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Both your employer and you have a role, but the split should be spelled out in the organization’s remote-work policy. The employer sets access requirements, provides approved secure-remote-access tools, and protects the systems it controls. The employee follows those rules and maintains the home network to the agreed baseline. The router’s owner, internet provider, or managed-service provider may also handle updates and support, depending on who supplies or manages it.
U.S. guidance from the FTC, NIST, and CISA does not establish a universal legal rule requiring either the employer or employee to buy, administer, or patch every home router. The practical answer depends on the policy, equipment ownership, contracts, and the data being accessed.
Why a home router matters to work security
A router connects computers, phones, smart-home devices, and other equipment to the internet. When a work device uses that connection, the router is part of the remote-work security picture: NIST explains that consumer routers support home IoT devices and remote-work setups, and that router security can affect network integrity and availability. See NIST IR 8425A, published in 2024.
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That does not make a household router the same thing as the employer’s corporate network, or mean the employer automatically owns it. It means the organization should set clear conditions for secure remote access, while the people responsible for the router keep it configured and maintained accordingly.
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- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
Who is responsible for what?
The employer or IT team
- Publish a plain-language telework policy that states minimum Wi-Fi and device requirements, whether employee-owned routers are allowed, and how to get help.
- Provide approved remote-access tools, such as the organization’s VPN when required, and limit access to corporate systems according to job need.
- Set up access controls, train staff, and define how workers should report suspected compromise.
- Clarify who handles router setup, administrator credentials, firmware updates, and replacement when the employer supplies or centrally manages the equipment.
The FTC’s small-business cybersecurity guidance covers organizational practices such as policy, access control, employee training, and incident planning. It also advises businesses to check that devices meet security requirements before allowing network access.
The employee working from home
- Read and follow the employer’s remote-work rules rather than assuming any home-network setup is acceptable.
- Use the organization’s VPN when directed, keep work devices updated, and prevent unauthorized users from using work equipment.
- Maintain the home Wi-Fi configuration to the agreed baseline and report suspicious activity to IT promptly.
NIST’s Telework Security Basics tells teleworkers to find and follow their organization’s policies and use the organization’s VPN when provided. CISA’s Federal Mobile Workplace Security guidance also advises teleworkers to check periodically with their internet service provider about router firmware.
Rank #2
- Dual-band Wi-Fi with 5 GHz speeds up to 867 Mbps and 2.4 GHz speeds up to 300 Mbps, delivering 1200 Mbps of total bandwidth¹. Dual-band routers do not support 6 GHz. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- Covers up to 1,000 sq. ft. with four external antennas for stable wireless connections and optimal coverage.
- Supports IGMP Proxy/Snooping, Bridge and Tag VLAN to optimize IPTV streaming
- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
- Advanced Security with WPA3 - The latest Wi-Fi security protocol, WPA3, brings new capabilities to improve cybersecurity in personal networks
The router owner, ISP, or managed-service provider
If the employer supplies or manages the router, the policy should name who controls its administrator account, applies updates, and arranges replacement. If the employee owns it, the employer should state the required settings and give a support path. An ISP-provided router may receive automatic updates, according to the FTC’s home Wi-Fi security guide, but users should not assume every device or service is managed the same way.
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Use these controls where the router supports them and where they do not conflict with employer instructions. For setup details, see the FTC’s guide to securing a home Wi-Fi network.
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- NIGHTHAWK WIFI 6 ROUTER FOR YOUR WHOLE HOME: Delivers fast, reliable WiFi across every room of your apartment or small home for streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart home devices, all running at the same time without slowing each other down.
- WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING INTERNET SERVICE: Pairs with your existing modem or gateway via ethernet. Compatible with most cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite providers. Some gateways and modem router combos may require bridge mode. No coax needed.
- SET UP AND MANAGE YOUR NETWORK WITH THE NIGHTHAWK APP: Download the free Nighthawk app on iOS or Android for guided setup. Manage WiFi, run speed tests, pause devices, and set up guest networks from anywhere. Active internet required.
- READY FOR THE DEVICES YOU ALREADY OWN: Your phones, laptops, and TVs work right out of the box. WiFi 6 delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Backward compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier.
- COVERAGE IN EVERY ROOM: Covers up to 1,500 sq. ft. for up to 20 connected devices. Walls, floors, and interference can reduce range. Larger or multi-story homes may benefit from a NETGEAR Orbi mesh WiFi system.
- Change the default administrator credentials. Set a strong, unique password for the router’s management account, separate from the Wi-Fi password.
- Use modern Wi-Fi security. Choose WPA3 Personal if available, or WPA2 Personal. The FTC describes WPA as well as WEP as outdated and insecure.
- Keep router software current. Check whether the manufacturer or ISP provides firmware updates and whether the model remains supported.
- Turn off unneeded convenience features. Disable remote management if it is not needed. The FTC also recommends turning off WPS and UPnP because these features may reduce security.
- Separate devices where possible. Use a guest network for visitors or personal devices when the router supports it, and follow the employer’s rules about where work devices may connect.
- Replace unsupported equipment when necessary. If a software update still does not make WPA2 or WPA3 available, consider a supported replacement router and confirm its update policy with the manufacturer or ISP.
Should work devices share Wi-Fi with personal devices?
A separate guest or personal-device network can reduce unnecessary connections to the same network as work equipment, if the router supports it and the employer permits that arrangement. The FTC advises limiting business-network connections to devices owned, operated, or managed by the business, and presents a separate network as an option for guests and personal devices. A guest network is not a substitute for the employer’s access controls or device requirements.
What a VPN protects—and what it does not
A VPN can protect the connection between a remote work device and the organization’s network or services. NIST advises teleworkers to use the organization’s VPN when provided, and the FTC notes that VPNs can help protect a business from outside attacks. A VPN does not replace a secure router configuration, endpoint updates, or the employer’s other security controls.
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- 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚-𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐.𝟓 𝐆𝐛𝐩𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - 1x 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN port and 3x 1 Gbps LAN ports offer high-speed data transmissions.³ Integrate with a multi-gig modem for gigplus internet.
- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
What employers should clarify before remote work begins
For employee-owned routers, employer-provided routers, or managed services, compare the operational responsibilities rather than assuming one arrangement is automatically safer. The key questions are:
- Who controls configuration and administrator credentials?
- Who monitors for and applies firmware updates?
- Can the setup separate work devices from personal or guest devices?
- Where does an employee go for installation, troubleshooting, or incident support?
- What are the costs and privacy implications of managing network equipment inside a private home?
The FTC and NIST guidance supports the need for security controls and clear policy, but does not provide a universal privacy rule, product comparison, or pricing benchmark for these arrangements. NIST’s enterprise telework guidance, SP 800-46 Revision 2, was published in 2016; consult current organizational requirements rather than treating it as proof of a current compliance obligation.
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- Access Point Mode - Supports AP Mode to transform your wired connection into wireless network, an ideal wireless router for home
When to contact IT
Report suspicious activity on a work device or home network promptly instead of trying to decide alone whether it is serious. Jeff Greene, then director of NIST’s National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, wrote: “If you’re seeing unusual or suspicious activity on any device you’re using to telework (computer, mobile device, or home network) ask for help—better safe than sorry.” See NIST’s telework guidance.
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