As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced companies to shift towards remote work, the cybersecurity risks have increased dramatically. This shift towards remote work has expanded the potential attack surface and moved it outside of traditional perimeter defenses, leading to a rise in cybersecurity incidents. Insecure home networking, weak passwords, unencrypted file-sharing services, unsecured personal devices, and personal Wi-Fi have become some of the most significant security risks that remote workers face. In this article, we will explore the best practices and solutions for preventing cyber attacks in the age of remote work.
Security Risks of Remote Work
The increase in remote work has come with a rise in cybersecurity risks. Employer-provided devices that were previously protected by corporate networks are now relying on workers’ home Wi-Fi. This has created a range of vulnerabilities in enabling technologies used by working professionals. Cybersecurity experts have identified these as some of the common security risks that remote workers face:
- Phishing email attacks
- Malware infections
- Socially engineered attacks
- Password policies
- Endpoint security solutions
- User behavioral analytics
- Unsecured personal devices
- Webcam hijacking
- Unsecured Wi-Fi networks
- Web services
- Protocol vulnerabilities
- Ransomware
As working from home continues to be the new normal, security gaps are repeatedly being exploited as cyberattackers are becoming more sophisticated in carrying out intricate hacking attacks.##Preventing Remote Work Cyber Attacks
Companies can prevent remote work cyber attacks by implementing the following best practices:
- Remote Work Security Policy: Employers should create a clear and comprehensive remote work security policy. This policy should include all the necessary requirements to ensure secure data handling, password policies, and delineate which channels employees can use for communication.
- Employee Training: Employees should be trained on security measures such as password protection, VPN vulnerabilities, email security, and hardware vulnerability.
- System Updates: Keep all systems, software, and software services up to date by applying periodic system updates and firmware updates.
- Password Managers: Encourage the use of password managers to track passwords, enforce complex passwords and avoid password reuse. In addition to password managers, multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be implemented.
- Email Security: Organizations should set email filters to safeguard company networks against phishing email attacks. It is essential to flag emails that may be potential trojan horses, utilizing clients such as Fortinet’s Linksysis Homewrk.
- Endpoint Security Solutions: Endpoint security such as FortiClient can detect malware infections, and prevent unauthorized remote access to company devices.
- Secure Tools and Software: Secure collaboration platforms like Zoom for video conferencing and Slack for team messaging can be used to lessen the risks associated with remote work.
- Home Wi-Fi Security: Employers should offer guidance to their employees on securing their home Wi-Fi routers, avoiding weak passwords, using network encryption, and enabling multi-factor authentication.
Cybersecurity Solutions for Remote Work
To provide remote workers with adequate protection, companies must offer a range of cybersecurity solutions to secure their remote workforce:
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): VPNs enable internal users to access corporate networks securely and remotely that eliminates the need to be physically present in the office. An internal VPN allows organizations to extend security controls, packet inspection, and filtering to remote devices. VPNs also provide zero-trust network access (ZTNA) that provides a sustainable approach to give access to individual devices instead of granting unfettered network access.
- Centralized Storage Solutions: Use centralized storage solutions, including cloud storage or server storage, to ensure all users can access the same data version, leading to better productivity and enhanced communication.
- Antivirus Software: Antivirus software can detect malware and prevent ransomware and phishing attacks.
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): SIEM can integrate antivirus and other endpoint security solutions, plus contain proprietary product information and alerts companies when client data could be vulnerable to attack surfaces.
- Firewall: A stable firewall solution is one of the essential cybersecurity solutions. It is a network security layer that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic, using packet inspection to screen traffic for signs of harmful code.
- Identity Management Tools: Identity management tools such as FortiAuthenticator provide two-factor authentication support. It adds another layer of protection to authorized users’ login procedures to prevent third-party intrusion.
- File-Sharing Services: File-sharing services such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive can encrypt data during communication and permanently at rest.
- Home Wi-Fi Network Security: Personal Wi-Fi security includes implementing encryption to protect the Wi-Fi signal from malicious access. Strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and firewalls can mitigate risks associated with working from home.
- Secure Web Gateway: Employing a secure web gateway (FortiGate) enables safe browsing via cloud services and the public internet while protecting against phishing attempts via a range of different defense technologies (e.g., FortiGuard.)
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Through ZTNA, organizations can apply basic cybersecurity practices that implement lean six sigma certificate programs using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and user zero-trust network access (ZTNA) policies.
Conclusion
The shift towards remote work has led to expanded attack surfaces and threats to information security. It is crucial for organizations and employees to take cybersecurity seriously and implement the best practices and solutions to prevent cyberattacks. By doing so, we can secure remote workforces and safeguard sensitive data. As remote work continues to grow, it’s the right time for organizations, employees, and cybersecurity talent to come together to make working from anywhere more manageable, safe, and secure.