Because working in pyjamas shouldn’t mean opening the door to cybercrime.

The way we work has changed. Whether it’s home offices, coffee shops, airports, or a mix of all three, remote and hybrid work is here to stay. It’s flexible, efficient, and – let’s be honest – sometimes more productive without the distractions of the office fridge politics.

But here’s the catch: the more freedom your team has to work from anywhere, the more vulnerable your business becomes to security risks everywhere.

So let’s talk about how to keep your company secure, without locking down all the benefits of flexible working.

What’s changed in the modern workplace

In the old days (say, 2019), people worked inside company buildings on company networks using company devices. The perimeter was defined: you had a firewall, you had locked doors, and your IT team knew what was going on.

Now? Your staff could be logging in from their home Wi-Fi, a friend’s laptop, or a mobile phone on a train – and each connection brings a potential risk.

In short: the office walls have disappeared. Security now has to follow the people, not just protect the building.

The most common risks of remote & hybrid work

Let’s break this down with real-life examples:

• Unsecured home Wi-Fi: Default passwords on routers make it easy for attackers to sneak in.
• Lost or stolen devices: A laptop left on a train can be a goldmine if it’s not encrypted.
• Shadow IT: Staff using personal apps or cloud tools without approval or oversight.
• Weak or shared passwords: Yes, some teams still share logins via WhatsApp.
• Phishing emails: Without colleagues around to say “That looks dodgy,” people are more likely to click.

None of these are cutting-edge cyberattacks. They’re everyday mistakes that happen when people work outside a managed office environment.

What good security looks like in a flexible world

You don’t need to cancel remote work, you just need to support it securely. Here are the basics your business should have in place:

1. Strong Device Security
       Ask: “Are all devices used for work – even personal ones – protected with encryption, antivirus software, and automatic screen locks?”

    

   • Devices should be encrypted so data can’t be accessed if lost or stolen.
   • Remote wipe capabilities are a plus.
2. Company-Approved Tools Only
       Ask: “Do we provide the tools people need, so they don’t go looking for their own?”

    

   • If you don’t offer a secure file-sharing service, staff will find their own (and it might not be safe).
   • Clear policies help avoid “shadow IT.”
3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
       Ask: “Are all remote logins protected with MFA?”

    

   • It’s a small step for users, but a giant leap for security.
4. Clear Remote Work Policies
        Ask: “Do we have a policy on what staff can (and can’t) do while working remotely?

    

   • This includes guidance on using public Wi-Fi, personal devices, and storing sensitive information
5. VPN or Secure Access Tools
        Ask: “Are staff connecting through a secure channel, like a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?”

    

   • VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between the user and your business systems – keeping data safe from eavesdropping.
6. Training & Support
        Ask: “Have staff been trained to spot scams, fake links, and suspicious activity?”

    

   • And do they know how to report it quickly?

Common pitfalls to watch for

• Assuming “remote” means “out of sight, out of mind.”
  Remote workers still handle sensitive data and systems – they need equal (if not more) protection.
• Not budgeting for remote security tools.
  If people don’t have the right equipment, they’ll use the wrong one.
• Lack of visibility.
  Without monitoring, your IT team can’t detect threats coming from devices they don’t know about.

The leadership role

You don’t need to be the person installing antivirus software, but you do need to:

• Promote a culture where secure remote work is the norm.
• Invest in tools and training.
• Back your IT team when they say “we need to improve this.”
• Ask the right questions: not just when there’s a problem, but as part of normal operations.

Because flexible work is a gift, but without the right guardrails, it can quickly become a liability.

In short…

Remote and hybrid work offer freedom, productivity, and happiness. But they also dissolve traditional security boundaries. Your job as a leader is to make sure your team can work from anywhere – without exposing the business to unnecessary risk.
Security doesn’t have to be a burden. It just has to travel with your people, wherever they go.