Remote work is slowly becoming the norm in many companies around the world. By 2025, it is anticipated that 32.6 million Americans will be working from home. However, with the new work environment comes a new threat: cybersecurity risks. While remote work provides flexibility and convenience, it has also brought a fair share of cyber threats.
While cyber experts are doing their best to deal with the emerging challenges in cyber security, we can also contribute to that cause. This article will educate readers on the causes of the emerging challenges and provide simple steps to help reduce cybersecurity risks.
3 Causes of Emerging Cybersecurity Challenges
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1. Unprotected Connections/Insecure Networks
Many remote workers are oblivious to the fact that their home networks lack proper cybersecurity measures like firewalls and encryption. The vulnerability stems from the default settings on most routers, which are not designed for corporate-level security.
In addition, some remote employees, once in a while, choose to work in cafes or co-working spaces, connecting to public Wi-Fi networks without checking their security protocols. Public networks are often unsecured and can be an avenue for man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks and packet sniffing. These could potentially lead to data breaches and the leakage of sensitive company information.
2. Increased Attack Surface
The shift in work setup from offices to homes has greatly expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals. With employees logging into company networks from different locations and devices, such as personal laptops, smartphones, desktops, and tablets, the potential entry points for malicious activities are increasing.
This new setup complicates cybersecurity efforts, as traditional perimeter-based defenses can no longer suffice. Consequently, each remote device becomes a potential vulnerability that hackers could exploit for phishing, malware, or brute-force attacks, thereby complicating cybersecurity efforts.
3. Lack of Monitoring
For many people working from home, a working laptop is all they need to start their day, often overlooking cybersecurity. Most do not even know when their antivirus software expires. They will even remember its existence when it pops up as a reminder, which is a threat to endpoint security.
This lack of monitoring and attention, coupled with not being in the office, makes it even harder to detect cyber threats. Remote work environments mean that cyber experts can hardly monitor activities that can lead to breaches or malicious risks, which increase cybersecurity risks for companies.
3 Ways to Deal with Emerging Cybersecurity Challenges
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1. Cybersecurity Training for Remote Workers
A study done by the Fortinet Training Institute in 2023 on security awareness and training in companies found that 56% of company managers believe most employees lack basic cybersecurity knowledge, which is quite alarming. Employees are always the first line of defense against cyber threats, making it key for companies to offer security awareness training. After all, ‘knowledge is power.’
The training should focus on maintaining robust password practices, knowing the risks of insecure networks, and recognizing phishing attempts. Equipping remote workers with these skills will ensure that they protect their work, privacy, and company, which will significantly reduce cyber threats.
2. Ensure the Best Endpoint Security When Working Remotely
Endpoint security is more about what you can do at a personal level to enhance cybersecurity while working remotely. Endpoint security solutions will protect your devices and data. They include antivirus software, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. Even if the company does not provide these tools, make a point of investing in themtect you from data breaches or hacking that could ruin your work or device.
Additionally, consider using a separate device for work and your projects, which will reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Lastly, keep all software and operating systems updated to reduce vulnerabilities while ensuring your home network is secure with proper encryption.
3. Have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
As a remote worker, you can never be too cautious when it comes to cybersecurity. You have the option of implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) as an extra layer of security. MFA will require you to provide two or more verifications—such as a password, fingerprint, face ID, or a code sent to your mobile device—before accessing sensitive information. This ensures that even if your password is compromised, the additional security steps will actively defend you against unauthorized access, providing better security and peace of mind if you are cyber-attacked.
Conclusion
The more companies embrace remote work, the more cybersecurity challenges there will be. Companies and remote workers need to stay vigilant by understanding the causes of security concerns and taking the initiative to overcome them. The key to dealing with cybersecurity issues is for companies to take the time to train their remote workers on how to best protect themselves. As a result, they can reduce cyber threats from their end.
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