As more people experience the benefits of remote work and travel opens back up, many workers find the idea of becoming a digital nomad enticing. Rather staying put in a single location, digital nomads ply their trades from wherever they wish. Several countries already have digital nomad visas — Italy and Argentina, for example. Other countries are working on passing them into law — Colombia, Spain, and Bali among them.
If you seek a warmer (or colder) climate, a different culture, or a new frontier as your home office, you may also be drawn to the digital nomad lifestyle. There are important do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when enjoying this unique way of working and living, however. Here's how you can stay secure no matter where you and your laptop land.
Use a VPN
Want to shield your digital life from prying eyes while you're traveling? A virtual private network (VPN) will help you do just that. A VPN encrypts your data transmissions, making it difficult for anyone else to see what you're doing while you're online. If you work for a company that has a dedicated IT team, they can provide you with VPN connectivity back to the main office. If you're self-employed, you can select your own VPN from the many solid choices that are available today.
Avoid public WiFi
When you're on the move and you urgently need to get some work done, public WiFi appears like a welcome oasis. Unfortunately, the dangers of public WiFi are far greater than they seem. Cyber criminals can use public WiFi networks to steal login credentials, silently install ransomware in the background, and spy on you — all without your knowledge. If you can find a secure, password-protected WiFi option or if you can bring along mobile WiFi of your own, you'll be far better protected.
Always back up your data
A computer crisis is always stressful, no matter where you are. That said, it's even more agonizing when you're far from home and facing down an important work deadline. A good data backup is clutch in this kind of situation, helping you get back up and running as quickly as possible. If you don't yet have a cloud data backup in place, now's the time to arrange one.
If you work at a company, your IT colleagues will have expert advice on how to get your backups going. If you're a freelancer, you'll have to do all that sleuthing yourself — but you'll be free to pick whichever solution you want. Whatever backup tool you end up using, make sure it encrypts your data. That way, hackers won't be able to see what's inside your data backup.
Use a password manager
If you're thinking of becoming a digital nomad or you already are one, chances are you're attracted to the idea of a streamlined lifestyle. A password manager fits into the picture rather nicely, giving you a single encrypted vault for storing all of your passwords, so you don't have to manually keep track of them all while roaming from one location to the next.
This handy tool can also help you practice good password hygiene by alerting you when one of your passwords has been re-used or needs an update. You can also use a password manager to generate new, secure passwords on the fly, taking the guesswork out of creating them on your own. With your passwords well in hand, you can focus on enjoying your new surroundings.
Take advantage of MFA
Protecting your online accounts from unauthorized access can be tricky when you're a digital nomad, but smart tools like multi-factor authentication (MFA) make it easier. By setting up your accounts to ask for an additional authenticator like a one-time passcode or a fingerprint in addition to your password, you can reduce the chances of someone successfully impersonating you online. MFA tools typically notify you when a login attempt is underway, giving you the chance to act quickly and reset your password in the event that you notice suspicious activity related to one of your accounts. This way, you won't miss a beat even while you're trying to catch that train to your next destination.
Know your digital nomad do's and don'ts
Working on your own terms and in the locale of your choosing could be immensely appealing, especially after self-isolating in a single house or apartment for months or years on end while trying to safely ride out a global pandemic. You also have a better chance to realize this dream than ever before. Several countries, noticing that people are increasingly opting for the digital nomad lifestyle, are beginning to offer special digital nomad visas in an attempt to woo these traveling professionals to their shores.
If you're thinking about embarking on this kind of journey, you could have some exciting adventures in your future. There are some important do's and don'ts when it comes to living and working on the road, though, which is why you'll benefit from using a VPN, avoiding public WiFi, having regular data backups, and using a password manager. By taking a moment now to protect your digital life, you can enjoy sun, surf and security (or snow-capped peaks and security, if that's your thing) without having to worry as much about the potential risks to your digital livelihood.
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