History is being written right now. For the first time, businesses are faced with the problem of continuing to operate on only online technology and connections. When data security is not prioritized, this measure is as useful as it is risky.
In the previous eight months, there has been an increase in phishing attacks and malware infections on the infrastructure of private and public organizations around the world. Each crisis brings with it the actions of cybercriminals who take advantage of any minor flaw in the systems. Employees’ fear of the current situation, as well as their ignorance and lack of training in this area, provide ideal conditions for attacks, data theft, and sensitive information theft.
This is especially true in the context of online home security, which is frequently lower than the degree of corporate security measures in the business environment.
In the absence of a strategic plan for attacking and mitigating risks, as well as clear protocols for combating and responding to cyber attacks in situations of force majeure (disasters, epidemics, or pandemics), the likelihood of a long-term attack increases tremendously.
In this sense, any firm operating in an Internet-connected ecosystem is concerned with providing employees with secure and controlled access to information and the organizational environment.
What are the risks to organizations that operate remotely?
Employee mobility and remote work environment access over the Internet enhance the transit and potential of information outside the company’s secure infrastructure.
In this regard, if no security measures are implemented, the chance of a cyber attack and unauthorized access to the organization’s data grows. One of the ideas is that each workstation be outfitted with a business device that allows employees to connect safely from home.
It is also critical that the work equipment has a minimal level of security: an updated operating system, an encrypted hard disk, and an automated device lock. These protections, of course, must be accompanied by employee training that emphasizes the dangers of accessing services or files on a malware-infected device. Any tiny leak can cause a chain reaction, allowing unauthorized access to the company’s network and resulting in financial or image damage.
How do you make sure the risks are mitigated?
Our information security specialists’ experience demands that measures be implemented down to the tiniest detail, especially when it comes to data security. Our team of specialists come to the aid of organizations with a range of services and reaction measures that can remove the risks of uncontrolled, illegal, malicious access for enterprises who do not have appropriate abilities in this respect.
Along with the security measures outlined above, we suggest the following strategic steps that a corporation can take when introducing remote work:
Developing a remote work policy and clear guidelines for gaining access to the company’s resources
analyzes and evaluates the risks associated with any type of access outside the company, such as user authorization processes, remote work tools, IT assistance and support, prohibited actions (e.g., data transfer via social media or uploading unencrypted information to public transfer sites), the type of information or IT services that can be accessed or stored on devices, and so on.
Constant monitoring
One of the most important components of countering a company’s financial or image loss is real-time detection. An increased level of monitoring of remote connections and accessed devices provides a real-time picture of unusual attacks and behaviors that can occur when a hacker tries to gain access to a company’s data.
Adoption of additional security measures
If the company is unable to provide equipment for employees to use when working from home due to financial constraints, it is recommended that additional security solutions be implemented to separate the work environment from the employee’s personal device, personal data, and its use for personal purposes.
Training of users who have access to the network
People are a company’s most valuable resource, especially when working remotely. It is critical that employees are informed of the dangers of remote work, and they must be supported and trained in safe activation practices (e.g. secure storage and management of access credentials, incident reporting, etc.).
Protection of data at rest and in transit
The amount of data kept on a mobile device should be limited to an absolute minimum. Furthermore, data should only be transferred through secure VPN connections with multi-factor authentication for network connections.
Strategic thinking: defining an incident management plan
Regardless of how much protection a company implements, fraudsters will adapt and identify loopholes. In this regard, our team of experts is ready to assist you with effective and customized services tailored to your goals and financial resources, ensuring a cyber environment that is always safe.