How can I protect my home-based small business?

Say that you already have a small business up and running in the comfort of your own home. You have a good client network, and business is picking up its pace. One of the next steps you need to bump up in your list is how you can secure both your small home-based business and your home at the same time.

So, how can I protect my home based small business? A fire alarm is a must. Closely followed by a burglar alarm system preferably with motion detectors and security cameras. You also need water and carbon monoxide alarms and a safety vault. As for the intangible aspect, you will need a secure home network. Add a good antivirus/malware protection. Firewalls and DLP (data loss prevention) software will also be useful as would the use a two-factor-authentication (2FA) procedure.

Big or small, any business owner knows that security is an important aspect to tackle as soon as possible. Home-based small businesses often put security off until their business starts to generate substantial income. This move is very risky because certain events and scenarios regarding security can shut down a small business overnight if there are no preventive measures in place. In this article, we will look at the different categories under small home-based business security, what security measures are under each category, and the importance of having each security measure in place.

Security Measures For Your Home-Based Business

Having a home-based business can be a very appealing idea for many, but for those who already have a home-based business in place, they know that it is not as easy as it seems. You may think that your commute to your office is a drag, but people with a home-based business face a different set of problems. From convincing yourself that you have to get up, dress up and go to your home office to do some actual work to making sure that all your files and office equipment are safe, a home-based business has its own challenges.

In this article, we will focus on the security aspect. I’ve actually categorized this into two to make it easier and simpler for everyone.

Security For Your Tangibles

Anything that you can touch will fall into this category, such as printed out files (employee records, printed out contracts), computers, printers, fax machines, coffee machines, and safety vaults. You may want to take a look at investing a small fortune into beefing up the security of your home and installing an intercom system that will allow you to separate your work office from your entire home. Some people prefer this type of separation because they can focus better on the business. It is kind of like compartmentalizing your home; dishes go in the kitchen, tables and consoles go in the living room. This kind of compartmentalizing helps in also setting some people’s mindset into work mode and home mode.

If your office is a different building from your home, then having a burglar alarm can help you keep it secure. Opt for those that call the nearest police station when an alarm is tripped. Sometimes you may not have the resources to invest in a full-on burglar alarm system that has motion detectors and security cameras included. You can buy separate motion detectors, alarms, and IP cameras that you can sync with your smart device. You can also look into installing some water and carbon monoxide detectors. But a fire alarm is a must for every home office, so be sure to get one. Another important thing for you to remember is that you must have a safety vault where you can store all your important documents and other valuables.

Now that we have talked about the safety of those tangible things in your business, you also have to consider some form of fall back strategy that can help you mitigate the loss in case something does happen; in comes insurances. I know, I know, they can sometimes be a pain in the arse, but my honest opinion about insurances is that “it is better to have them and not need them rather than need them and not have them.” But hold up! There are a few different things you may want to ask yourself before you go scouring the internet for insurances.

First, you have to look carefully at the things you value in your home-based business. If you have a few employees working with you, then their insurance should be one of your top concerns. In addition to that, all companies will have some form of equipment that is needed for the business to run smoothly. It can be a few computer units, laptops, printers, scanners, and other usual office machines, or it could be specialized equipment that is necessary for the business to be, well, in business. Some examples of specialized equipment are 3D printers and heat press machines. This equipment should be covered by insurance also. A friendly note, make sure to read your insurance coverage thoroughly so that you know what unlikely events you are covered.

Note: Most insurance will not cover data loss, so be sure to have that covered personally.

Security For Your Intangibles

So your equipment and your employees (if you have any) have been covered in the previous section. Now we go to the more difficult part of having a home-based business, securing your intangibles.

As a home-based business, I am assuming that you are speaking to your clients online, reaching out to your prospects the same way, and providing them with important files via email or online sharing file software. If you think about it, even large companies do this type of business transaction, which means that a security system is needed to make sure that no documents or files can leak out without the proper consent. The only difference you and the large company has is that they employ a team of highly knowledgeable people to deal with their cybersecurity while you have to deal with yours on your own.

To get started, you have to consider setting up a secure home network that only you and the trusted people around you can access. It will minimize the number of people who are using your network and therefore reduce the number of people who can accidentally see a file or document that is classified. Look into investing in a good antivirus/malware protection software for your network. It will help in putting another level of security that will ensure the safety of your files and documents. Firewalls and DLP (data loss prevention) software will also be handy in this area as well as employing a two-factor-authentication (2FA) procedure.

Coming up with strong passwords for your WiFi, email adds, private network, and any other business-related areas that require a password will also add more security to it. Just make sure that you remember those passwords. Now, if you have the means, you can separate your home network from your business network. Some suggest getting a separate account for your business network can help you manage the risks more effectively. Last but not least, you need to back up your files on a different drive and have a hardcopy that you store in your vault. Countless companies have been saved because of the backups upon backups upon backups they have stored.

Note: Having a small business does not mean that you are facing smaller risks.

Identify The Business Risks And Create Security Measures

All types of businesses face risks. A home-based small business is no exception. If you look at the history of some of the big companies in our world today, you’ll see that some started the same way. Your small home-based business might not be facing some of the risks that will be mentioned below right now, but as your business grows and you hire more employees, you too will soon face these risks.

Operational Risk

This type of risk is those that are strictly related to the running of the business. Anything type of problem that will result in the failure of your company to operate is considered an operational risk. Technical failures on your servers or your employee not being able to come in for work due to sickness are just some examples of operational risk. Failures, problems, and setbacks that affect the core operations of your business fall under operational risk.

Having explained what an operational risk is, you can now anticipate these risks and put in place some safety measures to prevent this from happening or contingency plans to keep your business operations moving when the failure occurs.

For example, your internet service provider went under maintenance, or there was some connection problem that cannot be fixed for weeks. Your safety measure and contingency plan can be a prepaid internet service you can purchase at any time.

Financial Risk

If you look closely, all the business risk we are talking about has a financial impact on your business. Still, the definition of financial risk specifically mentions the cash flow within your business. This means that financial risk deals with the money that is coming in and going out of your business, including having enough funds to tide you through the slow months.

An excellent example of this is if your business is catering to overseas clients that pay you in a different currency. Say you are based in California, and your client is based in Germany. Payments made by your client will be in pounds, and that will be converted into dollars as it enters your bank. We all know that exchange rates are always changing, so your business might be making sales, but once converted into dollars, you find that you are actually losing more money than earning. This kind of cash flow situation falls under financial risk.

There are many ways you can manage financial risks, but the first and the most important one is to have the proper amount of insurance to cover for revenue loss. Placing and creating an emergency or contingency fund will also help. Keeping your debt to a minimum will surely help your company in the long run. Having a second source of income, or you can look into investing. The main point is that you should have some form of financial plan if things went south.

Legal or Compliance Risk

The best way to define what legal or compliance risk is by asking yourself if your small home-based business has all it’s permits updated and in order. Depending on the type of business, you will have to follow certain rules, regulations, and laws to keep your business up and running without any problem with the authorities.

As a small home-based business, your compliance risk might not be the same as the big corporate businesses, but this does not mean that you have a lower risk rate. In fact, putting up a small home-based business opens up a whole set of different problems for you. The best way for you to manage your small home-based business compliance risk is to make sure that you have all your permits, licenses, and certifications on hand before starting your operations.

Generally, you will need to secure a general business license, a professional license (depending on the type of home-based business you are running), health and safety license (fire permit, environmental permit, health permit) if your clients frequent your home to conduct business. You may also be required to apply for a sign permit if you plan on putting up a sign where you live. Make sure to check with your homeowner’s association for ordinances regarding this issue to prevent you from dealing with penalties later on. You might also want to check with your local government if a sales tax license is already a part of your general business license because there are places where the application for this license is a separate process.

Once you have all your permits and licenses totally taken care of, the next step is to have it properly filed and displayed (if required by authorities) for future reference. Also, you will have to stay on top of the updates on the rules, regulations, laws, and ordinances that will affect your small home-based business.

