In today's more connected and adaptable world, many businesses now offer remote work. The potential to create varied teams across borders is fascinating and can benefit the company, but it also presents many difficulties, the most significant of which is operational security.
Following the COVID-19 epidemic, a large number of businesses have implemented permanent or hybrid remote work policies, enabling their staff to continue working remotely to some extent.
Many businesses are inclined to use hybrid work arrangements, which provide staff members the choice of working remotely on some days and in person on others.
In this case, as more sensitive data is accessed outside of conventional office settings, the security of that data becomes an even bigger worry.
We'll look at ways to protect your data and operations when working remotely in this article.
The main cybersecurity risks in remote work
Remote work organizations constantly confront a variety of security threats. The first step is to become more conscious of what they are.
One of the main concerns is that hackers can gain access to extremely sensitive and confidential data, which could have detrimental effects on the company.
In a recent 2023 cybersecurity report, it is said that email is the primary means of malware distribution. When compared to web attacks, the percentage of these attacks hit an astounding record of 86% of all attacks.
As per the research, business email compromise, or spear phishing, is a particular kind of phishing attack that aims to deceive employees into performing undesirable actions, usually involving the transfer of money to the attacker. BEC is currently regarded as one of the most costly and harmful varieties of phishing assaults today.
Ransomware is usually more well-known, however, according to the FBI, BEC-related frauds made up $2.7 billion in 2021 as opposed to ransomware's $34 million.
The figures are concerning. A cybersecurity advisor's paper from 2022 revealed that there was a 226% rise in phishing assaults over the preceding time and that this increase was directly related to the adoption of remote work policies.
So what exactly is the way to defend the business against cyberattacks?
The main strategies for ensuring cybersecurity in remote teams
Security for remote work necessitates collaboration between the organization and its staff.
It is the employer's duty to create cybersecurity frameworks and enhance security measures around IT systems and databases; nevertheless, employees are also accountable for adhering to suggested best practices and corporate regulations.
Here are some cybersecurity tips for your remote operation:
1. Establish a strong framework for cybersecurity
A cybersecurity framework is a collection of regulations and guidelines that your remote staff can utilize to safeguard their information and systems. Choose the one that works best for your company out of the several.
2. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Consider ZTNA as a VPN (virtual private network) in progress. Applying the notion of zero security to application access is predicated on the notion that businesses ought not to presume to trust any individual or device, even if it is a part of the company network.
By lowering the network attack surface, ZTNA reduces risk exposure by implementing the "never trust, always verify" philosophy. Businesses that have embraced remote work and need to provide speedy and safe access should pay particular attention to this.
3. Use two-factor authentication.
Using two-factor authentication adds an additional degree of protection to your data and systems. You will still require further verification to let someone access your account, even if they manage to steal your password.
4. Set a very strong password
Secure passwords are the foundation of any security measures. Promote the usage of complicated passwords that contain special characters, numerals, lowercase, and capital letters. To make safe password management even easier, utilize password managers as well.
5. Set up security tools to safeguard collaboration and email programs.
To defend against viruses, malware, phishing scams, and other cybersecurity threats, devices, systems, and networks must have strong security software.
For instance, many email security softwares integrate directly with collaboration systems such as Microsoft 365 and G-Suite in order to identify and prevent sophisticated phishing attacks. It also offers an easy-to-monitor platform that offers actionable insights and data.
6. Monitor threats in real time
Install security monitoring systems to instantly spot any unusual activities. One such example would be a SOC as a Service, which can perform automated threat rectification, forensic investigation, and round-the-clock monitoring of anything that can pose a risk to your company. To put it another way, there are never any security lapses while your company is safeguarded.
7. Provide ongoing security training
Providing ongoing training to your team is a critical security procedure for remote work teams. In addition to drafting precise security guidelines, hold frequent training sessions to make sure everyone is aware of their roles in safeguarding corporate information.
Working remotely has numerous benefits, but it also necessitates a stronger commitment to cybersecurity. Regardless of where employees are working, businesses can maintain the security of their operations and data with the correct tools, robust policies, strong passwords, two-step authentication, and awareness.
The long-term viability of remote operations depends on investments in security, which is a shared and continuous obligation.
If you found this post helpful, please stay updated with our blogs to get more exclusive, first-hand cybersecurity articles.
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