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More and more often industry reports reveal that many individuals perceive less and less control over their own personal information. So it’s not a coincidence that the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA) designated this year’s Data Privacy Day theme as “Own Your Privacy.”

In the wake of 2020, there are many uncertainties still ahead of us as we begin 2021. Many companies and technologies have pivoted over the last year leading to numerous new developments and methods of engaging in commerce. Although we still are looking into a somewhat unknown future, there are plenty of best practices at our fingertips to help us navigate as we move through the year.

From a work-from-home environment perspective, some actions to remember include:

• Is your home office physically secure? It is important to keep your devices safe and restricted from others who live in your household. Make sure your devices are password protected to avoid any potential security risks or unintentional access to sensitive files. One of the best ways to protect your devices at home is to strengthen your passwords and maximize the protection a strong password provides.[1] Another safety measure utilized at home is a shredding device for sensitive paper records.
• Is your home wireless network secure? Your home Wi-Fi should be safeguarded. In addition to making sure your passwords are strong and your software is up to date, you can also enable network encryption under your security settings on your wireless configuration page. WPA2 and WPA3 are the most up-to-date encryption standards to protect information sent over a wireless network. You can also change the name of your wireless network as well.
• Are you using your information security training? Don’t forget your security training and be diligent in following your office’s protocols. Employers around the country have invested in training their employees and strengthening networks and devices for work-from-home environments. It is imperative to keep these lessons in the forefront of your mind as you work from home.

On a personal level, there are a couple of additional considerations to think about:

• What personal information are you providing to applications and websites? Generally, personal information relates to an identifiable individual. However, personal information is regulated by a wide variety of rules in the United States and across the globe, and these vary as to what information qualifies for legal protection. Although there is a general expectation of privacy, it is important to not assume that just because you provide information that it necessarily qualifies for protection. Be aware and use common sense in providing your details to an online location.
• What are the privacy settings on the apps and sites you are using? No one is going to look after your personal information as well as you are. Stay vigilant in understanding what information is being collected and how it is being used or shared. You have an active role in managing your information, so take advantage of it by managing your privacy settings.[2]
• What do your social media posts reveal about you, your friends and colleagues? Social media is essentially an online tracking tool. Social media accesses information in ways that are not always obvious. So be aware of not allowing followers to have access to your information but also the platforms themselves. In addition to inadvertently providing others your personal information, you may also be putting your personal safety, career or home and work environment at risk.

Despite all the collection points and stories of breaches, it is important for individuals to be vigilant in protecting sensitive information and to be informed on how their personal information is generated, collected, used and shared. Owning your privacy is an accessible goal if you take the time to stay educated.