Reputational Risk

Problems that arise due to customers having a bad experience with your company or your suppliers losing confidence in you fall under this category. Social media reviews also fall under this risk. The possible problems that can dishearten your potential customers from using your service and also make suppliers think twice before striking a deal with you can really cause your business to suffer a significant loss. These kinds of problems can be prevented if proper management of risk is in place.

The best way for home-based business owners, such as you, to help mitigate this kind of risk is to make sure that you’re appropriately protected from data breaches. Home-based businesses often deal with confidential information, and protecting them is an integral part of the business. Keep your security protocols up to date and make sure that your files are properly secured and encrypted. If you have the resources and time, have a cyber protection policy and procedure in place or hire encryption experts to handle your cybersecurity.

Also, having ethical conduct when dealing with clients will greatly help in this situation. We know that having your office in your home can sometimes feel informal, but be sure to present yourself professionally when dealing with possible clients. Remember that a damage in your reputation is hard to reverse. It is your business’s credibility that is at stake here.

Strategic Risk

As you grow your business, you will have to expand in so many ways. Maybe, in the beginning, it is only you and a friend that is running the biz in your garage, but now you have five employees at your disposal. As your business reaches other areas, you will gain more possible clients and, in return, will face more risks. These kinds of risks that stem from the growth of the business is called strategic risk.

Opening up a new office location or providing your services to a bigger market will bring in more possibilities for your business, and that includes problems. So in order to keep everything running smoothly, you will have to have strategic risk management in place.

Frequently this risk management will include defining your business strategy and objectives, identifying unknown risks that can affect your business, having KPI’s (key performance indicators) in place to keep track of results, establishing KRI’s (key risk indicators) that will help in determining if a risk is worth it or not.

You may not see the importance of having strategic risk management in place for now, but it is best to start early on. As your business grows, it will be easier for you to decide if a particular partnership or a big-time client is worthy enough for your business to take the risk.

Three Basic Insurance Options For The Safety Of Your Small Home-Based Business

Homeowners Policy Endorsement

This will be the first you should look at, especially if you are running a smaller home-based business. It is simple, affordable and will work on almost anyone who is under a solo operation who doesn’t manufacture goods type of business. Ask your insurance agent about this because usually, it is an endorsement or more often referred to as a “rider” by agents that can be added to your existing home insurance. The cost is not that high and can be as little as $50 or even $40 per year.

There are different types of homeowners policy endorsement, and depending on the type this add-on or rider can cover for repairs, loss or loss of use and many others under the premise that the loss or damage incurred is not due the exclusion list that comes with the policy. Make sure to read up on this because, as a small home-based business owner, you will have to make sure that you and your business are covered.

In-home Business Policy

Often the homeowners policy endorsement becomes inadequate because of the growth of your home-based business. The fact that most homeowners policy endorsement does not include natural disasters as part of their coverage is one issue why you might need to upgrade your insurance. If you find yourself entertaining more and more clients in your home office, then it might be time for you to get this policy. In addition to that, this policy has a business interruption coverage that helps protect your business income in the event of a disaster. The in-home business policy will cost you around $250 to $500 per year, depending on the coverage stated in the policy. It is a lot higher than the previous insurance, but this policy can cover as much as $10,000 in losses.

Business Owners Policy (BOP)

Out of the three types of home-based business insurance, this is the most comprehensive one. This type can give you coverage from clients, customers, employees, and contractors who might file a complaint against your business in the future as well as coverage for your property. The average cost is around &1,200 per year but can be as cheap as $350 a year or as expensive as $3,000 per year, depending on coverage.

BOP insurance is actually a collection of policies that are priced cheaper than when you buy the plans separately. Usually, a BOP includes general liability, some business interruption coverage, and also commercial property coverage. You should talk to a professional regarding getting a BOP because not all small home-based businesses are entitled to apply for this type of insurance. The usual BOP candidates are businesses that have less than 100 employees, get less than $1 million in revenue, have a physical or commercial space they own or rent and are under the low-risk level industry. If you qualify then you might want to look into this type of insurance more because some BOP insurances also include cyber liability insurances that cover the costs incurred due to data breach or cyberattack, accounts receivable coverage that will pay for the losses that come from your accounts receivable records being damaged from a list of peril the insurance covers, earthquake insurance, and employee dishonesty.

Some of the business aspects that a BOP does not cover are commercial auto insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and business expense insurance. These need to be purchased separately if you require this type of insurance coverage for your business.

Conclusion

Having a home office is only slightly different from having a small home-based business. The risks are mostly the same, but small businesses, including home-based businesses, are more prone to bankruptcy than large corporations. This is mainly because small businesses don’t have that much of a financial spare room to deal with major damages and issues like a large corporation do. That is why this article gave you a brief, concise and easy to understand version of what you need to protect and what kind of risks are present for you. You may be running a simple home-based office or a budding company in your home but the concepts are the same. You will face risk factors that you need to address and make sure that you have security protocols in place for unforeseeable events in the future. Protecting your small home-based business will not only mean protecting your business physically but it also means that you need to prepare yourself by assessing the different risks your business is facing or will be facing and creating safety measures to mitigate the damage it will cause. Because no matter how ready you are, sh*t still happens. What you do to deal with the issue and what you do to not make the same mistakes is what matters to your business. Lastly, we’ve given you a brief intro to the three basic insurance available for a small home-based business that you can look at. So remember to not only protect your small home-based business physical assets but also to assess and identify the risks so that you can be prepared to remedy the situation when it happens.

What Kind of Internet Do I Need to Work From Home?

Working from home without a computer is almost unthinkable today—but even then, can you imagine doing it without the internet?

A lot of the work people do nowadays is online or at least reliant on the internet in some form. This is why when planning on what you need for your home office, the kind of internet you will be using is no less important than everything else.

So what kind of Internet do I need to work from home? The kind of internet you need to work from home will depend on the type of work you do. If your work involves low-internet usage, you can use a DSL internet connection of at least 12 to 25 Mbps. For high-internet usage, a high-speed fiber internet of at least 50 Mbps may be needed.

To better understand what kind of internet you need, continue reading below. I will tackle that problem from more than one angle so that you can use a few different ways to determine the right internet for you so that you can get the best value for the money.

What Is the Difference Between MBps and Mbps?

Before starting out, I want to go through a few very important details that bring up a lot of confusion. I know this because I myself was confused by these terms for quite some time.

This is very much like one of these “fine print” situations. Many may not even see that the difference lies in the lower case vs. uppercase “b”. As it stands, this small detail merits a lot of attention.

MBps stands for Megabytes per second, and Mbps stands for Megabits per second. Megabits refer to the physical ability to send information, while megabytes refers to how fast the information will be transferred between the two systems.

When a file, a video, or any type of communication between two computers is carried out, that information is sent in bits. These bits represent small pieces of information. They carry different types of information — not just the video or file you are sending or receiving.

This additional information can include a lot of different things like information about the receiver and the sender, about the file, the status of the transfer, and more. However, to many, Mbps will not mean a lot. In fact, it will be very hard to decide, for example, how long it will take you to download that 1 Gb video file from your cloud storage, for example. This is why MBps are seen as more practical means of measuring internet speed.

How to Convert Mbps to MBps?

However, I, and many other people, have always had a better time understanding the speed of the internet we need by looking at the Megabytes. Using megabytes as a reference point, you can calculate—even if vaguely— how much time it will take you to download or upload a file.

However, with this comes a problem—very rarely, if, at all, ISPs give out the MBps speeds. They rather speak of the Mbps only, which can be confusing. A 24-Mbps internet may seem great until you find out that 24 Mbps is very different from 24 MBps.

Fortunately, there is a very simple formula that you can use to convert Mbps to MBps.

In theory, the maximum bits per byte are 8. By knowing that all you have to do is divide the Mbps by 8 and the resulting number will show you the actual MBps.

