Why now?
Working from home was once viewed as a perk. It was necessary because of the coronavirus, which led to human isolation on a global scale. This is a game changer not only for workers in the world’s wealthiest countries (where the largest corporations with the most lucrative professions tend to concentrate), but also for global employment, amplifying social mobility in poorer countries. Remote work provides more freedom in the workplace, but it also poses a considerable security risk to existing IT infrastructures, which must be considered.
What does it imply?
Recognizing and accepting that security concerns do exist is one of the most important remote work security techniques. This may appear obvious, but it is the common denominator in both the technological and human components of remote work security. Working remotely presents some inherent security problems, which raises the risk of security incidents occurring. A scattered workforce also inhibits a company’s ability to act and respond to events. This is especially true because the usage and landscape of technology have become more complicated over time, and complexity is the enemy of security.
Working remotely poses security hazards.
Despite the fact that remote work is becoming more common, traditional IT security solutions have traditionally been perimeter-based, focusing on what happens inside the office and on the corporate network.
Because employees are accessing company data and systems from outside the corporate perimeter, the risk of security breaches increases when users perform their job duties from remote locations such as a home office or coffee shops. Here are some examples of remote work security issues:
Unsecured Wi-Fi networks: Accessing company data and systems via insecure public or residential Wi-Fi networks could expose a corporate network to unauthorized access.
Using your own computer or tablet for work: The use of personal devices for work, such as laptops or cellphones, is becoming more common, resulting in a profusion of gadgets that may not meet corporate security standards.
Human aspects: One of the most important security threats is human nature. Employees who are oblivious to security risks, like as phishing schemes, may be vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Employees who are distracted may inadvertently reveal their login credentials in public.
Lack of security knowledge and training for remote workers: Employees who haven’t been schooled on security best practices, such as using weak passwords, are more likely to expose their firm to other risks.
Reduced visibility: When employees work from home, IT staff loses sight of the endpoints they’re using as well as potentially risky user behavior.
A thorough remote working security policy, the use of robust security standards and protocols for wireless connectivity like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), training employees on risk identification, and strengthening your overall security hygiene (such as strong, frequently changed passwords) even when people are using the system remotely are among the best practices for limiting and mitigating the dangers inherent in a remote workforce.