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Protect remote work by checking unexpected messages before acting, securing the accounts that control your work, keeping devices and remote-access software updated, and using only organization-approved tools and connection paths. If a message or access prompt seems unusual, verify it through a separate, trusted channel and report it using your employer’s process.
How to assess a suspicious work email
Do not judge a message by how polished it looks. Check whether the sender and requested action are expected, inspect where links actually lead, and be cautious of urgency, suspicious errors, or unexpected attachments. CISA’s Federal Mobile Workplace Security guidance, dated August 14, 2024, recommends confirming a sender before opening attachments, inspecting links, watching for suspicious signs, and reporting potential phishing to the designated security office.
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For requests to change payment details, disclose credentials, approve a login, or run a file, verify the request independently. Use a known phone number, company directory, or established internal chat—not contact details or links supplied in the questionable message. Follow your organization’s rules for encrypting email that contains sensitive information.
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Protect the accounts that unlock your work
Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) on work email, identity accounts, source control, cloud services, file storage, and remote access. Secure email and identity first: access to those accounts can affect access to many other work services. Then extend MFA to the rest of the tools you use, following your organization’s policy and access controls.
CISA recommends using the most secure MFA method available. A physical security key is a strong phishing-resistant option when the employer’s identity provider and the services you use support it. CISA also identifies authenticator apps with number matching and apps that generate one-time codes as preferred methods. A particular key is not guaranteed to work with every company account; check compatibility before relying on or buying one.
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| MFA method | What the guidance establishes | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Physical security key | CISA recommends security keys as a preferred method and describes them as providing strong protection against phishing. | Confirm that your employer’s identity provider, accounts, devices, and configuration support the key. |
| Authenticator app with number matching | CISA lists it among its preferred MFA methods. | Use the method approved by your organization and follow its setup and recovery instructions. |
| Authenticator app with a one-time code | CISA lists it among its preferred MFA methods. | Use it where supported and approved; do not share a code in response to an unexpected request. |
Use unique credentials rather than reusing passwords across work and personal services. A password manager approved for work can help manage unique credentials; enable its available security controls, including MFA, and protect its recovery options. CISA advises against weak or reused passwords and recommends securing password managers.
Secure devices before connecting remotely
Remote work security includes the device, the network path, and the services at the other end—not just the VPN. NIST’s Guide to Enterprise Telework, Remote Access, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Security (SP 800-46 Rev. 2, published July 29, 2016) says organizations should secure all components of telework technology, including organization-issued and BYOD client devices, against threats identified through their threat models. NIST’s page notes a draft Rev. 3; check NIST for the current revision status.
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- Use supported devices and install operating-system and application updates.
- Use the endpoint protection required or provided by your organization.
- Follow employer rules for personal devices, work data, and approved access paths.
- Keep remote-access clients and network infrastructure updated as directed by your organization.
Do not treat a personal device as outside the security boundary simply because it is not company-issued. If your organization permits BYOD, follow its requirements for that device and for the data you access or store on it.
Use remote-access tools and services cautiously
Remote-access software can be legitimate and still be abused. CISA’s Guide to Securing Remote Access Software, published June 6, 2023, warns that threat actors increasingly co-opt these tools. Install and use only software approved by your organization. Treat an unexpected remote-support installation, session, or prompt as suspicious, and report it rather than granting access or attempting to remove it without guidance.
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), VPNs, and other remote services can expose paths into an organization’s network if poorly secured. CISA’s #StopRansomware Guide describes misuse of RDP and compromised VPN credentials as ways attackers can gain initial network access. Do not expose a workstation’s remote desktop service to the public internet unless your organization explicitly requires and secures it.
For connections you control, use only the approved route and keep its client software current. Your organization should determine its remote-access architecture based on its needs and risk; a VPN or a newer access approach is not automatically the right answer for every team. CISA and partner agencies’ June 18, 2024 guidance on modern network access approaches highlights visibility as an important consideration.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What teams should manage centrally
Developers can follow policy and report anomalies, but employers and team leads need to define the safe path through the workflow. NIST’s telework guidance covers remote access, host and network security, and related policy; the details should match the organization’s threat model and systems.
- Specify approved devices, remote-access software, connection routes, and BYOD rules.
- Require MFA for email, file storage, remote access, and other sensitive services; apply access appropriate to each person’s role.
- Maintain updates for VPNs, network infrastructure, endpoints, and remote-access clients.
- Where the organization controls the environment, limit unnecessary RDP exposure and use logging and network segmentation to help detect activity and constrain lateral movement.
- Provide a clear process for reporting phishing, unexpected login prompts, and unfamiliar remote-access activity.
These controls complement one another. MFA helps protect accounts, while managed devices, limited access, monitoring, and segmentation address other parts of the remote-work path.
Quick Recap
A practical response when something seems wrong
- Pause. Do not click, open an unexpected attachment, share a code, approve an unrecognized sign-in, or grant a remote session.
- Verify separately. Contact the requester using a known directory entry, phone number, or established internal channel.
- Report it. Use your employer’s phishing or security-incident process, especially if you clicked, entered credentials, shared a code, or approved a prompt.
- Follow incident instructions. Let the security team direct account or device actions so the response follows local policy.
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