The pandemic has affected almost every aspect of our lives, in particular how – and where – we work. Remote and hybrid solutions are undoubtedly the future for many industries, however, with all their benefits come greater cyber risks.
Here are some key security concerns and how to manage them.
Phishing scams
Phishing scams are malicious attacks that seek to pilfer sensitive company information or steal identities through false communications. Typically, a bad actor will send an email that looks official and is designed to convince the recipient of its authenticity. By clicking on a link or downloading an attachment, you may be infected with malware or have your login credentials stolen without you even knowing.
Like many cyber threats, the best solution is educating you and your team, especially your remote workers, about how to spot phishing scams. If an email looks wrong, if you are asked to download an attachment you didn’t request, if you are asked to provide or confirm personal information, or if you are asked to click on a link that sends you to an unfamiliar website, stop what you are doing immediately and contact your IT department.
Malware – particularly ransomware
Targeted ransomware attacks are on the rise, and if your remote worker is being extorted, they may feel like they can’t tell you until after they have resolved the issue themselves. Even if a ransom is paid, it doesn’t mean you’ll get your data back.
Make sure all staff understand the facts about ransomware, and outline best practice in the event that anyone is caught up in an attack.
Data breaches via mobile phones
With some or all of your off-site employees, your organisation is more at risk of data breaches than ever. That’s because devices you can’t control – your employees’ smartphones and tablets – may be used to access sensitive corporate data.
The average financial impact of a data breach in Australia is roughly $3.35 million, a cost that most businesses cannot afford to be hit with. Now is the time to create a robust policy on how your mobile devices are managed – for both in-house and remote workers. This may include rules like employees only being allowed to use company-owned devices, not personal ones. It may also grant you greater permissions and control mecahnisms if there is a perceived breach.
Insecure home Wi-Fi
With more and more Australians working from home during the pandemic, malicious actors exploited insecure Wi-Fi to launch corporate attacks via employees’ home networks.
You might not have the resources to send an IT team to physically inspect every remote worker’s Wi-Fi set-up, but you can take steps to secure it for added protection. Instead of requiring staff to use their own devices and Wi-Fi, provide them with a corporate-managed device that uses a dongle to connect to the 5G network. That instantly eliminates the possibility of corporate cyberattacks being carried out through your staff’s home Wi-Fi.
Put your security in the hands of an expert
Remote working is here to stay, and growing cyber threats shouldn’t dissuade you from allowing staff to work from home. Instead, you should proactively seek out solutions that bolster your corporate security.
By partnering with a managed business security provider, you can rest easy knowing your computers and mobile devices are protected against threats while you focus on running your business.
Whether you’re a small business without an in-house IT team, or a large company looking to outsource your cybersecurity needs, Entire Tech has the expertise and Apple authorised technicians to provide threat protection across your entire suite of company devices. Contact us today to find out more.
