This document discusses the importance of maintaining security and privacy when working remotely from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. It notes that while working from home can feel safe, one should not have a false sense of security and should take precautions to ensure their personal space and information is not visible to others on video calls. It provides examples of professionals who inadvertently exposed private details like family photos or company emails during video meetings and encourages remote workers to be vigilant about their surroundings on calls just as they would in a workplace.

1. Here we are so many months into the COVID-19 pandemic with many of us still working from home full
time. I personally enjoy working from home and am fortunate to have a dedicated fully functional home
office. As an IT professional, I am always concerned with security so I have worked hard to make sure
my home setup does not compromise my personal security or others that entrust me with theirs. While
it is nice to feel safely ensconced in our homes during this time, we still need to be vigilant that nothing
in our camera view could breach that security.
The first line of defense is making sure technology maintains these security standards. My many Teams,
Zoom, and WebEx meetings all utilize the same camera. I have tested all of them to make sure those I
am teleconferencing with will not see anything personal about me or my family. It might seem
calculated but it is important to keep myself and my family safe.
I have noticed many who do not seem as concerned with instituting this type of security. Yes, working
from home has made the work environment much more relaxed, but one should not have a false sense
of security. We are still professionals and should maintain that attitude. When taking a meeting with
your colleagues or potential clients do you really want them to see your unmade bed in the
background? It only takes a few minutes but take that time to view what others will see. Is what they
are seeing of your personal space the image you want to project?
The most amazing thing I have seen is that even people who spend their lives on camera such as
newscasters, politicians, executives, and others who are now broadcasting from home are oblivious to
what they are showing the world audience. There are many in law enforcement and other fields who
will not have a social media presence due to security concerns. Yet, just a few weeks ago I watched an
interview with a former head of a national law enforcement department whose background contained
many pictures of his family in clear camera site. Why would someone in his field choose to show the
world such personal information? I hope he has no bounty on his head because he just compromised his
family.
I encountered another security issue when someone on Facebook showed a picture of a plant they had
just purchased for their desk. Unfortunately, the picture of the plant was in front of their screen showing
the company email system along with incoming messages. Zoom in on that image and you can see the
inbox identifying personal information that should not be public knowledge. Another example is a
meeting I attended where a person had their IP address in full view. The IP address had no place in the
conversation for this meeting but it was in clear site for anyone to take note. I also know that this
person works for a company that has a policy of obscuring IP addresses in open spaces within company
walls.
Maybe I have watched too much Netflix during this pandemic, but I am well aware that industrial
espionage is real. These people are highly respected, smart professionals that have deep knowledge of
their fields, yet somehow working from home has given people a false sense of security. Companies
have spent millions to protect their systems and their networks only to have their employees
compromise it due to their tunnel vision. Professionals need to be as vigilant at home as they are in the
workplace. It is imperative for companies to expect the same security procedures and protocols for the
home office.
As we continue to move to a remote workforce, it will be important for people to think before letting
strangers into their home. Going on a video call is the same as unlocking your door and letting a stranger

2. into your home. Think before going on that video call. Make sure you have nothing to compromise your
security. Scan your environment and notice any items that you do not want seen.
Security is everyone’s responsibility whether working in the office or from home. Think security always,
be smart and stay safe.