While the term “work from home” was first coined by a NASA engineer all the way back in 1973, this practice of remote work didn’t quite gain its current traction until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and employers were left with no alternative. And now that the masses have had a taste of remote work, needless to say, remote and hybrid work is the new working trend. With flu and cold season upon us, this brings yet another reason to embrace remote work at your organization.
LinkedIn reported earlier this year that 97.6% of employees want to work remotely, at least in some capacity, permanently. And projections show that one quarter of all jobs in North America will be remote by the end of this year. This same report also shared that over half of IT professionals have concerns about the increased security risks that are inherent with remote work. The good news is that remote work can be just as secure and efficient as working in the office.
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Work From Home Security Challenges
While the benefits of working from home are plentiful and well-documented, one of the chief concerns is the impact that remote work has on an organization’s cybersecurity posture. These concerns include:
- Maintaining internet security
- Risk exposure through using unsecured devices
- Increased likelihood of data breaches
- Ensuring that updates and patches are administered in a timely fashion
Fortunately, in this day and age, there are robust IT and cloud solutions in place to address all these concerns.
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Work From Home Keys to Success
There are 4 key components to ensure that remote workers have the same high level of security and protection as those working in the office.
Key Component #1: Secure Access
If an employee’s computer is hacked, the business’ entire network could be compromised. That’s why it’s essential for businesses to have secure access control systems in place for their remote workers. And this is where VPNs come in. VPNs provide remote workers with an encrypted connection, enabling secure access to corporate resources and data, regardless of the security of the remote internet connection.
Key Component #2: 2-Factor Authentication
One of the most essential protocols to have in place to protect sensitive information is 2-factor authentication (TFA). TFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to confirm their identity with a second code, typically sent via text or email. This makes it much harder for cybercriminals to gain access to your systems, as they would need both the password and the secondary code. In addition, TFA can also help deter phishing attacks, as criminals would need to not only obtain the user’s password, but also have access to their phone or email account.
Key Component #3: Endpoint Security
Endpoint security is the protection of networked devices from cyberthreats. This can include laptops, smartphones, and even connected devices like printers and scanners. Endpoint security is a key component of cybersecurity because it helps to protect sensitive data from being accessed or stolen by unauthorized users. In a remote work setting, endpoint security is especially important because workers are often accessing corporate networks from untrusted or unsecured devices.
Key Component #4: Integration
One of the most important components of cybersecurity is integration. Integration helps to ensure that all security systems are working together seamlessly. Without integration, there are gaps in security that can be exploited by hackers. This is especially a concern with remote workers, who may be using different devices and software to access company data. By implementing an integrated cybersecurity solution, businesses can help protect their data from both internal and external threats.
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Your Partner in Security
Whether your organization is fully committed to remote work, your employees are 100% in the office, or your company is some hybrid version of the two, cybersecurity is always of top concern. Having the right IT business partner will make sure that whether they are at home, working on the road, or tucked away in the corner office, your team is working as efficiently, productively, and securely as possible.
Deerwood Technologies is that partner. Safeguarding and helping our clients to grow since 2000, Deerwood Technologies provides proactive, consistent, affordable, and reliable IT solutions every time. Let’s connect and find out how we can support your business needs today.