure work equipment

To keep the devices you take with you safe, start with their built-in security settings and antivirus software.

Rawlins told TechRepublic: “Secure your devices with strong, unique passwords and enable biometric security features when possible. Also, update your software, especially your operating system, to the latest available version.

“Turn on two-factor authentication on all your accounts, especially your email account where password reset emails are sent, but use an authenticator app instead of a text message or email sent to your phone.”

Andrew Lungsden, a security consultant at Forge Secure, added in an email: “Reducing the number of login attempts before locking out an account can also prevent someone from guessing the wrong password.”

He also recommended using personal firewalls, which monitor and filter incoming and outgoing network traffic. “This can help reduce the number of connections your laptop can make to an untrusted Wi-Fi network and reduce the number of devices that can be potential targets,” Lungsden said.

7. Use a privacy screen

Lungsden said: “If you’re working on projects that involve client information or other sensitive data, having someone sitting nearby and glancing at your screen can be a problem.

“You can reduce this risk by using privacy screens on your laptop or mobile device. They’re a protective film that covers the screen from anyone who isn’t looking directly at it and can add a little extra protection to your company’s data.”

8. Disable USB ports

Lungsden said: “You can disable USB ports on your device. It can take just a few seconds for a USB device to be plugged into your laptop, for the program to automatically launch and infect your device. There’s also a good chance you don’t need USB ports when you’re traveling.

“Turning them off before you travel can help eliminate any potential risk.”

9. Set up device lock and remote wipe

A thief is more likely to steal your work device when you’re traveling with it and it may be unlocked at the time, so be sure to configure your lock settings.

Lungsden said: “You can have a short lockout time and make sure the account is locked when the laptop is closed. This can reduce the likelihood of someone accessing your account.”

He added that remote locking and wiping can be useful in the event of theft because it can help ensure data is protected. “A lot of device management systems offer these features,” Lungsden said.

10. Be careful with rented apartments

Lee said: “When booking accommodation, double check that the booking site is genuine and not a clone that will take your money but not provide a valid, recognised booking. Never agree to pay for accommodation outside of an official booking engine; you will have no recourse to get a refund if the booking turns out to be fraudulent.”

When staying in a rental apartment, it’s important not to leave valuables or devices unsecured, even in a locked room. “Room keys could have been cloned or stolen,” Lee said.

At the end of your stay, it’s important to log out of any devices, such as smart TVs, and not store any credentials. “Otherwise, subsequent guests could access your accounts,” Lee added.

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