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We are in the post-COVID-19 era, and some companies are encouraging their employees to return to the office. Or, at the very least, adopt the hybrid work model. Others, meanwhile, stick to fully remote working.
Both models have their pros and cons. However, remote workers are more susceptible to cybersecurity threats.
The expansion of a remote workforce means changing security strategies. Managing a single system in an office setting is different from managing a system consisting of scattered individuals.
That is not to say that the traditional working model is immune to threats. The problems are very similar. It’s just that the trends in a changing work environment (in this case, remote working) present different challenges to those in charge of maintaining security.
Having said all that, the standout problem seems to come down to the employees themselves. Some simply lack knowledge, while others have too much apathy to bother taking the necessary steps, even if they have the means to work in a secure environment.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common cybersecurity challenges faced by remote employees.
Hardware Vulnerability
According to Gitnux, roughly 6 out of 10 remote workers fail to secure their personal devices when connecting them to an employer’s network.
Vulnerable hardware invites attackers to run rampant. And organizations can’t or don’t check the personal devices of their employees.
Some computers and smartphones lack the basics like antivirus software or an enabled firewall. Even these two are usually enough to counter looming threats on the internet. An antivirus, in particular, flags and detects malware, for example.
For more advanced stuff, employees can incorporate further monitoring tools and pay attention to their computer performance. For instance, if the battery consumption is reasonable and how heavy the CPU usage is.
As a MacBook owner, you can utilize widgets. Some of the best widgets on Mac include those showing the battery life. Relevant information available on the screen at a glance comes in handy.
Going for fingerprint or face scan recognition is another technique. Unfortunately, it’s a step most choose to skip because they find it too much of a hassle.
Ultimately, it’s about how much effort an employee puts into protecting their hardware. And, spoiler alert, the same sentiment applies to other challenges.
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Network Vulnerability
A computer or smartphone does not manifest malware and other malicious items on its own. You need to either connect an external accessory, such as a flash stick, or join a network.
The latter is a given when you have to work remotely. Network vulnerabilities are one of the biggest pain points, particularly for employees who travel and have to join public Wi-Fi.
Home networks are not immune to attacks, but connecting to a public network is a different issue.
Don’t expect public Wi-Fi to have the necessary security protocols. Even if it requires a password to join, a public network still exposes you to a potential hacker attack.
Virtual private networks solve the problem by encrypting the data and letting you change location, making it much harder for hackers to track your moves.
On that note, a VPN is great for both public and home networks as it offers a significant security layer to fill the gaps and protect yourself.
Data Regulation Compliance
Data privacy and protection laws introduce another problem, especially for international organizations.
The emphasis on complying with data regulations exists to protect people’s identity. It affects not just employees themselves but also customers. There are multiple horror stories about customer data leaks.
And it does not stop with just data leaks. Contractual obligations sometimes come with clauses that say how this or that data can be processed only in the European Union. But what happens if a company hires somebody from the United States and has them processing the data? It becomes a compliance risk.
AI-Based Attacks
Artificial intelligence is taking over on multiple fronts. Hackers are smart enough to take advantage of voice change technology or image generation to create life-like scenarios and trick unsuspecting victims into sharing sensitive data or clicking a shady URL without realizing what it is.
Falling for such scams is easier at home because workers are not always as focused. Working at home is not the same as working in an office.
You have more freedom, so it’s easier to feel more at ease and distracted. Thus, clicking on a suspicious link also happens more often.
The expectations for AI are that it will only continue to improve; cybercriminals will have an excellent tool to cause more problems by disrupting an organization’s workflow.
How to Overcome These Challenges
As mentioned, a lot comes down to how much employees are willing to do for themselves. At the very least, they should take care of the basics and make the most out of the tools provided by the employer. From a company’s point of view, they should spend more resources on educating remote employees about looming threats. Identifying a cybersecurity hole and reporting it to the right department is enough to minimize the risks. This can be done through proper cyber training with the help of Threatcop Security Awareness Training (TSAT). TSAT is a training tool that does exactly that. It acts like a safe and controlled practice round for cyber attacks. By running simulated attacks on your employees, TSAT can identify weaknesses in their knowledge and behavior. This helps you understand how prepared your organization is for real cyber threats.
A zero-trust framework is worth a shout as well. Such a system denies default access, so somebody using a personal device has to get authorization in advance. It’s not just for the devices but also personnel authorization. The system wouldn’t allow another person, like a family member, to use a device and connect to the network.
Finally, the company should keep up with the latest technology and other cybersecurity trends to identify what’s happening and take the necessary steps to implement new ways to fend off cybercriminals.
Laura Alexander is a freelance digital content manager and copywriter. She specializes in tech, e-commerce, and educational content.