However, there is a caveat here. Dividing by 10 is something that a lot of people prefer to do for a few reasons:

First, it is a lot easier to do the math in one’s head, making it a lot more practical.
And secondly, by dividing the number by 8, you get—arguably—something more resembling a theoretical maximum when in reality, the chances may be the speed will be somewhat lower due to different factors.

For example:

24 Mbps are about 2.4 to 3.12 MBps.
60 Mbps equal about 6 to 7.5 MBps.
100 Mbps would be about 10 to 12.5 MBps.
200 Mbps are about 20 to 25 MBps.

Of course, these are examples, and your mileage may vary.

Now that you have a more in-depth understanding of what Mbps and MBps are and how to convert one to the other, you will have a much easier time figuring out what kind of internet you will need.

Let’s move on to the next step.

What Are the Different Types of Internet Connections?

Now it is time to take a look at the kinds of internet connections you can stumble upon during your search. There are several of them, with one or two being the most widely used.

Dial-Up

I am throwing this one here for the sake of honoring it. Dial-up was the first commercially available to the public type of internet. These were fun times where you had to choose between having your telephone line working or your internet working.

Interestingly enough, there is data suggesting that even today, there are people that continue using dial-up. Unfortunately, dial-up was—and still is—very slow, reaching no more than 56 Kbps on a good day.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

Eventually, broadband DSL internet replaced dial-up internet connections.

It was offering faster speeds and a constant connection to the internet.

There are several different types of DSL internet connections. Not all DSL connections will be the same, and some will be capable of different internet speeds.

Type of DSL	Maximum Download Speed	Maximum Upload Speed
ADSL	1.5 to 24 Mbps	Up to 1.5 Mbps
ADSL2+	Up to 24 Mbps	Up to 1.4 Mbps
SDSL	1.5 to 2.3 Mbps	1.5 to 2.3 Mbps
HDSL	1.5 to 2 Mbps	1.5 to 2 Mbps
VDSL	13 to 52 Mbps	1.5 to 16 Mbps
VDSL 2	Up to 100 Mbps	Up to 100 Mbps

These numbers will vary greatly depending on different factors like the distance or the length of the cable, for example.

Cable

Cable broadband is something that started appearing sometime after the ADSL internet became popular. Cable internet was carried over the television wires and was offering higher speeds.

Cable internet is, on average, a little faster compared to the most DSL broadband connections. Cable broadband internet speed usually varies between 25 and 500 Mbps.

Satellite

Using satellite internet has a few good things about it. It has a very wide coverage and can be used in many different locations. It does not require any ground wires for it to work, which means that in the case of natural disasters, as long as you have a working satellite dish, you will most likely be able to connect to the internet even if there are some signal interruptions.

Unfortunately, satellite internet usually has a high ping or latency. It is also not very impressive speed-wise. Satellite internet speed is generally speaking between 12 and 100 Mbps, depending on your ISP and internet plan.

Fiber Optic

Fiber optic cables contain very thin strands of glass, which allow for a significantly faster internet connection compared to the copper wires used with DSL and other wired connections.

Another plus of fiber is that it can offer more balanced internet speeds—or, in other words, better upload speeds. Fiber usually offers internet speeds between 50 and 1000 Mbps.

How to Decide What Kind of Internet You Need for Your Home Office

First things first—you need to have a good understanding of what kind of a job you will be doing from your home—not all types of work will require you to have a super-fast internet speed connection.

Additionally, not all internet connections are created equal. We will get to that in a bit. Now let’s get over the factors that will determine what kind of internet you will need for your home office.

Since not all types of work require fast internet, let’s break down the different types of work in several categories.

Web Browsing

The size of the average web page on the internet is about 2 MB to 3 MB. So this may be a good ballpark to start from. You want to be able to load a webpage quickly, so this would mean that your internet connection should be at least 12 to 24 Mbps.

Although technically you can browse the internet even on a slower 1 Mbps connection, I do not recommend it as this will cause slow loading times, which can be very frustrating.

Email Handling

Emails do not require a lot of bandwidth or speed. In fact, this may be one of the categories that can potentially have the lowest internet requirements.

If used for sending and receiving emails only—just text no attached files—then you can do pretty well with almost any kind of internet speed.

However, if you will be using your email for sending and receiving files, things can become a little more demanding.

Most email services today have a limited amount of what size of a file you can attach:

Outlook 20 MB
Gmail 25 MB
Yahoo 25 MB

If you will be downloading and uploading a lot of email attachments, it is beneficial to have a faster internet connection.

Overall the bandwidth will be more important, but with that being said, if you find yourself constantly uploading and downloading small to medium-sized files over your email, I would suggest going with no less than 20 to 40 Mbps.

Downloading Files and Cloud Services

The internet speed you will need can vary depending on the type of files you will need to upload or download. Downloading or uploading a 5 MB file will allow you to get away with a lot slower internet speed compared to a 500 MB file.

The time-frame you need to fit in when working also has a significant impact. Can you afford to upload or download the file for several minutes or even hours, or the work needs to be done quickly?

This is why some employers would require their remote workers to have certain download and upload speed (in some instances even low ping). Generally speaking, as a rule of thumb, I would consider a good golden mean to be having 30 to 50 Mbps in both upload and download speeds.

This category also includes the potential applications and programs that you may use while working from your home office, which may require an internet connection. Applications—depending on their use—should not, usually, put too much strain on your internet connection, but it is worth keeping that in mind.

Video Calls (VoIP)

Video calls are not that demanding as previously considered. For example, a skype video call (and screen sharing) would need at the very minimum about 128 Kbps for both download and upload speed. For a higher-definition video call, you may need between 1.2 to 1.5 Mbps of download and upload.

A group video call and screen sharing would require a little higher download speed between 512 Kbps and 2 Mbps and an upload speed of 128 to 512 Kbps. And the more people, the more demanding the call will be.

Smart Devices

The number of smart devices you are using on a daily basis in your home or home office may also affect how much internet speed you would require. These devices are not necessarily too demanding and require a basic internet connection to function. While idle, a smart home device will not utilize any internet.

Smart home devices will use the internet connection at bursts when they are ordered or asked to do something. Generally speaking, you would need at least 512 Kbps for something like Amazon Alexa to work. With that being said, the rule of thumb is to add about 5 Mbps or so to your internet download per every single smart home device. If you are installing cameras as well, you should add at least another 10 Mbps on top of that.

Gaming and Streaming

Some people work in the gaming industry where they may need to be actively involved in the game. This could be by providing in-game support, being a game master, or even streaming the game. These activities will be somewhat more demanding, especially streaming.

For the general single player type of gaming over the internet, you would need at least 3 Mbps of download speed and 1 Mbps of upload speed. If you will be playing with multiple players, it is recommended to have a connection capable of download speeds of at least 20 to 25 Mbps.

However, another important aspect of gaming online is that you will also need low latency (low ping) connection, usually below 100 ms. A ping between 100 and 150 ms can also be tolerable but go over 150 ms, and you are looking at a very jittery and problematic experience. When it comes to streaming, however, things can look even more demanding. Streaming a game will be especially hard on your upload speed.

The actual upload you would need to stream a game over the internet will vary depending on the quality you are looking to push. With that being said, the typical upload speed you would need will vary between 1 and 12 Mbps. In some instances, it may go up to even 61.5 Mbps if you will have to stream in 4K at 60 fps. The ping is going to have a huge impact on the quality of your stream as well.

Online Chat

This may be important to people that are potentially going to have to communicate with their customers, clients, or colleagues over online chat systems. Fortunately, only chat is not heavy on the internet speed requirements. Generally speaking, you will need a connection capable of download speed of at least 512 Kbps with the optimal variant being about 3 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.

The ping will be important here too. When you are live chatting with people, you really want to be quick and responsive—having to wait for several seconds after each message is not going to be a pleasant experience for your clients or customers.

Number of Connected Users

The next thing you need to consider is going to be the number of people (or devices) that will be connected and using your internet connection. The more people—and depending on the type of work—the higher the demand will be.

