{"id":8712,"date":"2022-09-26T07:23:05","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T07:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecn.co.za\/?p=3184"},"modified":"2022-09-26T07:23:05","modified_gmt":"2022-09-26T07:23:05","slug":"how-to-solve-remote-work-security-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/how-to-solve-remote-work-security-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Solve Remote Work Security Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201c\u2026when people have the chance to work flexibly, 87 percent of them take it. This dynamic is widespread across demographics, occupations, and geographies.\u201d – McKinsey<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

The forced shift to remote working at the start of 2020 opened up a business model that had been in the pipeline for some time. For many companies, it highlighted the need and cost savings for both employees and employers, with the \u2018post-Covid\u2019 era now characterised by more flexible working arrangements. However, one of the concerns related to this system of working is the cybersecurity risks associated with the use of different devices in different spaces. Here\u2019s a look at the risks and potential solutions to these.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are some of the risks?<\/h2>\n

As with any internet-based interaction, working remotely can pose some serious threats to users, particularly when sensitive information is being handled. Some of the common threats regarding remote working include:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The use of personal devices<\/h3>\n

Certain businesses have adopted a \u2018bring your own device\u2019 (BYOD) policy that allows employees to work from their home laptops, tablets or smartphones. This might be saving the company money \u2013 at a cost to the employee \u2013 but it\u2019s putting the company at significant risk. You can\u2019t be assured they have the best security measures in place to protect sensitive company information.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unsecured Wi-Fi networks<\/h3>\n

Working at a coffee shop has its charm, but employees are often forced to use unsecured Wi-Fi networks that put their data at risk. Hackers will be readily on hand to take advantage of this security issue and access confidential information.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Poor password practice<\/h3>\n

We know that remembering passwords is one of technology\u2019s biggest pains, but weak passwords that aren\u2019t changed frequently enough really place online information at risk. Human error is often the biggest security risk for remote working and this is something that cybercriminals will hone in on. Using a weak password across several accounts is also dangerous as, once the password is cracked, everything is exposed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unsafe file sharing<\/h3>\n

You can\u2019t get around the fact that employees will have to share files. The problem is when they\u2019re sharing files while working remotely as these can easily be intercepted. This then leads to identify fraud, theft, ransomware attacks, and more which could be hugely damaging to your business.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are security solutions?<\/h2>\n

There are so many cybersecurity solutions, and obviously, the more they are implemented, the better it is for remote working. Providing employees with work devices and encouraging good password protection is vital, but it\u2019s really worth liaising with security experts who can guide you on the best software for your needs. Here are some of the most common.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Firewall protection<\/h3>\n

A firewall is an effective way to prevent unauthorised access into your network, which makes your employee\u2019s devices that much safer. The firewall will keep a constant monitor of all network traffic coming in and out of the device, blocking threats where needed. These are suited to small, medium or large businesses and allow for better flexibility and remote working.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Endpoint security<\/h3>\n

This is where the software actually secures the end- or entry points of devices including desktops, laptops and mobile devices, protecting networks from any security threats. This is more modern antivirus software that provides comprehensive protection from sophisticated malware that continues to evolve.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Server or network security<\/h3>\n

Unlike end-to-end security, network or server security protects against threats reaching the endpoint. They will find and block threats as a way to protect data and resources on the servers. These are often targeted by cybercriminals as they contain sensitive information to be exploited, which is why this form of security is important for remote working.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Email security<\/h3>\n

There are various forms of email security to protect employees\u2019 accounts, content and communication as email is often targeted by malware, spam and phishing attacks. This form of security is vital for businesses of all sizes, working remotely or not, as email remains a high-risk item.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Multi-factor authentication<\/h3>\n

You can also implement multi-factor authentication on your work devices so that there\u2019s an additional layer of security for a remotely operating workforce. You can also ensure employees use a password manager so that they don\u2019t have to remember various passwords for all work-related accounts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 VPN connections<\/h3>\n

To address the threat of unsecured networks, you can get your employees to work off the company\u2019s VPN for that additional layer of security. This way, anyone who tries to intercept your company\u2019s data won\u2019t be able to read as it\u2019s all encrypted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To find out more about the latest in cybersecurity for your remote workforce, get in touch with ECN<\/a> today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201c\u2026when people have the chance to work flexibly, 87 percent of them take it. This dynamic is widespread across demographics, occupations, and geographies.\u201d – McKinsey   The forced shift to remote working at the start of 2020 opened up a business model that had been in the pipeline for some time. For many companies, it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8712"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8712\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourtestserver2.co.za\/ecnnew\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}