The pandemic has normalized remote work, and even as we transition back to office environments, many businesses continue to embrace remote setups for the benefits they offer. However, remote work also introduces cybersecurity challenges that require careful attention to protect the company’s network and sensitive data.
What Are the Cybersecurity Dangers That Come with Working from Home?
While working from home, employees often lack the typical security measures found in office networks. Many employees use their personal home networks and even the same devices for both work and personal tasks. Consequently, this situation can lead to various security issues that may pose a potential threat to the company.
Vulnerable Personal Networks
Ensuring the security of your home network goes beyond regularly updating your antivirus software. It’s crucial to also recognize the importance of updating your router’s software. Neglecting this aspect can leave your home network vulnerable, potentially exposing your work data to online threats and cybercriminals.
Greater Reliance on Technology
In today’s digital age, our dependence on online tools for various business operations has grown significantly. Beyond the essentials like email and file sharing, we conduct a wide range of activities through digital technology, including video conferencing, banking, and order processing. This extensive reliance on online tools increases the opportunities for hackers to compromise company records and data security.
Lack of Cybersecurity Awareness
In a traditional office setting, cybersecurity concerns are typically managed by IT professionals, leading employees to sometimes not prioritize these matters as their primary responsibility, despite their shared liability. However, it’s essential to provide cybersecurity training and ensure employees are fully aware of potential risks when working remotely. Regrettably, many employees still lack the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively mitigate these cybersecurity threats.
Fatigue and Lack of Focus
Human error remains the primary cause of data breaches, a fact accentuated in remote work settings. Research indicates that nearly 40% of employees working from home experience heightened fatigue. Furthermore, managing household tasks while working remotely can diminish their ability to prioritize cybersecurity protocols and lead to lapses in judgment. These factors collectively elevate the risk of remote employees unintentionally exposing the company’s sensitive data to potential hackers.
Weak Password
When attempting to breach company networks through remote workers, hackers often focus on cracking user passwords. This method is one of the simplest, and unfortunately, many individuals still employ weak passwords, even for their most sensitive accounts.
Use of Personal Devices
In a standard office setup, employees utilize company-issued computers equipped with up-to-date malware protection. However, when working from home, many individuals resort to using their personal laptops or smartphones, which often lack robust IT security measures, such as comprehensive data encryption.
Making Remote Work Safer From Cybersecurity Risks
Working from home offers numerous advantages. If you believe it’s the right approach for your company, don’t hesitate to embrace it. However, it’s crucial to prioritize the security of all remote processes. This is where our expertise can be of great assistance!
As our focus this quarter is on cybersecurity, we’ve created an engaging quiz for you and your employees. Not only is it an enjoyable activity, but it also contributes to your Employee Cybersecurity Training. Access the quiz here!
Our team of cybersecurity experts is ready to empower your company and remote workers with the knowledge and technology needed to safeguard against malware attacks and other online threats. Get in touch with us to explore our comprehensive and highly customizable cybersecurity services today!
