Remote working has caused the demand for cyber security to dramatically increase

The unforeseen events of this year have accelerated the demand and need for new and improved network security. 2020 has caused many businesses to adapt their workflow in order for it to function remotely. In fact, 52% of security leaders identified that remote work has been seen to be one of the top factors that impacts their IT security. Moreover, 55% of security leaders have found that phishing attacks have increased for them this year since the pandemic  (1).

If trying to work with a poor connection wasn’t difficult enough, cybersecurity has become more important than ever since many of us have moved our set-ups to our homes. As a result of this, many businesses have found that their VPN platforms struggled to handle the new traffic due to remote working.

Prevention methods such as the introduction of additional identity verifications help to stop attackers from being able to gain access to your data and the internal network. It also means that you no longer need to use VPN which comes with its own pros and cons.

VPN isn’t always the best solution in terms of security and performance whilst working from home. It can slow down your internet speed which in return will affect your workflow and time efficiency. It also doesn’t guarantee that you will be 100% anonymous whilst using it which can leave you vulnerable to cyber attacks, especially with older standards.

How can I ensure that I am cyber protected whilst working remotely?

1. Choose a tool that allows for you to easily access and retrieve files whilst keeping them secure and backed-up e.g. the cloud.
2. Consider moving away from VPN over time. VPNs are not always the most efficient way to operate outside of work and in the wrong circumstances can become overburdened and ineffective whilst leaving your system vulnerable.
3. Think about using integrated platforms. This is especially effective for smaller businesses as it boosts productivity, allowing you to better manage your information as everything is stored within one system.
   

Zero-trust approach

This type of approach helps businesses to manage and keep their data secure as more employees are using it remotely. Encrypting your data also prevents any third parties from being able to access highly sensitive data unless they have the authority to and are provided with an encrypted key.

Integration of IDaaS solutions along with cloud services enables secure access to applications, networks and servers whilst working from home through the imposed authentication methods and single sign on methods with conditional, restricted access. This way you are able to control what user is able to go in and go out which optimises your remote cyber security.

 

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Remote working has been a brand-new experience for many of us this year but it has seemingly become quite familiar now. However, having the right set-up and precautions to keeping your data safe is unarguably key, especially with how advanced technology is now. For more information on how to keep your remote set-up safe, speak with our IT technicians today by calling us on 0121 289 4477 or email us at info@solutions4it.co.uk