English-speaking countries dominate the top list when it comes to countries with best socio-economic conditions.

According to a new NordLayer report, Canada, the UK, Portugal, the USA, and Germany are the five countries with the best socio-economic conditions for remote workers. The full list is available here:

The socio-economic index was calculated by evaluating countries’ safety, tourism attractiveness, English proficiency, cost of living, and healthcare. It is part of NordLayer’s Global Remote Work Index (GRWI), which also evaluates countries’ cybersecurity conditions, digital and physical infrastructure, and Covid-19 response.

English proficiency may come at a cost

The research revealed that many countries strongly exceed in one area, but underperform in another. One of them was English proficiency. As English is the new ‘lingua franca’, a good level of English is a key factor for many remote workers. However, the index shows that most countries with high English proficiency are also some of the most expensive, for example the USA, the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany. High cost of living makes countries unattractive for remote workers.

Similarly, good economic conditions don’t mean great cybersecurity. This was noticed in such countries as Malta, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates. Although economic and social conditions are favorable for remote work in these countries, remote workers would be facing more cybersecurity risks than elsewhere with similar economic and social conditions.

Remote work — a rising trend everywhere

Remote work has been a subject of discussion for a while now, with companies such as  Airbnb announcing full remote work, but Elon Musk deeming remote work ‘unproductive’.

“Nevertheless, the trend is clear — ever since the beginning of Covid-19, remote or hybrid work has become inevitable even in those companies that previously preached the importance of face-to-face interactions,” says Juta Gurinaviciute, Chief Technology Officer at NordLayer.

How to work remotely securely

For those choosing to work remotely, Gurinaviciute suggests remembering some practical tips for staying secure — even if the country is high up in the cybersecurity ranking:

1. Use a separate device and accounts for work. To avoid creating risks for your company’s IT infrastructure, it’s best you keep your personal and professional devices separate. The same goes for user accounts. Laptops issued by your employer should contain security tools needed for protection. Make sure all your software is up to date so that you don’t miss out on important security upgrades. If you have only one device for both personal and work purposes, consider partitioning its hard drive.

1. Keep your home network secure. Make sure your router is password protected and you use a reliable VPN (virtual private network) to secure your internet connection. A VPN significantly reduces outsiders’ ability to intercept your data and target what you do online. If your company doesn’t use a business VPN, you can always subscribe to a user-friendly solution for individual use.

1. Rethink your passwords. According to research by NordPass, the most popular password in the world is ‘123456’. This is an incredibly dangerous habit. Never reuse your passwords. Instead, create a complex and unique password for every account. If your work or personal account gets compromised in a data breach, you‘ll need to change only one password. This way, all your other accounts will remain safe. To safely store this vast number of passwords, start using a password manager.