Remote working has rapidly increased after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in small and large organizations. This shift has resulted in posing a significant challenge to cybersecurity. Several employees in the organization access networks from different locations, which might lead to increasing cyber threats thereby leaving sensitive information and systems vulnerable to cyberattacks. This blog will discuss the significance of cybersecurity in remote working and the common threats faced by remote workers. It also focuses on understanding the practices of employees and businesses against cyber threats.
The rapid increase in Remote Working
Remote working provides several benefits to employees by enhancing flexibility, improving work-life balance, and minimizing commuting time. It also results in increasing cyber threats which makes it difficult to safeguard sensitive information. However, improper cybersecurity measures, personal devices, unsecured Wi-fi connections, and home networks can act as a gateway for cybercriminals. This tends to present a critical challenge for organizations regarding how to secure data and systems when employees work from different or remote locations. As cyber threats become more complex, remote workers are being targeted significantly, making cybersecurity a crucial aspect of any remote working strategy.
Significance of Cybersecurity in Remote Working
- Enhanced Cybersecurity Threats: Remote working has expanded the illegal activities performed by cybercriminals. Employees working from home and using connections in public spaces due to which organizations face increased vulnerabilities to data breaches, phishing attacks, and malware. Cybercriminals use unsecured networks and personal devices that might lack robust measures of security thereby targeting infiltration
- Data Security and Privacy: Ensuring the security of data is significant for the organization and the loss of sensitive information can have severe implications on the overall profitability. With remote work, data is transferred across various networks which can be the biggest threat for the organization. Each organization must ensure to protection of customer information, financial records, sensitive information, and intellectual property. Remote work requires strong protocols of cybersecurity to protect valuable data and comply with regulations like HIPAA, and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
- Lack of centralized security control: The IT department in the organization plays a very crucial role in securing a network by implementing various security measures including IDS, and firewalls. However, in remote working the security controls become challenging to enforce, and the organizations depend on employees to comply with the best practices of cybersecurity measures. It is significant to establish clear policies for cybersecurity and provide training to employees regarding secure practices of remote working. This helps mitigate the risks of cybersecurity and enhance the financial position of the organization.
Cybersecurity Threats in Remote Working
- Unsecured Wi-Fi networks: Employees working remotely utilize personal Wi-Fi networksnot secured to the same standard in the organizations. Wi-Fi in several public places like café, hotels, hospitals and libraries is risky as these networks can be compromised by cybercriminals looking to manipulate data. Moreover, unsecured Wi-Fi connections make it convenient for hackers to attack which allows them to intercept information between the organization’s network and the device used by an employee. This results in stealing sensitive information such as financial data, passwords, and proprietary business information.
- Phishing Attacks: Phishing is considered the most prevalent cyberattack in remote working. Cybercriminals impersonate trusted organizations like service providers and executives of the company to trick employees and manipulate sensitive data such as login credentials, financial records, and bank details. The rapid increase in phishing campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic forced employees to stay updated and trained to identify phishing attempts.
- Unsecured personal devices: The policies of BYOD enable employees to use their devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets to complete work. However, personal devices are not commonly equipped with the same security level as the system provided by the organization. Without encryption, regular updates, and security software these devices can become an entry point for cyberattacks that can affect the network of the organization. This will directly result in affecting the overall productivity, lack of trust among the customers, and damaging the reputation of the organization.
Cybersecurity strategies in remote working
- Implementing Virtual Private Network: Virtual Private Network is one of the most significant tools that helps in securing remote access to the organization’s network. It encrypts the data transmitted between the network of an organization and the device used by employees which makes it difficult for the cybercriminal to intercept information. Utilizing a Virtual Private Network enables the organization to ensure that the employees working from home or remote workers accessing secured networks have encrypted connections even while using Wi-fi in public places.
- Data Encryption: Encrypting sensitive data helps ensure that even if the data is intercepted it is not possible to read it without a decryption key. The organization must focus on implementing end-to-end encryption to protect sensitive information. This helps the organization safeguard information from being accessed by unauthorized users thereby ensuring to comply with the regulations of data protection.
- Utilize end security solutions: End security solutions help protect personalized devices like tablets, laptops, and smartphones from various cyber threats. These devices enable remote workers to work with secured devices regardless of their location. Organizations should implement robust endpoint protection software antivirus, encryption, and firewalls that assist in protecting data on remote devices.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity plays a very crucial role in remote working scenarios. The organization tends to rely on digital infrastructure and remote workers which has increased cyber threats. However, implementing various cybersecurity strategies including Virtual Private Networks, Endpoint security solutions, and data encryption will help the organization secure data. It will also assist in safeguarding employees and minimizing the risks of cyberattacks. With an increase in the number of remote workers prioritizing cybersecurity is essential as it will aid in ensuring the safety of valuable assets, and performing operations smoothly.