Below is an example of some average numbers:

Number of Users or Devices	Recommended Internet Speed
1 to 2	5 Mbps
3 to 5	25 Mbps
5 to 15	75 to 150 Mbps
15 to 30	250 to 600 Mbps
30+	1,000+ Mbps

Total Cost

We can talk and discuss how neat it is to have a super-fast internet connection at your disposal at all times. There is no denying that. But since one of the most important aspects for anyone—undoubtedly—is cost. Good internet is necessary, but depending on how much you are willing or can spend, the price of a simple internet connection may limit your options in one way or another.

The cost of a good internet connection will vary between $20 up to $100 per month. On average, the majority of Americans pay about $60 per month for internet services.

Do You Need a Wireless Internet Connection?

Choosing between a wireless and wired internet connection for your home office can be a difficult task. Let’s take a look at some of the most common pros and cons of wireless networks.

Wireless networks give more freedom, effectiveness, and flexibility. More people can connect to the network and use it from different areas of your home or home office.
Although coverage is one of its strong points, it can also be one of its weak points as some materials can interfere with the signal creating spots where you may not be able to connect to the wireless network. Even if you can, you may be experiencing reduced internet speeds and higher ping.
Wireless networks are usually slower compared to comparable wired connections.
Wireless internet is less messy as there will be almost no cables needed—this also makes for a better and cleaner looking home office.
Wireless networks may be more vulnerable to hackers.

As you can see, wireless networks can be an excellent way to declutter your home office and have more freedom where you work from. However, wireless networks may be less secure, slower, and prone to signal interference.

Overall, which internet connection will be best for will depend on personal preferences and needs.

What Download Speed Do You Need for Your Home Office

The download speed you need will be one factor, however, whether or not you will have the needed access to such an internet connection will depend on where you live, your local ISPs, and your budget.

The global average broadband download speed is about 74 Mbps (or about 9.25 MBps) right now. This number has been steadily growing over the past several years, with the top countries averaging at 150 to 202 Mbps.

With that being said, the average internet speed in the U.S. is a little more than 90 Mbps—which is, generally speaking, an excellent internet speed. However, with that being said, you need to consider what the usage of the said network will be, who will use it, and how often.

If other people or members of your home will be using the same internet connection, you may need to account for that if the potential signal and speed fluctuations may affect your work. For example, if you are having an important conference call with 10 other people and this uses up almost all your internet speed, imagine what will happen if someone else in your home decided they want to watch a 4K movie over a streaming service at the same time.

Overall, in regard to all the minimum internet speed requirements, we have explored in this article, I would not settle for an internet plan that offers anything less than 25 to 30 Mbps.

What Upload Speed Do You Need for Your Home Office

Remember when I said not all internet connections are the same — this is the main reason why. Many people may easily overlook this aspect of their internet connection, but the upload speed is important — in fact, it may be vital to your business. Here’s why.

Some jobs may not require you to have fast download speeds but instead a fast upload speed. For example, if you are editing and uploading videos, especially 4K videos on a regular basis, you will need very fast upload speed. These videos can be massive, and time may be of the essence.

If you are offering streaming services, be it games, music, or something else, or if you are using cloud-based storage, there will again be a stronger need for higher upload speeds. This is where many people stumble upon the fact that ISPs frequently do not offer as high upload speeds as their download speeds are.

The global average upload speed is a little over 40 Mbps (about 5 MBps). Considering the requirements of some frequently used services and the potential need to upload average-sized files to the internet, I would recommend going with an internet plan that offers at least 20 to 30 Mbps.

What Kind of Ping Do You Need for Your Home Office

Another aspect of your internet connection that may or may not be important to you is your latency, also known as ping.

Latency is the time—usually measured in milliseconds—needed for an information package to travel from your computer to a server and then return back. The lower the latency, the better and more responsive your internet connection will be.

This may not always be vital to your work, but it needs to be taken into account. If the type of work you are doing relies heavily on very quick actions and responses, you need low ping. It is best to have a ping lower than 100 ms. And such ping can be expected from the majority of the good ISPs.

What Kind of Mobile Internet Do You Need for Your Home Office

So far, we have explored the so-called fixed broadband internet. However, there is one more kind of internet that deserves your attention—the mobile internet.

Mobile internet is significantly slower in comparison to the wired broadband, but it can be an important pillar in your work. The global averages for mobile internet are about a tad below 32 Mbps for download and a little over 11 Mbps for upload.

But I have always considered my mobile internet as a sort of a backup plan if the internet to my computer is down. Although downtimes are a rarity in today’s world, I have had the occasional situation where I didn’t have internet and had to use my smartphone as a hotspot device. In which case, even a slow mobile internet can be a life savior.

When it all began, mobile internet connections were super slow. However, with the improvement in technology, things started to change. Mobile speed may be important to you if you tend to do a lot of work on the phone (or other smart devices) like video calls, video conferences, downloading and uploading files, and more.

There are different types of mobile internet connections as well, like 2G, 3G, 4G, and now even 5G.

Mobile Connection	Label	Maximum Theoretical Speed	Maximum Real World Speed
2G	G	0.1 Mbps	Up to 0.1 Mbps
2G	E	0.3 Mbps	Up to 0.1 Mbps
3G	3G	0.3 Mbps	Up to 0.1 Mbps
3G	H	7.2 Mbps	1.5 Mbps
3G	H+	21 to 42 Mbps	4 to 8 Mbps
4G	4G	150 Mbps	12 to 15 Mbps
4G	4G+	300 to 979 Mbps	24 to 100 Mbps*
5G	5G	1,000 to 10,000 Mbps	100+ Mbps*

* Unconfirmed.

With all that being said, it is important to note a few things. There is a huge difference between theoretical and real-world mobile internet speed. Although the theoretical maximum can seem like a lot in practice, the actual speeds you may get, on average, will be a lot slower. Overall, your mobile internet should not be the main source of internet you use, so you can potentially make do with a slower connection between 3G to 4G.

A 3G connection will be good for general browsing, email correspondences, VoIP, and chatting. And a 4G connection will be the way to go if you want to do everything a 3G can but also be able to upload and download larger files and do other more demanding work. One thing worth mentioning is that some telecommunication companies may offer limited mobile internet. Or they can limit your speeds after a certain amount of data has been transferred, which could limit your ability to finish your job properly.

How Much Does Working from Home Save You?

One of the biggest benefits of working from home is the amount of money you can save doing so. Of course, there are other benefits, such as time savings and having the flexibility to take care of your children, if necessary. Not to mention you can wear whatever you want, however, from my own personal experience I would recommend you get dressed, even if it is in casual clothes as I find it hard to be motivated to work in my pajamas!

How much, can working from home really save you? What you end up saving from working at home will depend on where you begin and will differ from person to person. For example, if you have never owned a vehicle then you won’t have savings from not driving a vehicle to and from work and so on.

It should be obvious that working from home can potentially save you some money. There is always the chance, however, that you can spend more money from working at home. It’s easy to fall into bad habits and drift off doing something else that could end up costing you more money, like shopping on Amazon for instance. In this article, we will discuss how working from home can save you money and potentially how much.

So, if you’re ready to learn and hop on the money saving train, then let’s get started!

Is it Cheaper to Work from Home?

Before discussing how much you could potentially save if you chose to work from home, let’s touch on if it is in fact cheaper to stay home. Regardless of what you might think, it still costs money to stay home. How so, you might ask? I will list some ways it might cost you more working from home and then in the next section, we can discuss savings.

