Contrary to popular opinion remote working is not terribly new, and it is not ‘the way of the future’. It is simply another work-related activity that we can elect to use, abuse or ignore. It allows us to link local area networks (LANs) and access them from wherever we can get an internet connection. In this context remote working seems rather nice. If it were a person you would feel comfortable inviting them to be a guest at your dinner table. It would not be vulgar or misbehave. Remote working is safe, convenient and it makes us more productive.
Except that this is not strictly true. Remote working is convenient and it can help our productivity, but it is not safe. It is not safe because it uses the internet and the internet is an inherently unsafe place for sensitive information to reside – and I am not just talking about that e-mail detailing how much of a ‘short-sighted idiot’ client X is being about client Y, or the amended case notes you have just saved on your department’s drive. The fundamental issue here is not solely about the transmission of information that needs to remain confidential. The issue is about how using a virtual private network (VPN) can give free and frequent access to your organisation’s information to people who have no right to see, manipulate and destroy it.
