Securing Your Home Wi-Fi

Introduction

With remote working now a permanent fixture in most organisations, the security of home Wi-Fi networks has become a critical business concern. What happens in your employees' homes directly affects your organisation's security posture and Cyber Essentials compliance.

Many businesses focus extensively on securing their office networks whilst overlooking the fact that their data and systems are regularly accessed from potentially vulnerable home environments. A compromised home Wi-Fi network can serve as a gateway for attackers to access corporate resources, steal sensitive data, or launch further attacks against your organisation.

Key Points

Securing Your Home Router

Your home router is the gateway to your network and the first line of defence. Start by accessing your router's admin panel (typically through 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and immediately change the default username and password. These default credentials are publicly available and represent a significant security risk.

Enable WPA3 encryption if available, or WPA2 as a minimum. Avoid WEP encryption, which is easily compromised. Create a strong Wi-Fi password using a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Consider using a passphrase approach: "Coffee!Morning" is both memorable and secure.

Advanced Security Measures

Disable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) as it introduces vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Turn off unnecessary services such as UPnP, remote management features, and guest networks unless specifically needed. Regularly check for and install firmware updates from your router manufacturer.

Consider implementing MAC address filtering for critical devices, though be aware this provides only limited security benefit. More importantly, set up a separate guest network for visitors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to isolate them from your main network where business activities occur.

Cyber Essentials and Home Working

Cyber Essentials requirements extend to how your organisation manages remote working security. Whilst the scheme doesn't directly assess home networks, organisations must demonstrate they have considered and addressed the security implications of remote access to their systems.

This includes ensuring employees understand the importance of home network security, providing guidance on secure home working practices, and implementing appropriate technical controls such as VPNs for accessing corporate resources. Regular security awareness training should cover home Wi-Fi security as part of your broader cybersecurity culture.

Document your home working security policies and ensure they are communicated to all remote workers. This demonstrates to assessors that you have considered the extended threat landscape that includes home working environments.