Six steps to secure your company laptop: Enterprise security guide

If you've ever found yourself researching security questions like "how to secure my work computer" and "laptop security antivirus," this article is for you. Here, we answer common company laptop security questions like:

• How do I keep my laptop secure on a public network?
• What is the best security system for my computer?
• Is my laptop password safe?

There are several things you can do to better protect your work laptop. Read on for six steps to secure company laptops.

The core risk: Why endpoint laptop security matters

Company laptops store all kinds of valuable information, from passwords and confidential documents to financial and personal data. Laptop security encompasses the software, hardware, and behavioral practices that protect devices from unauthorized access, theft, and data breaches. This makes laptops attractive targets for cyberattackers, who'll readily exploit security blind spots to access this wealth of data.

As we increasingly work remotely from locations outside the office, physical laptop security is a growing concern. 

Devices appeal to thieves for two reasons: 

1. They generally come with high price tags 
2. They provide a gateway to valuable files and data

The big picture: Having your company laptop stolen or hacked leaves you open to extortion and puts you and your company at risk of damaging leaks and financial losses.

Strong laptop protection means adopting behaviors, software, and hardware that keep your data private and your device secure. Most secure laptops are more likely to withstand a breach attempt than those left unprotected. Here are the six crucial elements of laptop security, including practices to adopt and those to avoid.

The six steps to strong laptop security:

1. Set complex passwords where it counts
2. Update your programs, browser, and laptop security software
3. Encrypt your hard drive and back up your data
4. Increase your authentication
5. Stay private when in public
6. Improve your laptop's physical security

Step 1: Implement complex passphrases and passwordless authentication

Key takeaway: Use unique, complex passwords with at least 12 characters for your laptop login and lock screen, and consider passwordless authentication for stronger security.

While we don't recommend relying on passwords alone, they're a great place to start when it comes to improving laptop security. Login passwords are essential for preventing unauthorized access to your files at boot-up. If you frequently use your laptop in public places—including an office—setting a password-protected lock screen is a good idea. It should go without saying, but these passwords should be unique and hard to guess. Consider using numbers, symbols, or full sentences or passphrases—but avoid using your birthday, for instance.

As you continue to strengthen your laptop security, consider moving away from passwords altogether. By using a single sign-on solution, for example, you can access many different applications with just one set of login credentials linked to your laptop. Your IT admins may also experiment with a variety of passwordless authentication methods, such as factor sequencing and email magic links, as they are more secure alternatives to storing and remembering passwords.

Do:

• Set a hard-to-guess password or passphrase with at least 12 characters, including uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
• Use a password-protected screensaver for when you step away
• Use solutions and authentication methods that cut down on password use, like single sign-on
• Use a reputable password manager to generate and store unique passwords for each account

Don’t:

• Recycle the same passwords across different accounts
• Share passwords with others, including colleagues
• Use auto-remember features in browsers and websites without additional security measures

Step 2: Update your programs, browser, and laptop security software

Key takeaway: Enable automatic updates for your operating system, browser, and antivirus software to protect against the latest security vulnerabilities.

Do laptops need antivirus software? The answer is yes. Company laptops tend to have antivirus software already installed, which handles the heavy lifting for end users. Still, when it comes to laptop security software, there are a few things you can do to protect your devices.

First, monitor what you download—files and updates that contain odd wording or extensions could be bad news. If in doubt, use your company's antivirus to scan any files before opening them. Browsers like Chrome and Firefox may update automatically, but restarting them occasionally helps ensure security updates take effect. Likewise, turning on auto-update or otherwise manually updating your operating system and programs will help limit vulnerabilities.

Virus detection depends on up-to-date virus signatures and definitions, so it's best to use software that automatically updates them. If that feature is unavailable, set a regular reminder to manually update these definitions on your machine.

Do:

• Scan files with antivirus software before opening them
• Regularly update your software's virus definitions
• Turn on auto-update for your browser, programs, and operating system

Don’t:

• Indiscriminately download files or visit dubious webpages
• Leave security software and virus definitions out of date

Step 3: Encrypt your hard drive and back up your data

Key takeaway: Encrypt your hard drive using BitLocker (Windows 10/11) or FileVault (macOS) to prevent unauthorized access even if your laptop is stolen.

Of all the steps to take, this is arguably the strongest line of defense against theft and cyberattacks alike. The best form of laptop protection involves encryption. Login passwords alone aren't guaranteed protection: criminals can remove your laptop's hard drive and read files directly, and dedicated hackers can break through your operating system's login screen.

Encryption converts files and data into code, obscuring their true contents and making it much harder for attackers to steal your information. By encrypting your hard drive, hackers and thieves will be unable to boot your laptop or access any files on it without entering the correct encryption key. Enable BitLocker on Windows 10/11 or FileVault on macOS for full-disk encryption. As a result, encryption provides a powerful safeguard against unauthorized access attempts—though you might want to store the encryption key on a separate device, such as a USB drive or your phone.

Should anything happen to jeopardize your files, having a recent backup of your data can be the difference between an inconvenience and a disaster. Cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive provide the means to back up data, as do operating systems like Windows and macOS. You can also use external drives, such as USBs and external hard drives.