Not a monetary point but working from home can cause loneliness, inability to stay focused which is a big one. If you get off track every day, your productivity lowers and you are not making as much money as you might need to. Setting a daily schedule and routine, not only for your work but personal hygiene and exercise, are important to have success. Being an introvert myself, I have no problem here and I find it exciting to have my days planned out at home and productivity is as high as it can be (or needs to be).
If you are at home every day working, you will need lighting, heat or cooling, depending on the time of year and other sources of power to run office equipment.
Being at home every day could cause you to eat more than if you were away every day for your 8 hours of work. Let’s face it, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of over-indulging, especially if you are not hyper focused on the task at hand. Setting up times to eat, just like you would away from home, is the best way to deal with this.
Online shopping can be a problem nowadays, and from experience, I know it is a slippery slope. Amazon is just a click away. Being at home means it’s easier for your mind to drift off to things you think you need that can end up costing you more money in the long run. Stay on track, stay focused and put away your cell phone when you are supposed to be working.
Purchasing office equipment could cost you more however, if you can get by with a laptop and the kitchen table, then maybe it’s not an issue. If you are meeting clients though, you will want to have a professional setup with chairs and tables. Lamps and pictures make for a good setting and don’t forget the cost of maintaining your space.

How Much am I Saving if I Work from Home?

Now to the good stuff! The amount of money you save from working at home will differ from person to person. Everyone’s situation is different, and we all have different material items and responsibilities in our lives. I can only give you estimates and ideas, based on my own references although, it should give you an idea of what kind of savings are possible. Below is a list of items to consider with what I would expect to save from working at home.

Savings from Not Driving to Work

If you drive a vehicle, you know the cost of gasoline is not cheap. Every week I must fill up my truck, which costs me anywhere from $50 to $75, depending on how much extracurricular driving I am doing. Regardless, that is a lot of money every month on just gasoline. On top of that, if you were able to cut your vehicle out completely, you would also save money on vehicle insurance and depending on where you live that could amount to thousands a year. Unless you have a newer vehicle, you will most likely run into the odd mechanics bill for random things that go wrong with the vehicle. Also, the less you drive, the less often you would need oil changes are tire rotations which is another saving.

Just cutting back or getting rid of a vehicle could potentially save you anywhere from $200 a month to $1500 a month, of course, depending on where you live and what your insurance costs you.

Stop Taking a Cab to Work

Surprisingly, some people take a taxi every day. That just blows my mind because I know how expensive they are. Even if you opt for an Uber, chances are you are spending $30 to $100 per day just on getting back and forth to work. That is a huge waste of money, in my opinion. If you are doing this, then working from home would obviously save you thousands a month.

You could even save money if you stopped using a taxi and purchased a vehicle. I know sometimes parking is an issue but there is always a way to cut that cost down. This article, however, is about working from home. So, if you worked from home that means you are saving thousands a month. Wow, I think this one is a no brainer!

Save Money by Not Taking the Bus

Other means of transportation include taking a bus or subway train. These options are more affordable than cabbing it every day however, they do cost money. Staying at home to work, instead of jumping on a bus or train, means you could save anywhere from $50 and up each month.

That might not sound like a lot of money, but for some people, if you add that up over a year, it equals a month’s rent or mortgage payment. How would you like to have a month where it feels like you got to skip a mortgage payment? My hand is in the air!

Save Money Working at Home by Not Having to Use a Daycare

This is a no-brainer in my mind and one of the highest expenses for parents, second only to a mortgage, that is. If you have more than one child, the price you pay for daycare could be even higher than your paycheck of possibly a mortgage payment! If you can somehow have your children at home while working, you will save so much money!

I know you are thinking, well, if you have children at home, how do you work? That’s up to you. You need to figure out a way to make it happen. One idea I have is to have a family member help-out, whether it is someone from your home or maybe grandma or grandpa can come over and watch the kids. You would be amazed how much family really does want to help, especially if they have the time. Afterall, l that’s what life is all about right? Family.
If you can’t watch your children and work and family can’t come over to help, then consider hiring a babysitter to watch the kids while you work. Yes, it will cost you money but it’s not going to be anywhere near what you would spend on a daycare.
A fulltime daycare, in my area, costs anywhere from $800 to $1,200 per month for one child. I imagine in much larger centers, such as New York, you would pay much more.
Again, this is like paying another mortgage payment. Think about how much further ahead you would be if you could stop paying a daycare.
Maybe one person in your house has an income of around $1,200 per month. If this is the case, then is it worth it for that person to be working? They could be staying home taking care of the children so you can work from home. It’s a win-win situation!

Save Money Not Having to Purchase Clothing

I am not saying you should sit around with nothing on. The fact is that when you work outside of the home, you need to dress accordingly. Shoes, pants, shirts, suit it all adds up. It should go without saying that if you are working from home, you won’t need a large selection of clothes for the workplace.
- I also find that it’s not just about the initial cost of a pair of shoes for work. It’s the ‘wear and tear’ on those shoes or other pieces of clothing that ruins them, ultimately leading you to purchase new apparel. One pair of shoes should last more than a year. If you were working from home, your clothes would likely last much longer and you wouldn’t require as large a wardrobe.
- This could potentially save you $1,000 or more every single year. Again, that is another mortgage payment you are saving. Life would just seem to be easier if you didn’t have to go out shopping for clothes every couple of months.

Save Money Working at Home by Not Eating Meals Out Every Day

This is an obvious one to most, yet some hardworking people out there have the attitude that if they must go out to work, then they should be able to treat themselves to a lunch or multiple coffee’s most days. I don’t disagree that working day after day should provide some sort of reward to you and treating yourself to a lunch on payday is not a bad thing.
- It adds up quickly, though. If you were to only purchase one coffee in the morning (costing between $3 and $5 each) and let’s go with one reasonably priced lunch per week at around $20. At the low end, you are looking at $35 a week or $140 a month. Over a year that is $1,680, which again is a mortgage payment for most people.
- That’s at the low end, remember! Some people have a couple coffees per day and multiple lunches and suppers, adding up significantly over time.
- I think it’s safe to say that this alone will save you quite a bit of money while working from home. For the $35 spent on food and/or beverages, you could purchase enough coffee to last you a whole month at home!

Sick Time Savings

Being sick costs you money, even if you have excellent health care. Most minor medications are not covered by health care. You will have to pay for those medications out of pocket.
- Working at home means you have less physical contact with other humans, which means less chances of you getting sick.
- Being sick also cuts into productivity. Stay home, stay healthy and save a few dollars in the process.

This list of ways you will save money by working at home is not all inclusive as there could be other ways you are saving money being at home.

Setting up a Home Office for Remote Work

I have been working remotely from my home office for several years now. And although it may seem like a dream come true, one still needs to do some preliminary planning before they can work remotely.

How to set up a home office for remote work? To set up a home office for remote work, you need to make sure the furniture, equipment, and all the supplies are arranged properly in a way that will not affect your workflow negatively. To set up your home office, you need at least a few fundamental things like a computer, desk, chair, and internet access.

If you are interested in all the details about setting up a home office for remote work, continue reading below.

What You Need for the Best Home Office Setup for Remote Work

You see, working from home can be a fantastic thing, but that does not mean that you will not be working long hours just like you would do in a regular office. This is why some basics need to be covered when setting up your home office.

This is all about your health and your workflow. Working is a fact of life, but you and me, we all need to make sure we stay healthy and vibrant. Setting your home office the right way will promote increased productivity, improved mood, and will not negatively impact your health.

A Multipurpose Standing Desk

Choose a standing desk; your lower back will thank you later. Your desk is going to be the place where you will spend the majority of your time working.

There are different models types and varieties of standing desks.

Crank powered standing desks – They are a simple, relatively cheap option that will give you the advantage of spending parts of your working day standing. The only downside is that these will require some manual cranking and adjusting.
Electric standing desks – They are usually a little more expensive but can be adjusted with a simple press of a button. They are very easy to use and adjust. Some electric standing desks can be programmed to remember your favorite height settings so that you can be sure you are using the same height every time.
Desk risers – They are a very cheap alternative to standing desks. These risers are placed on top of your existing desk and can be adjusted depending on your preferences. The downside? They may not provide you with enough working space, adjustability, and your existing desk may be restricting your freedom of movement. However, desk risers are, although a little bulky, portable and can be moved and used on different desks and tables in your home.

So why is it so important to have a standing desk? It is not necessarily all about being in the upright position but more about variation.

