South Korea and Japan are the best countries in Asia for remote work

According to new research by cybersecurity company NordLayer, South Korea and Japan are the best countries in Asia for remote work. Last year, the company created the Global Remote Work Index (GRWI), which reveals the best and worst countries to work remotely in terms of four different criteria: cyber safety, economic safety, digital and physical infrastructure, and social safety.

This year, NordLayer evaluated 108 countries compared to 66 last year.  Here are the top 10 countries that are best for remote work according to this year’s data:

1. Denmark
2. The Netherlands
3. Germany
4. Spain
5. Sweden
6. Portugal
7. Estonia
8. Lithuania
9. Ireland
10. Slovakia

The index was compiled by assessing and comparing countries using four index dimensions. Under each dimension are various attributes (sub-dimensions) that, combined, help evaluate general remote-work attractiveness:

1. Cyber safety — infrastructure, response capacity, and legal measures.

2. Economic safety — tourism attractiveness, English language proficiency, cost of living, and healthcare.

3. Digital and physical infrastructure — internet quality and affordability, e-infrastructure, e-government, and physical infrastructure.

4. Social safety — personal rights, inclusiveness, and safety.

South Korea — a leader among Asian countries

Among all 29 Asian countries in the index, only South Korea (17th) ranks in the global TOP 20. The country was helped with overall good tourism attractiveness (21st) and cost of living index (26th).

Japan, which is 2nd in the continent with a 22nd position, has even better tourism attractiveness than South Korea with 1st position and is ranked 10th for social safety. Singapore (28th) earns its 3rd position in Asia as the country is recognized for digital and physical infrastructure (1st), tourism attractiveness, and English proficiency (both 3rd).

In the continent, Pakistan, Mongolia, and Cambodia are the worst countries in the index,  ranking respectively 93rd, 96th, and 101st, mostly due to cyber-safety, as Mongolia ranks 102nd while Cambodia ranks 101st. Cambodia is also in a bad position for economic safety (104th), while Pakistan needs to improve digital and physical infrastructures (100th).

When it comes to safety, 7 Asian countries made it to the TOP 10 globally, with United Arab Emirates (1st), Qatar (2nd), and Oman (3rd) leading the list. But those three countries are also at the bottom of the index for human rights as they are respectively in 102nd, 104th, and 96th positions. Unsurprisingly, 18 Asian countries ranked in the TOP 50 for cost of living, making them appealing remote work destinations for nomads.

Practice good cybersecurity habits

“Even though some of the big tech companies recently brought their employees back to the office or introduced a hybrid work model, remote work is here to stay. It’s not just a trend — it is a fundamental shift in how we approach productivity and work-life balance. Embracing remote work empowers our teams to harness their full potential, regardless of geographical boundaries,” adds Donatas Tamelis, managing director at NordLayer.

For people interested in remote work, Tamelis recommends practicing several good cybersecurity practices:

• Always use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet connection and helps protect your personal information from prying eyes. It is especially crucial when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.
• Also, ensure that all your devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops, have the latest software updates installed. These updates often include security patches that can help protect against known vulnerabilities.
• Be cautious with public Wi-Fi and avoid accessing sensitive information such as online banking or entering passwords on public Wi-Fi networks unless you are using a VPN. Hackers can easily intercept data on unsecured networks.
• Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible for your email accounts, social media profiles, and other online services you use while traveling. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification during login.
• Use strong and unique passwords. Create strong passwords for each of your online accounts and avoid using the same password across multiple platforms. Consider using a password manager like NordPass to securely store and generate complex passwords.

“In the age of remote work, cybersecurity is not just an option. It’s a critical necessity to safeguard our data and protect our organization from evolving cyber threats. Working remotely opens up new opportunities, but it also exposes us to potential security risks. Cybersecurity vigilance is our first line of defense,“ says Tamelis from NordLayer.