Cybersecurity Concerns for the Remote Workforce

Cybersecurity Concerns for the Remote Workforce

Though the pandemic has waned, the remote work that came with it is here to stay. What began as an emergency production related need is now the normal for many companies. Almost sixty percent of workers in the United States now have the option to work remote or hybrid. Forty-one percent are now fully remote which is a large increase from the seventeen percent that was the pre pandemic workforce. Remote work has lots of perks, but it has also led to an increase in cyber related attacks due to unsecure networks, employees who did not receive the proper cyber security awareness training, and unsecure devices. With cybersecurity awareness month coming up for October, we wanted to share with you some cybersecurity concerns for the remote workforce.

Ransomware risk with remote work

Ransomware is a common type of malware and can be one of the most devastating cyber attacks a business can face. It occurs when a hacker is able to gain control of a machine and then threatens to delete, destroy, or publish company data unless a ransom is paid. The primary objective of ransomware is to extort victims and it is often unleashed by the opening of phishing emails. The user opens a suspicious attachment that infects a device and locks files or even entire devices. Other ransomware attacks use social engineering which sends victims to spoofed websites that install malicious material into their machines and infrastructure.

Security concerns from file sharing while working from home

Several remote workers have turned to file sharing services to send and share documents with colleagues. These documents are often stored on corporate networks and are likely to be encrypted. However, when shared remotely, the same level of security will not be there. When employees share sensitive information on tools meant for file sharing, hackers can intercept data. This theft commonly occurs when the data is in transit. When sensitive corporate information is lost, breaches such as data theft, identity fraud, and ransomware attacks can occur.

The risks of using unsecured wi-fi while working from home

Corporate networks are usually secure because they are protected with firewalls. These firewalls monitor and block malicious traffic. Unfortunately, when working from home, employees run the risk of connecting to unsecure wi-fi and use it to connect to the corporate network. One of the most common reasons wi-fi becomes unsecure is that people often forget to update their firmware or antivirus software on their home routers. This leaves their home network open to a data breach, which, in turn, puts their corporate data at risk.

Using personal devices at home may not be as secure

When an employee uses a personal device to connect to corporate networks and systems, they run the risk of cyber attacks because these devices are usually not as secure as corporate devices that are encrypted. Smartphones and printers run the biggest risks because they cannot be encrypted and leave many gaps that can be exploited by hackers.

The dangers of using weak passwords while working remotely

Weak, insecure, and recycled passwords are one of the biggest threats to a company’s remote workforce. The failure to use strong passwords negates important cybersecurity tools like firewalls and VPNs (virtual private networks). Hackers can and will use software to help them crack account passwords and access sensitive corporate information. This software allows them to compile lists of common passwords to access accounts or write code that uses password variants to guess login combinations.

How to prevent cyber security breaches while working remotely

A company’s employees are one of the first lines of defense against cyber threats in the work from home environment. Cyber security awareness training can help with this. This training increases employee’s awareness of the dangers they face and signs that they are facing a cyber threat. It also includes educating users on the need to constantly watch out for potential phishing scams. Employees will be tested on avoiding suspicious links, attachments in email, and spotting emails that come from unrecognized or unusual senders.

Tekscape can help you understand your digital landscape with the proper tools and hardware that will help reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. Make data-driven decisions and optimize your internal resources to navigate along your security landscape. It can be tough to know where to start when you have to get a security test. Depending on your business and the scope of the security in place, we can help provide focus with testing that will protect your company for years to come.

Here are some additional tips on working safe while telecommuting.

• Using comprehensive antivirus software to secure devices used for work and that connect to a home Wi-Fi network

• Securing devices with encryption

• Covering laptop webcams and removing external webcams

• Using secure, strong, and unique passwords

• Avoiding the use of software that has not been approved or licensed by the organization

• Keeping devices and their software and operating systems updated

• Using authentication applications and technologies

Tekscape is a nationally recognized managed IT services company that has been incorporated since 2007. Tekscape is headquartered in New York City. Currently, we operate via two physical locations in the United States. Based on our engineers’ deep technical knowledge and leveraging our strategic relationships with the world’s leading cloud providers, Tekscape excels at supporting companies globally with information technology solutions. Tekscape services include managed IT, managed security services, cloud computing, network, advisory services, compliance, and collaboration.

Stay tuned for our upcoming cybersecurity awareness campaign throughout the month of October.

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