Even standing for too long can be harmful. This is why it is essential to switch between standing and sitting throughout your working day. Our bodies are designed to move – not to stay in the same position for hours on end. Make sure that your desk is going to offer plenty of working space. You want to have enough space so that you can easily fit everything you will need on it.

An Ergonomic Chair

The next thing you need when setting up your home office is an ergonomic chair. The design of your chair is easily one of the most important decisions you are going to make when setting up your home office to work remotely. You will be spending prolonged amounts of time sitting, so you need to invest in a good, high-quality ergonomic chair that will support the natural body position.

There is a wide variety of different ergonomic chairs you can choose from like gaming chairs, kneeling chairs, executive chairs, recliner chairs, and ball chairs. Some people even enjoy sitting directly on a yoga ball.

An Automated Assistant

One of the good things about living in today’s day and age is how much technology has improved. You can use Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to automate a great deal of the work processes; you can set up meetings, reminders, and you can even automate and remotely control the appliances in your home too.

A Fast and Reliable Computer

The majority of remote work you will do from your home office will require decent computer equipment. Not all remote work you can do from your home requires a lot of resources. For example, being a freelance copywriter, researcher, data entry, or customer support operative does not necessarily require high-end computer equipment. Though your computer still needs to be reliable.

However, if you will be editing and rendering videos (especially higher-quality 4K videos) or doing computer animation, things can be a lot different. All of these generally require a lot of resources and computing power so.

A High-Quality Monitor

Take a few moments to consider what kind of work you will be doing. Does it require a large monitor? Perhaps you need an ultrawide monitor or two monitors?

Then comes the quality of your monitor – the response time, refresh rates, PWM, gamut, low blue light, and so much more. Every feature and specification of the monitor matters and deserves special attention since you will be doing a lot of work on this monitor. The type and quality of your monitor can affect your energy and how quickly your eyes get tired.

A Reliable Internet Connection

Having a reliable and fast internet connection is going to be vital to your workflow and ability to stay on top of things – which means that you need a reliable internet connection. Today most people would do just fine with a quality wireless router. You can connect to the wireless network from any place in your home and home office.

But depending on the type of work you do, you may need to opt for a faster optical fiber internet connection.

An Adequate Lighting

Working in a dark home office is neither productive nor pleasant, and you can even strain and damage your eyes. This is why you need to consider and set up your home office in a way that makes the whole place well-lit. Ideally, you want to have access to as much natural lighting as possible.

An Anti-Fatigue Mat and a Footrest

When spending significant amounts of time standing up, it is recommended to use an anti-fatigue mat. Standing mats will improve the blood flow to your legs and reduce fatigue and tiredness. And during the time you will be spending sitting down in your chair, consider using a footrest. A footrest will support your legs and stimulate blood circulation.

An Ergonomic Mouse, Keyboard, Arm Support

Working on a computer all day is inevitably placing high amounts of stress on your joints. This is why some people prefer using an ergonomic mouse and keyboard.

Consider using an arm support or an arm stand too. An arm support can be used effectively to relieve much of the strain and stress that is put on your wrists, shoulders, and neck. The arm support is usually attached at the end of your desk, and some of the higher-quality ones can even follow the movement of your arm.

A Whiteboard

Many people may underestimate it, but having a whiteboard (or a chalkboard) can facilitate your workflow.

A whiteboard can be used to brainstorm ideas and visually lay out plans and strategies. It is always better to be able to see the grand picture, and a whiteboard can help you do exactly that.

Plants and Flowers

You need an environment that will stimulate concentration, focus, and work. Many may focus too much on having furniture and accessories that are strictly work-related, but it is important to bring at least a little bit of nature inside your home office as well. Plants deserve a place in our homes for more reasons than just visual appeal, however.

Take a look. Plants have been found to help us deal with stressful situations and improve our performance. Research has linked the absence of plants with increased levels of both physical and mental stress.

Another interesting study discovered that having several plants in your home or office improves focus, mood and reduces the feeling of boredom. And the results correlated positively with the size of the plant – the bigger the plant, the better the effect.

A Quality Audio Output and Input

No matter what I say I will not be able to do that topic justice. But investing in a quality headset, speakers, and microphone can really take your home office to the next level. Depending on the type of remote work, you perform a quality mic will breathe a sense of professionalism and class, especially if you are communicating with customers and partners frequently.

And having quality speakers can help you relax and enjoy the time you spend working more.

A Good Security Setup

Your home office is your business, and it needs to be treated as such. And even though it is located in the same place, you live you still have to take some preventative measures. Make sure to use strong passwords for all your accounts, wifi networks, phones, computers, printers, etc.

If needed, install CCTV for extra protection. Keep your documents and sensitive information stored and locked in storage cabinets. Make sure the door(s) and window(s) in your home office are all sturdy and lockable – and most importantly that they stay locked when you are not working there.

How to Setup the Work Environment in Your Home Office for Remote Work

Now that we have covered the very basics of everything you would need for your home office, let us continue with exploring how to set up everything properly.

The Home Office Room

It all starts with choosing the right area in your home where you will be working. For some people placing a laptop on the kitchen counter may be more than sufficient. However, certain professions may require some preliminary work to be done first.

For example, if you will be calling customers, partners, or taking customer service calls, you will need to have an area that is quiet and has good acoustics. In which case, you may even need to consider soundproofing your home office. Conversely, regardless of what type of work you do, a clean and quiet environment – ideally with a nice view – is going to allow you to be more productive and focused.

How to Setup Your Furniture

Besides the desk and chair, you will also need a couple more pieces of furniture depending on your needs like filing cabinets, shelving units, more chairs, a sofa, and more. Make sure you arrange your home office in a way that makes sense. You want it to have enough free space so that you can easily walk and move from one place to another. All the supplies you would need and the equipment you will frequently use should be within easy reach.

Make sure that your home office is not cluttered with objects that you do not really need and will just take up space. A cluttered room can impact your focus and even make you feel a little restless. Of course, you need some decorations too, but you need the right kind that will stimulate you.

Creating the right engaging environment may be hard if you have never had to think about your interior before. So start with reducing the clutter and surround yourself with beautiful things that represent you in some way and make you feel calm.

How to Setup the Lighting

There are a number of different types of lighting that you may need to take into account as you are setting your office.

Natural lighting;
Ambient lighting;
Bias lighting; and
Task lighting;

The position of your desk matters a lot, not because of the desk itself, but because of what will be placed on top of it.

The desk should be placed in such a way as to prevent and eliminate bright light and glare on your computer screen. Ideally, the light should be coming from the side, not behind you. It is also okay for the light to be coming from in front of you, as long as it is not too bright. If you have no choice, make sure you use the shades or the blinds on your windows. This may lower the overall light, but it will also reduce the glare.

An adequately positioned task lighting, on the other hand, is a good thing as it will provide increased localized illumination as well as improved contrast. Bias lighting, on the other hand, is believed to reduce eye strain from computer screens in darker rooms. And interestingly enough, bias lighting is also associated with improved screen contrast.

How to Set up Your Desk

There are no hard and fast rules here. However, generally speaking, the height of the standing desk should be at the same or slightly below the height of your elbows.

When working, you should keep your elbows horizontal or parallel to the ground – this also applies to the height of the desk when you are in the sitting position. That way, you will prevent any unnecessary tension created by the unnatural position of your wrists, elbows, and shoulder joints.

How to Set up Your Monitor

To set up the monitor, make sure that it is between 20 to 28 inches (or 50.8 to 71.1 cm) away from your eyes. The general rule of thumb is to keep the top of the monitor at eye level. And the upward angle of the monitor should be no more than 20°.

These little rules will ensure that you will not have to tilt your head or forward your neck unnaturally, which can create neck pain, shoulder pain, and potentially even headaches. Make sure to keep the monitor centered directly in front of you at about an arm’s length. This was a frequent mistake I used to make with my laptop. Keeping your monitor slightly to the left or right will promote unnatural twisting of your head and neck.

