Ever since computers and the internet entered the workplace decades ago, cyber security has been a concern. Even in the early days of email, businesses were susceptible to phishing scams and related data breaches.
Despite organizations’ investments in firewalls, secure networks, and other tools and strategies, one vulnerability has remained constant: employees themselves. Today, that problem is still present and may be worse than ever.
The Challenges of Remote Work
Organizations big and small had many concerns when they were forced to quickly shift to remote work in early 2020, such as maintaining culture, avoiding productivity issues, etc., but they need to maintain cyber security reigned supreme. When everyone is working from one location, there is only one network to be kept secure (practically speaking, of course, networking is usually more complex). When the workforce is distributed, it is difficult to ensure security on home and mobile networks.
Compounding the issue, employees who do not have extensive cybersecurity training or adequate technological literacy are likely to fall for phishing scams. One of the core strategies behind many phishing attacks is to use volume. By sending out a large number of fraudulent emails to a wide variety of contacts, the chances of a successful breach are increased. Hackers only need one person to fall for the scam.
These attacks are more common now than ever, and the trend is only accelerating. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many companies to send their workforces remote, but it’s unlikely that things will ever return to the normal we all know. Of course, the traditional office is far from dead, but hybrid models are set to dominate in the future.
Where Do We Go From Here?
There are three critical aspects of staying secure with a mobile workforce: security software, employee security training, and well-defined technology policies.
Hardware and Software
First and foremost, it is critical to supply your team with the tools they need to work efficiently without compromising security. Liss Technologies takes a consultative approach to each client we serve, and that involves understanding your processes and providing the right tools to fit your needs. From there, we’ll manage the hardware lifecycle, software updates, and security patches.
Security Training and Testing
Expecting your team to be literate in cyber security concerns without some level of training is unreasonable. We’ll help develop best practices training for your team and can even provide testing tools. For example, we can send fake phishing emails to your employees, so you know what your employees are more likely to fall for.
Policy Development
Does your organization have cybersecurity and overall technology policies defined for your team? If not, it’s difficult to have a unified defense against ongoing threats. When Liss Technologies initiates service, one of our initial goals is to align your technology policy with your overall mission.
Maintaining cybersecurity is a persistent challenge, but by taking a holistic approach, including enabling your team to stay secure, the challenge isn’t insurmountable. Connect with us today to start the process towards keeping your organization secure.
