The adoption of remote work has become far more prevalent in recent years and is continuously becoming the preferred choice for many professionals. But despite its benefits – convenience, productivity, and work-life balance – remote work also presents multiple cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities.
Last year, 63% of businesses reported data breaches due to remote employees. This figure is undoubtedly alarming and underscores the need for proactive measures to navigate cybersecurity threats in remote work environments.
Let’s examine some of the most common cybersecurity risks associated with remote work and explore optimal strategies and best practices for addressing them.
Email Phishing
Email phishing is a form of cyberattack in which an attacker sends out emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a government agency, a bank, or a trusted private company. The email typically urges a user to take immediate action and may include a link to a fake website or attachments that, when clicked, install malware on the user’s device. The objective of this cyberattack is to trick users into disclosing confidential information, which attackers can use for fraudulent acts such as identity theft, financial fraud, or unauthorised access to accounts.
Remote workers often access company resources and communicate with team members via email, making them prime targets of this type of attack.
Weak Passwords and Lack of Multi-Factor Authentication
Remote workers use passwords to access systems and company databases. Poor passwords are typically guessable and easier to crack. Furthermore, multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an identity management method that requires a user to provide two or more verifications before accessing an application or an online account. This can be through a code, a fingerprint scan, or secret questions. The lack of MFA means not giving an account or a resource an extra barrier against unauthorised access and data breaches.
Not Backing Up Data
Remote workers often rely solely on their personal devices to store work-related files and information. Without proper backups, if their devices are attacked by ransomware, they risk losing irreplaceable files. This can disrupt their work, reveal sensitive company information, and potentially lead to financial loss or reputational damage for both the remote worker and their company.
Lack of Employee Training
Working remotely is a challenge when providing training. Without the ability to engage in formal, face-to-face training schedules, it can often be a matter of trust as to whether remote employees truly take on board the company’s cybersecurity policies. The subsequent failure to provide comprehensive cybersecurity training leaves employees unaware of cybercrime and the potential cybersecurity threats they may encounter.
Using Multiple Devices and Networks
Remote workers use various devices and places to access the internet, both at home and in public places such as restaurants, airports, and coffee shops. This broadens the attack surface available to cyber criminals, providing them with more potential entry points to access the employee’s and organisation’s networks.
Overcoming Cybersecurity Risks for Remote Workers
- Create a unique password for each account and device to prevent data confidentiality from being jeopardised. Avoid using guessable information like birthdays and choose a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Protect sensitive data by using virtual private networks (VPNs) to encrypt internet connections, making them resistant to unauthorised access.
- Ensure that all employees are using the latest encryption and antivirus software.
- Log out of work-related software and tools when not in use.
- Outsmart ransomware by backing up important files to a secure cloud storage service or an external hard drive.
- Conduct a penetration test or pentest to identify your computer system’s potential vulnerability and to gauge the effectiveness of your company’s cybersecurity measures.
- Provide cybersecurity training to remote workers. Training must cover topics such as identifying phishing emails and new forms of phishing, creating strong passwords, awareness of suspicious online behaviour, and the potential hazards of public Wi-Fi networks.
- Customise cybersecurity resources to address specific risks and challenges relevant to their roles. Resources must be concise and straightforward, allowing remote workers to grasp important concepts with greater ease. They are also more likely to engage with materials that are brief and easy to understand.
- Reach out to the National Cyber Security Centre to learn more about online security or to report a cyber incident.
Remote work presents many benefits for both the employee and the company. But while having advantages, it is also crucial to be vigilant about the risks associated with remote work, particularly in terms of cybersecurity. Identifying threats and implementing best practices can greatly enhance protection against cybercrime, securing both the employee and the organisation’s assets.