How to Setup Your Chair

You need to place the chair close to the desk. You should not need to extend your arms or your neck forward. The chair should provide good lumbar support and prevent you from slouching.

That being said, while slouching is bad, you do not want to overextend your back either. While sitting ideally, your hips should be at the same level or slightly above your knees.

Cyber Security Audit for your Home Office

Cyber security audit helps in identifying all the security risks and vulnerabilities you might be susceptible to. So, whether you are planning to work full time or part time, it is important to set up a cyber security audit for your home office. This is a standard to protect your home office from viruses, malware, hacking or even data loss.

What is a cyber security audit for your home? Cyber security audit is a structured and extensive approach in protecting your security system’s integrity and confidentiality against possible attacks from hackers, viruses, theft, or even natural disasters which may jeopardize your business.

It aims to defend your home office’s computers, servers, networks, e-systems, and data that could be compromised if someone hacks into your home Wi-Fi network or even the public hotspot you’re connected to. Take note that other devices connected in your home may have far fewer security controls than your work laptop. This may give easy access to cyber criminals or opportunistic malware that are ready to pounce on your highly confidential documents at any time of the day!

Cyber security

Cyber security is the combination of technologies, practices, and processes planned to protect computers, programs, networks, data and information from attack, damage or unauthorized access. Most of these threats are viruses, worms, malicious malware, theft, phishing, DDoS, password attacks, etc.

These may result in system crash or worse, confidential data loss. Good thing, we can safeguard our network system by investing in good antivirus apps, online backup, encryption for email protection and two-factor authentication. However, these cannot be done in one sitting and it requires the outsourced competence of a cyber auditor. You hire audit professionals primarily to look into the scope of risk, evaluate your network performance and come up with methods to save your office network security from further damage.

Why Cyber security audits

Aside from the in-depth security it provides, cyber security audit directs your home office towards increased productivity, stops your website from crashing, and protects not only you but also your clients.

The cyber security audit is also known as electronic information security or information technology security. As the term implies, it ensures the following: threat-free devices and software, both in storage and in transit integrity and data privacy are protected, and restoration of operations or data loss brought about by human and nonhuman intervention.

To understand how cyber security audits for your home works, we have to understand its importance, protective measures, set up process, people to trust and frequency of having security audits for home offices.

Setting up Cyber security for your home office

There are a lot of software available that comes in handy in the absence of a network auditor. The choices are varied that you won’t be at a loss finding the one that suits your security audit needs. Despite the expense, time, frustration over data infringement and other vulnerabilities, it’s advisable to carry out a vast network audit periodically. For home offices, twice a year would suffice to detect threats and free your system from the biggest fragility that may affect not only you but your clientele as well.

As you build your home office, do not take for granted the importance of regular cyber security audits. The budget may always be the first drawback to this but look beyond the bucks you need to spend. The money you think you can save from brushing off the idea of network audit may even double or triple once it’s too late for a simple cyber security check.

Bank on updated cyber security audit and do your due diligence in protecting personal data, save yourself from inconceivable network security problems, avoid an expensive data breach, strengthen office programs, flag potential issues and suggest improvements. Even though cyber attacks and threats will never disappear, it doesn’t mean you have to live your life in fear. There are successful procedures and trusted software to keep the integrity of your data. By understanding the vulnerabilities and threats your home office is facing, you can improve your ability to combat them. Remember, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ Conduct audits either through scheduled scanning or by a skilled professional who knows the ins and outs of effective audits that will keep your home company running and aimed towards the right direction.

Importance of Cyber security audit for your home

Technical Security

It covers network, application, information, and operational safety. With this big scope, it’s essential to establish set standards for security configuration which is important in dealing with file storage and backup. Some home offices have this customized to direct particular issues.

Physical security

This emerges from theft, burglary, fire, and natural disasters like floods. Most home offices overlooked this one, but the probability of its occurrence cannot be dismissed. A course of action includes locks, fencing, access control cards, fire suppression systems, and biometric control systems.

Ethical hacking

This is the process of validating and testing potential threats on a network or computer. We also call this penetration testing and information security analysis. So, to prevent misused and stolen data by cyber attackers, a secure network should be implemented to avert security violations.

Virus protection and removal

The most basic protection you can give your home office is the anti-virus software. Up up-to-date software is important to ensure your system is protected. It’s imperative to say that you have to invest in sophisticated anti-virus apps to save you from tons of worries should viruses and malware get to your home office system.

Safeguarding your home office from digital and physical threats

Anti-virus software is an essential step to make sure the computer network is protected from viruses and malware. A periodic update should be run to be current to the new and recent viruses that are developed every day. Also, this saves you from the risk of losing your data and starting anew after reinstalling your operating system.
A backup plan saves the day when all our data is beyond recovery due to all the cyber threats that abound. Having an online backup plan can prevent suspension of your business operations and redoing all your system files. Remember that you are risking yourself from a significant amount of data loss if there’s no online backup plan.
Email encryption involves encryption to protect the content of your email from being read by others before it reaches the receiver. Typically, emails have confidential and sensitive content, so it’s alarming to know that email is not as secure as we thought it was. Imagine this: with encrypted email, what you are sending will only be visible to you and the intended recipient. You can sleep soundly knowing your data cannot be easily stolen by all forms of online entities.
Two- factor authentication is like an extra layer of security that allows you to log into service as long as you have another device, mostly a mobile phone, where you can receive a login code sent once you put in your password. With this, always take extra effort and precaution in building a very strong password that includes upper and lower case as well as number. Do not fall into the habit of writing your ‘password’ on a sticky note or anywhere accessible by anyone but you (or your most trusted people in your home).

Step by step processes in setting up cyber security audit for your home office

Define the scope of the audit. As you have your office set at home, you should be well-aware of the extent of security you need. Surely with all the potential threats around, the scope is not limited to computer equipment, but it also includes sensitive data and essential documentation. You should base your audit of scope on risks at hand.
Define threats. What could be the most emerging threats in a home office? Online threats are diverse, and they don’t discriminate when looking for a target. Surprisingly, there are as many as office-based businesses have, such as the following:
- Spyware and viruses that damage files or systems.
- Stolen passwords that risk the confidentiality of your data and files. So, make sure the passwords of your devices are unique and never share it with anyone.
- Theft of valuable or sensitive data that can disable the system or worse, make your data unavailable.
- Phishing is carried out via email that misleads email recipients into exposing confidential data or even passwords.
Evaluate the latest security performance. Have a grasp of your system’s security program and understand the top-level risks needed to enhance cyber security administration. Know how your home office is performing against your adopted monitoring device and take it from there.
Devise ways to improve or implement processes.This simply means keeping all your systems and programs updated and current. Make it a habit to have all your internal and external systems up to date to neutralize or eliminate risks.

Who sets up cyber security audit for your home office

Hire computer security auditors.

They are skilled professionals who will help you big time in assessing your databases and corroborate that all your devices are safe from cyber criminals and threats. As cyber threats grow in number and by the hour, so is the demand for cyber security experts! For your home office, you can outsource them. Though there is scarcity in resources, you can always find the right person, if not the best, on job searches websites, professional social network websites like LinkedIn, universities that have a pool of qualified and available workforce, public events that allow recruiters to meet with potential employees in person, and even in training courses. The last one may sound improbable, but come to think of it, most professionals continuously train to polish their auditing skills and attract better opportunities, so what are the odds for you to stumble upon someone who could help you out in setting security audit for your home office?

Once you find the right person for the job, you can always call someone to come by and assess the overall structure of your system. The auditor should be able to interpret the resulting data. Then, security issues and a quick fix should be looked upon and itemized. This trained professional will ensure the updated and threat-free system for you.

Find software that can audit vulnerabilities through the internet.

All types of businesses need a measure to find heaps of unknown network-related hazards. In doing so, you should find software that can audit vulnerabilities through the internet. I have listed down ten of the tools to scan your websites.

