By Mathew Philip, Senior Director – Alliances & Business Development, APAC, LogMeIn
According to Buffer’s 2021 survey, 82 percent of companies smoothly transitioned to remote working last year. Astride of the benefits such as flexible schedules, no commute, and better work-life balance, an overwhelming majority (94 percent) of remote workers are in favor of working remotely in the future. Aligned with this shift in employee preferences, 46 percent of the surveyed companies are now planning to permanently switch to the new, hybrid work culture by adopting cloud-based digital connectivity, communication, and collaboration tools.
However, the increasing integration of digital tools also translates into an expanding surface area for cyber-attackers to target. Unsurprisingly, the pandemic also saw a record number of cyber-attacks on businesses, people, and governments. Against this backdrop, it behooves us to ask: How can companies facilitate a safer and securer digital environment for their remote workforce?
Here are six security hurdles that discerning companies must address to minimize the loss of capital, trust, and credentials.
- Enabling safer digital communication and collaboration
As a company with a diverse and large team, enabling a safe and secure communication channel becomes as important as minimizing miscommunication on account of poor and patchy videoconferencing. Advanced digital connectivity and communication tools equipped with encryption features allow for secure file and content sharing, ensuring that the discussions and data exchanged over the meetings stay confidential and safe.
- Use of unsecured, unverified networks
In a digital workspace, employees are likely to share and receive important business documents online. For many, their computer network may expose their data to outside view, leaving them vulnerable to be exploited by hackers. To prevent this, companies can enable the use of Virtual Private Network (VPNs) complemented by security software configured with AES encryption and multi-factor authentication to safeguard the flow of information taking place over the enterprise network.
- Poor password management
Research estimates that percent of data breaches are caused by weak or reused passwords. Companies need to encourage employees to practice good password hygiene, which includes using strong passwords, regularly updating the passwords, and never reusing them. However, given that the average digital user needs to manage multiple accounts, remembering multiple passwords becomes a challenge. Companies can address this issue by promoting the use of advanced password management solutions that provide users with a single-point of access to multiple accounts and services. Top tools can also facilitate dark web monitoring, safer file sharing, and securer digital record-keeping for users. Companies need to encourage employees to practice good password hygiene, which includes using strong passwords, regularly updating the passwords, and never reusing them. However, given that the average digital user needs to manage multiple accounts, remembering multiple passwords becomes a challenge. Companies can address this issue by promoting the use of advanced password management solutions that provide users with a single-point of access to multiple accounts and services. Top tools can also facilitate dark web monitoring, safer file sharing, and securer digital record-keeping for users.
- Lack of awareness on cybersecurity hygiene
Human errors are among the leading precipitating factors behind data breaches ( percent, as per IBM’s estimations). Educating users on easy-to-follow security hygiene practices is, therefore, crucial to minimizing the risk of such incidents. Some of the most common security mistakes that must be highlighted to remote workers include using public wi-fi service, keeping devices unattended, logging into a stranger’s device, clicking on unverified links, etc. Educating users on easy-to-follow security hygiene practices is, therefore, crucial to minimizing the risk of such incidents. Some of the most common security mistakes that must be highlighted to remote workers include using public wi-fi service, keeping devices unattended, logging into a stranger’s device, clicking on unverified links, etc.
- Unprecedented technological issues
Away from the company’s IT team and regular tech checks, remote workers can struggle with technical issues ranging from device glitches and corrupted hard disks to malfunctioning chargers and a plethora of network issues. Companies can resolve this pain point by equipping their IT teams with cloud-based diagnostic, repair, and maintenance solutions. These tools can help sysadmins remotely perform safe troubleshooting and reboot operations on all devices connected to the enterprise network.
- Protection of personal devices
Remote workers typically use their personal devices for official work. Although the above-mentioned digital tools can smoothen their WFH experience, they cannot fully safeguard the information saved on unsecured devices. Employees, therefore, must take active steps to safeguard their personal devices to ensure that their personal as well as professional integrity and privacy remain protected. Remote workers can achieve this by installing and regularly updating anti-virus software, keeping multiple backups in both online and offline storage, allowing only trusted people access to their devices, and applying strong password protection measures.
Remote working may have begun as a temporary digital patch over the pandemic-led disruptions to business operations, but, considering the present trends, it is here to stay. And so are the security challenges that come with it. Understanding and managing these challenges will be critical for enterprises to seamlessly and safely navigate the increasingly digital-first business landscape of the future.
