Working remotely? Don’t forget the crucial role your home cybersecurity setup plays in keeping your personal information safe and secure.

We’ve all been conditioned to lock the front door whenever we leave the house, so why is it that so many of us overlook the importance of our home residence when it comes to cybersecurity?

With so many of us working remotely these days—and with so many electronic devices transmitting data within a home—it’s imperative to review your home cybersecurity setup on a regular basis.

Why? Because it’s a commonly overlooked element of security that leaves many homeowners vulnerable to data theft and cyber attacks.

“Your home cybersecurity setup is a critical part of your personal security plan,” explained Grobstein Teeple’s Global Head of Cybersecurity and Risk Management, Erik Rasmussen.

“One of the things people forget is that once you are off the clock, you must remain vigilant.

“Given the rise of a post-pandemic paradigm that has shifted the way employees interact with company data, the home is essentially another office.”

With more than 65 percent of US businesses now offering some kind of remote working arrangements, we’ve grown accustomed to fulfilling our work duties from the comforts of our home office.

An obvious downside is that it has made us more vulnerable to cyber attacks than ever before.

One IBM report found the average cost of a data breach in 2024 had ballooned to $US 4.8 million—the highest total ever.

Meanwhile, a report in Forbes points out there was a 72 percent increase in data breaches in 2023 compared to 2021—which held the previous all-time record for data breaches.

More recently, we’ve seen a range of major broadband providers targeted by a Chinese-backed cyber attack that penetrated the networks of some of our most trusted home internet providers.

In other words, the costs of a data breach can be crippling for companies of all shapes and sizes—and remote workers are at the frontline of keeping those data breaches at bay.

The Importance of Cybersecurity In Your  Home 

Given the sheer cost of cyber attacks on Western interests, why is it that so many of us are complacent when it comes to home cybersecurity?

Perhaps we can call it the price of convenience.

Very often that involves opening a laptop—whether a personal or work one—to fire off an email, or send some messages on our own mobile devices.

But how often have you performed a cybersecurity assessment on the networks that send those messages?

We pay for home security systems and state-of-the-art alarms to protect the physical security of our homes, yet neglect the importance of protecting the network security of devices which essentially run these places of residence.

It’s tougher still when you consider that so many of our devices—things like cell phones, tablets, and even refrigerators—all make up an interconnected Internet-of-Things (IoT).

One recent Consumer Affairs study found the average household in the US may have as many as 23 devices! 

That’s 23 devices that are susceptible to attack; 23 devices that are potentially transmitting sensitive personal data or sensitive work data; 23 devices that may offer an attacker remote access to the home, the most sacred element of a family.

But whether you’ve been living in your residence for years or you’ve just moved into a new, highly-connected ‘smart home’, remembering to assess the security of your home network is easier said than done when such connections to our devices are essentially invisible.

How Do I Assess Cyber Risk in My Home?

When it comes to analyzing your home’s cybersecurity, you don’t need to go it alone.

Grobstein Teeple, in partnership with its new sister company, Total Executive Security LLC,  can perform a full home office security review designed to assess your entire cybersecurity setup.

We analyze things like your network stack, WiFi security, and what sort of modems and routers you’re using and how vulnerable they are to malicious attacks. 

We also help you determine what exactly is on your network. After all, the old adage of “knowing what you have” still rings true—so it’s imperative you know exactly what it is you need to protect. 

We take stock of exactly how many devices you have connected, and how secure every one of those devices are, along with what types of data is being stored or transmitted.

Many consumers still do not realize the level of listening inherent to a home virtual assistant like Google Home or Alexa. 

In 2019, the New York Times pointed out that Alexa simply never stops listening to you—and as true today as it was five years ago.

We also assess any external connections to your network—from the friends and relatives you may have shared your WiFi with, to any contractors or other third parties who have accessed your house at one time and may pose an ongoing cybersecurity risk.

It’s worth remembering that hackers can target not just your place of residence but anyone who has used your WiFi network at any given time—leaving you vulnerable to cyber attacks that go far beyond the average phishing schemes.

The New Aerial Threat – Drone Impact Assessments

For homeowners needing more advanced security measures—including those who live in multiple residences or on larger properties, or who have hybrid business and living-space situations—air security is the new emerging priority. 

It’s one Grobstein Teeple and its sister company Total Executive Security know first-hand.

“One of the things that we’re doing with Total Executive Security is partnering with Grobstein Teeple to offer drone impact assessments,” explained TES founder and chief executive, Rasmussen. 

“Whether you’re generally concerned with a drone—or what is technically called an ‘unmanned aerial vehicle’ (UAV) or ‘unmanned aircraft system (UAS), you have a right to know what is happening in the airspace above and around your home.

“That’s because these drones are essentially just flying computers—capturing and generating data, such as video or pictures, of those closest to you in your home.”

Don’t Leave Your Home Cybersecurity to Chance

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which means it’s the ideal time to review your cybersecurity settings.

There are more cyber attacks on American businesses than in any other country, with a recent spike in cyber threats driven, at least in part, by certain geopolitical factors around the world.

It means you can never be too careful when it comes to your cybersecurity—particularly around the home, and even in the airspace above you.

After all… if your home is your sanctuary, it’s worth protecting every element of it.

If you would like a home office security review or to discuss any other aspect of your cybersecurity, simply get in touch to book a call.