While many businesses return to their physical office spaces, others have adapted the work-from-home model for a permanent solution. While it may have been possible to patch a cybersecurity solution for the short-term, a long-term remote office arrangement will require a closer look at ensuring total cybersecurity.
According to recent IDG Research, nearly 80% of senior IT and IT security leaders believe their organizations lack sufficient protection against cyberattacks, despite increased investments made in 2020 to accommodate work-from-home security challenges.
Solutions are available for your IT department to centrally manage the security of all devices, regardless of where they physically exist. With the right technology and expertise in place, your business can have a comprehensive cybersecurity plan that accommodates all office arrangements. Here are three critical steps for remote cybersecurity success:
- Ensure all devices are protected: Often referred to as device hardening, this critical first step is the foundation of a solid cybersecurity strategy. Businesses should protect all devices from vulnerabilities before an employee end-user is given access.
- Provide regular end-user training: 95% of cybersecurity breaches are the result of human error. Have your IT department provide ongoing education to help employees spot a scam before falling for it. To put it in perspective, end users cause nine out of ten data breaches.
- Adapt your IT policies and reporting practices: Whether in the office or at home, employees should be well-versed in your company’s IT policies and understand the exact steps to take if they suspect a security breach. If your staff does not know how to report/alert, respond and recover from a security incident, you are setting them up to fail. Adapting your policies and reporting practices to how your organization runs helps your staff know what to do and when to do it.
With 43% of cyberattacks targeting small businesses, it’s no wonder that IT providers are offering a wide variety of security solutions. Unfortunately, there’s no one size fits all approach. You should work with your IT provider to build the right cybersecurity solution for your company. Top things to consider, the type of business you operate, the number of remote employees and the existing equipment and methods they are using to access your company data. Find a trusted provider who will audit your current devices and provide security recommendations specific to your business and its needs.
Secur-Serv hosted a cybersecurity event on the rising risks of cyber attacks and the latest cybersecurity trends in the financial sector. One session, Evolving Threats Against Remote Work, explains how hackers infiltrate the remote workspace and what can be done to protect your organization.