Sucuri is the top website security company in the world that specializes in powerful WordPress security. Your website is protected from hackers, malware, DDoS and blacklists.
SQLMap is a powerful automated engine for detecting SQL (Structured Query Language) Injection vulnerabilities and database takeover. When given a URL, it automatically executes a thorough SQL injection scan and, if possible, extracts the entirety of database details and DB user details.
Qualys is a platform for scanning and reporting vulnerabilities and missing patches from the network infrastructure. It is user-friendly, easy to configure, capable of automatically running scans on a schedule or new patch release.
Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP) is a free tool good for small businesses. Automatic scanning after a manual walk through is its most valuable feature. Since it is open-source, it provides flexibility and is convenient to use.
UpGuard is a fine tool that goes well in rating the organization’s security posture not only to the services that are externally faced but also to the internal systems. It also allows quick identification of vulnerabilities and recommended configurations to make your systems more secure.
WebCookies Scanner is an all-in-one free safety device capable of finding risks and privacy issues on HTTP cookies, Flash applets, HTML5 localStorage, Supercookies, and Evercookies and suitable for scanning web applications. This tool also provides a free URL malware scanner.
Nessus is a penetration tester that scans comprehensively, and its vulnerability database is constantly updated. It does not only allow you to detect vulnerabilities that affect your system but also allows you to discover your network, through which you can validate if there are unauthorized devices found connected to it.
Probe.ly performs continuous security in the early stages of your web development and quickly fixes vulnerabilities. Scheduling and managing scans are simple, proactive in addressing problems and easy to use which saves hours and grief.
Quttera features a one-click scan, cloud technology, detailed investigation report, blacklist status, external links detection, unknown malware detection, etc. This plugin will scan your website for malware, trojans, worms, viruses, shells, spyware and other threats, malicious iframes and more.
SiteGuarding offers services on any small or large website problems. It is affordable software that checks and resolves suspicious activity on your system, deep scans every file on your website, virus database daily update, and hacker exploits.

There are several dozens more security software that can help you manage any cyber threats and attacks your home office will be exposed to. It’s quite complicated what these systems can provide for you, but I’m sure you can find one that’s the most suitable in addressing your security audits for the home office.

How regular should cyber security audit be done

A security audit is a complicated, tedious, extensive analysis of data that requires solutions over time. You cannot just guess the security of your systems sans implementing regular thorough security audits. Needless to say, such measures require a lot of time and money.

So, the question is: How often should cyber security audits be done?

Some home offices might choose to perform them monthly, quarterly or bi-annually. Though some would agree it could be done at a minimum of twice a year. There’s no standard frequency in conducting security audit as it depends on the following factors:

Budget set aside for cyber security and protection software. The steps taken into consideration are long and time-consuming, so imagine the amount of money needed to gather and analyze data or potential entries for attackers. And it does not just end there, software and network patches need to be performed to fortify your system.
The size of your business is the underlying factor here. Big businesses require more frequent security audits like monthly or quarterly for non-physical transactions, but smaller businesses can perform it twice a year (bear minimum).

To play safe, do not wait until something goes wrong in your system or cyber attackers have sabotaged the confidentiality of your files tremendously. Perform security audits as often as possible. As the old cliché goes, “It’s better to be safe than sorry”.

Where to Meet Clients When You Work from Home?

Running a home business is not without its challenges! Where to meet clients for face-to-face meetings is one of them. You must choose potential meeting places wisely, as your personal reputation and professional future depend on it! Right now, you may be wondering to yourself, ‘what are the best places to meet clients when you work from home?’

Choosing where to meet potential or existing clients when you work from home is very important. These places should be appropriate, convenient and (above all) safe. The 10 best (in my opinion) include coffee shops, restaurants, hotel conferences rooms, co-operative office centers, the park, city hall, banks, libraries, club houses and, of course, your own home office!

Now that you know the 10 best places to connect with clients when you work from home, let’s take a closer look at each in more detail below and explain why it’s a good option. We’ll also explore some related topics including how to properly ask for a meeting, how to impress potential clients at your first meeting and how to keep up with existing clients.

So, if you’re ready to learn more about where to meet clients when you work from home, then let’s get to it!

What are the Best Places to Meet Clients When You Work from Home?

The top 10 best places to meet clients when you work from home, in my opinion, include (but are in no way limited to) the following:

Coffee Shops

Local coffee shops are a great place to meet up with potential clients. Most places offer free wi-fi access which is very helpful, should you need to access vital information online during your meeting. As well, the atmosphere is often comfortable, relaxed and (fairly) quiet. This allows for easier conversation and better communication. And, it’s very affordable! All you need to do is purchase a beverage (or two) to ‘use’ the establishment.

Restaurants

A restaurant is another possible meeting place. Discussing potential business ventures over a good meal has success written all over it, especially if you allow your client to choose the restaurant! Breakfast or lunch meetings are good if you prefer a less formal, more relaxed atmosphere. If you’re meeting a high-profile client, a dinner meeting is likely better. And, since small business owners often qualify for deductions on work-related meals, keep and submit your receipts for an added ‘bonus’ at tax time.

Hotel Conference Rooms

While meeting a client in an actual hotel room is not recommended, booking a conference room at a hotel is a good idea, especially if you’re meeting more than one person. These facilities often come at a much higher cost ($200 to $300 on average per day)! However, they also provide everything you need to conduct a complete and professional in-service including wi-fi access, full use of audio/visual equipment such as TVs and DVDs, office supplies including pens and paper and even a catered meal.

Co-operative Office Centers

The new trend in conducting small business meetings involves the use of co-operative office centers. These facilities provide temporary use of a traditional office space (which often includes a room with desk and a couple of chairs) for as little as $15 per hour! You can even rent them on a weekly or monthly basis. These provide a great alternative to meeting clients in your home, which can be uncomfortable or possibly unsafe, especially if you’re meeting a ‘stranger’ for the first time.

The Park

If you’re lucky to live in a region with warm weather year-round and beautiful parks nearby, then why not meet clients in the great outdoors. Fresh air and sunshine are wonderful morale boosters. And, if your meeting doesn’t require you to use wi-fi or audio/visual aids, then agree to meet at a park bench near a stream or waterfall display for a casual, relaxed encounter. As well, if your client happens to enjoy physical activity, why not schedule the meeting on a golf course or hiking trail!

City Hall

Most city halls have community centers that allow members of the community to book space for private affairs such as wedding receptions and anniversary parties as well as public events or fundraisers. Small business owners are no exceptions and can inquire about booking a conference room or office space at their local city hall for client meetings. Fees, if any, will vary, unless only non-profit organizations are permitted to use the facility. In which case, you’ll likely need to find another outlet.

Public Libraries

So long as your client meeting doesn’t require loud audio/visual aids, meeting at a public library is another alternative. There, you have access to free wi-fi as well as photocopy machines and other tech devices. You don’t need to purchase anything to use the facility, which is a good if you’re on a tight working budget. Some experts even believe that being surrounded by books makes people feel smarter and subconsciously more willing to ‘get to work.’

Club Houses

If you live in an apartment or condominium, you may have access to a club house or activity room right on site. This makes a great meeting place for potential clients, especially if you can book the space in advance for your own private use. Club houses are often reserved for a minor fee or (if you’re lucky) no cost at all! Being close to home is great should you need to quickly grab any additional information or accidently forgotten documents.

Your Bank

Your current bank is yet another place to meet potential or existing clients. Depending on its size, most banks will allow small business owners (who have accounts or invest with them, that is) to use their conference room or community meeting space for professional engagements. A small fee may be incurred, or you might be allowed to use the area for free, if you ask the manager for permission and reserve it far enough in advance.

Your Home Office

If you feel comfortable and know your clients well enough, then why not use your own home office for meetings. If you’ve exhausted every other option or simply can’t conduct business anywhere else, then setting up a room in your home with a desk, a few chairs and a coffee machine will do nicely. Make sure the room has good lighting and access to wi-fi, a computer, a fax machine, a photocopier, a telephone and any other office equipment you need to conduct business without having to run back-and-forth to other rooms. This creates a more professional environment in which to work and meet.

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