Whichever methods you opt for, the key is to back up your data at regular intervals—particularly after creating files you can't afford to lose. As with your hard drive, encrypting your backups is a sensible idea for maximum protection.

Do:

• Encrypt your hard drive using BitLocker (Windows) or FileVault (macOS)
• Back up your data regularly, and encrypt those backups too
• Store encryption keys away from your laptop

Don’t:

• Put off backing up your files, particularly with important work underway
• Leave your backups and hard drive unencrypted

Step 4: Upgrade multi-factor authentication to hardware tokens

Key takeaway: Enable multi-factor authentication using hardware tokens or biometrics, which are significantly more secure than passwords or SMS codes alone.

Your social, professional, and financial accounts are likely all accessible from your laptop, so it's important to embrace online security measures to protect them. Implementing multi-factor authentication means that attackers won't be able to access your accounts even with the correct login credentials.

However, not all authentication factors offer equal protection. Online account providers frequently text six-digit verification codes to user phones as a form of authentication—but attackers can easily intercept these messages and use the codes themselves.

Hard tokens, like YubiKeys, provide a more effective layer of laptop security. By plugging this laptop security device into your laptop, you can authenticate web logins, either alongside or instead of your password. Many frequently used online services, from Windows to Google, support YubiKey-based authentication. Attackers can't replicate or interfere with YubiKeys, but you do need to keep them in your possession.

Comparing authentication methods

Do:

• Use YubiKeys, verification apps, and other authentication tokens to sign in
• When practical, consider biometric authentication (for example, fingerprint scanning)

Don’t:

• Rely on passwords or SMS codes alone to protect your accounts
• Rely on security question answers—they're easy for others to guess

Step 5: Mitigate public network exposure and visual eavesdropping

Key takeaway: Use a VPN with a verified no-logs policy and a physical webcam cover to protect your privacy on public networks.

While the global data privacy landscape is constantly under construction, there are a few things you can do to increase your online privacy regardless of jurisdiction.

Privacy screens that restrict viewing angles are handy to have if you're working in public. As unlikely as it may seem, shoulder-surfing attacks do happen, so privacy screens are worth it to block any unwanted glances at your screen—especially if you're dealing with sensitive corporate data.

If your laptop has a webcam, get a physical cover for it. Hackers can weaponize your webcam and use it to spy on you via remote administration tools. While the LED light next to your camera should always be on when the camera is, attackers can disable the LED on Windows and macOS. Even the best laptop protection software can't create a physical barrier: A physical cover is the only surefire protection. Remove it only when using the camera.

A VPN adds another layer of internet security for laptops. Using a VPN conceals your identity on public networks and prevents your internet provider from tracking your browsing history. VPNs encrypt the traffic between you and the server, meaning others on the network can't identify you or see your activity. However, as VPN providers can track your activity, look for one with a proven no-logs policy.

Do:

• Invest in laptop privacy equipment, like webcam covers and special screens
• Use a VPN with a verified no-logs policy to keep your laptop secure on public networks

Don’t:

• Leave your webcam uncovered while you're not using it
• Choose a VPN without a no-logs policy

Step 6: Implement physical anti-theft controls

Key takeaway: Never leave your laptop unattended in public, and use a lockable cable to secure it when working in shared spaces.

This one sounds obvious, but physical security for laptops involves keeping a close eye on your device. It's easy for others to steal it from your hotel room, at an airport, from your car, or in plain sight at a café or library. Never leave your company laptop unattended in public, nor in locations that aren't fully secure.

In places like coffee shops and coworking spaces, securing your laptop to a table with a lockable cable can greatly reduce the risk of theft. Location-tracking software could prove a lifesaver if you ever lose your laptop, but make sure you're sharing your location with a trustworthy provider: The best laptop tracking software will have been vetted by reputable sources.

This isn't strictly a security issue, but you'll want to protect your laptop from physical damage. Adding a cover to your laptop can help you avoid fatal bumps or accidents that could cause data loss.

Do:

• Secure your laptop in public with a lockable cable
• Use a cover for extra physical protection
• Install location-tracking software—but only from reputable providers

Don’t:

• Leave laptops unlocked and unattended
• Use untested location-tracking software

Unifying device security with Okta

Managing device identities separately creates security blind spots and unnecessary friction for your workforce. Okta Device Access closes this gap by unifying device identity from endpoint to cloud, securing Windows and macOS devices from the very first login. 

With hardware-bound single sign-on and phishing-resistant passwordless authentication, we help your organization strengthen its Zero Trust posture without slowing down employee productivity:

• Zero Trust from power-up: Extends unified access control, multi-factor authentication, and desktop session binding to the earliest point in the device login process.
• Frictionless passwordless access: Reduces repeated login prompts across apps and endpoints while mitigating credential theft and replay attacks.
• Cross-platform consistency: Centralizes policy management and user onboarding seamlessly across both Windows and macOS environments.

Download our datasheet to learn more about how Okta Device Access brings the best of Okta’s simple, secure authentication experience to the point of login.

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