Safeguarding Your Business in the Work-From-Anywhere Era with Annexus Technologies
Leaving your employees defenseless during remote work can make your business vulnerable to potential risks. The internet poses numerous threats for remote workers, making it imperative to protect them by implementing remote work security best practices in your digital workplace, such as identity management.
According to Statista, business spending on identity management systems will reach $13.92 billion by the end of 2021. Identity management ensures individuals have appropriate access to tools and resources to perform their jobs. It associates user rights and restrictions with established identities, allowing only authenticated users to access specific data and applications within your organization.
In this article, we explore five key strategies to ensure compliance and security as workforces begin to return to the office, while acknowledging that some level of remote work is here to stay.
1. Evaluate Your Compliance and Security Systems
Compliance is a vital component of any cybersecurity program, but ensuring compliance is often complex due to the myriad laws and industry regulations. Many organizations hastily implemented measures when faced with a sudden shift to remote work. Now, these platforms need to be re-evaluated for compliance, data confidentiality, and security principles such as integrity and availability. Compliance monitoring ensures ongoing adherence to various standards and regulations, identifying regulatory gaps within your cybersecurity controls and informing necessary changes to maintain compliance.
2. Maintain Security Awareness at All Times
Companies of all sizes are under attack, and remote work has become a necessity for modern organizations. In a hybrid work environment, reminders about the importance of security must be transmitted virtually to remote workers' homes. Whether new to remote work or early adopters, businesses must empower employees with the tools and training needed to safeguard the company's reputation and confidential data.
3. Extend the Risk Perimeter
With many employees working permanently from home, their homes become part of the organization's risk perimeter. Remote workers may use devices that do not meet enterprise security standards, necessitating education on mitigating security risks. Employees must understand the threats they face, such as phishing attacks, and how to protect themselves. Implementing measures like mandatory virtual backgrounds on video calls and separating home networks from professional hardware can enhance security.
4. Establish Uniform Policies for Employees
In a hybrid work environment, where employees switch between the office and home, the physical security perimeter disappears. Uniform policies must ensure consistent security measures across all locations, including the use of VPNs and access controls. Protecting access to company resources from remote locations ensures IT assets and employees are shielded from potential disruptions.
5. Backup, Backup Again, and Test Regularly
Data generated by remote workers and those in the office must be backed up regularly and tested. This includes data on portable devices and stored in the cloud. Implementing the right backup tools and regularly testing backups is essential for data recovery. Businesses should consider keeping duplicate backups in two different locations, document backup policies, educate remote workers on the importance of backups, and test backups regularly to ensure they work when needed.
Ensure business continuity with Annexus Technologies' managed global security solutions for businesses of all sizes. Prevent cyber attacks with 24/7 monitoring and support from our advanced cybersecurity solutions. Contact us today, and one of our knowledgeable security representatives will be happy to assist you.
