Cybersecurity Challenges for Remote Work

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Remote work has always been around, but it gained immense popularity in recent years as the corporate world adjusted to restrictions that came with the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the pandemic softening, many companies have stuck with remote work due to the convenience it offers employees.

However, while everyone focuses on the convenience of remote work, they often disregard a critical aspect; cybersecurity. Many cybersecurity challenges threaten remote work, and companies and employees must take measures against them. The first step to combating these challenges is understanding remote work security.

Therefore, in this article, Venn will discuss cybersecurity challenges, risks, and simple solutions to address them.

Common Cybersecurity Challenges for Remote Work

With the convenience of remote work comes cybersecurity challenges that you must protect yourself against for a good experience. Here are the most common cybersecurity challenges you should be wary of when practicing remote work:

1.     Phishing

In the early months of the pandemic, phishing attacks soared globally as malicious individuals and groups tricked victims into providing private/privileged information, which was used to steal more data, commit identity fraud, break into bank accounts, and much more.

In April 2020, the National Cyber Security Center recorded at least 350 cases of cyber attacks (phishing, direct attacks on companies, and more) in Switzerland, compared to the norm of 100-150 monthly. In 2020, Australia lost over AUD 851 million to scams — a record amount.

Even though many companies have taken measures to guard them against phishing, scammers are finding new, more sophisticated ways to fool potential victims, making the scheme a tough challenge for remote work.

2.     Weaker security controls

A corporate environment typically has a cybersecurity architecture with secure firewalls against malicious traffic. Also, the IT department is often busy watching employees’ online activity to spot any threats before they could do damage. In this environment, potentially fraudulent emails are filtered out, and phishing attacks are nipped in the bud.

But remote workers do not have the luxury of such protection at home. Companies generally lack the capacity to extend monitoring to all the endpoints. The weaker security controls often leave corporate data vulnerable to theft.

3.     Personal devices for work

In recent years, the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or Bring Your Own PC (BYOPC) policy has gained popularity. The practice allows workers to use their personal devices for work. While this practice offers convenience, its security risk is enormous.

Employees who use their personal devices for work download information or apps for personal use, but the act may compromise sensitive company data stored on the same devices. Also, there is a risk of an employee holding on to confidential information after leaving the company without any way for the firm to erase the data.

Furthermore, corporate data may be at risk if employees do not install regular security updates on their work devices. Moreover, employees with separate work and personal computers for remote work can also compromise corporate data by recklessly transferring files between both devices.

4.     Weak passwords

Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to crack passwords, and employees who secure their remote work devices with weak passwords help the attackers get what they want. Once attackers crack a password, they attempt to access other accounts with it, which may be problematic if an employee uses the same password for all or most of their accounts.

5.     Insecure Wi-Fi networks

Home or public wireless networks are usually vulnerable to malicious attacks because their software is rarely updated. The unsecured networks may allow cyber criminals access, enabling them to breach corporate data.

Ways to tackle cybersecurity challenges for remote work

Here are practical ways to address the challenges that remote work poses:

1.     Secure home network

A home Wi-Fi network does not have the same level of security as a corporate network, but there is a way to secure your home network from malicious actors. First, set up a unique password. Then, make your Wi-Fi invisible using the Service Set Identifier (SSID). Also, update your router’s software regularly.

Additionally, strengthen your home network with robust encryption, preferably Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2).

2.    Install antivirus software

Antivirus software is a reliable tool to enhance remote work security. Cybercriminals usually target home networks with attack vectors such as malware, ransomware, spyware, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS). Antivirus software automatically detects, blocks, and prevents these threats, including phishing scams and viruses, from penetrating your network.

3.     Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Antivirus software cannot provide full protection; a VPN can complete the protection cycle. A VPN can secure online traffic and prevent attackers from snooping on you. We strongly recommend using a VPN when on a public network.

4.     Use strong passwords

Cybercriminals count on weak passwords to make cracking easier, but you can make your accounts almost impenetrable by embracing unique passwords for every account. The passwords should include at least 12 characters and use a combination of letters, special symbols, and numbers.

We recommend installing a trustworthy password manager to keep all passwords safe. So you do not have to memorize or save them in an unsecured location.

5.     Practice safe internet use

Employees have a responsibility to ensure online safety when working remotely. That means they must avoid public Wi-Fi or use a robust VPN if they have to. Also, remote workers must be wary of prying eyes when working in public spaces.

Furthermore, they should scrutinize emails and texts to avoid scams. Remote workers should assume that their scam email filters will not always work.