How companies can protect remote workers from cyber attacks

So many people are itching to travel again now that the world is opening up - for personal reasons, for work, or maybe a combination of the two: a so-called 'work-cation’. Now that remote work has become more widely-accepted, many employees are choosing to pack their home offices into their suitcases and head out into the world.

After two years of video-conferencing, the chance for in-person interactions has become possible again. Many multinational organisations have scheduled events for colleagues to reconnect; companies with an international client base are making arrangements for in-person meetings and industries with foreign suppliers are setting up site visits.

With all this globe-trotting comes the need for cybersecurity so that remote workers can safely connect to business networks, no matter where they are. Even if remote workers don’t make it out of their living rooms this time around, companies need to pay attention to cyber security to prevent attacks. As the remote work trend continues, having the right cyber security partner is essential for businesses to protect their employees, data, networks and servers.

Zero-trust model to protect remote workers

Never trust, always verify. This has become the motto for cyber security policies used by large corporations. Zero trust network access (ZTNA) models ensure that no trust is automatically given and has to be explicitly granted by the user or the device.

Using a ZTNA model, remote workforces operating on the cloud need to be verified, often through multi-factor authentication (MFA). Access codes, in combination with biometrics, are used to secure business networks and protect company data.

A ZTNA approach to cyber security lowers the risk of data breaches and gives businesses greater control and visibility over what is happening on the network. It helps to prevent the lateral movement of malware in the event that an employee’s laptop is lost or stolen.

Principle of Least Privilege

Another cybersecurity policy that is making headway among security teams is the Principle of Least Privilege. In a nutshell, this means that employees only have access to the data they need to perform their job functions, with limited or no access to the data used by other departments.

While sales teams will need access to sales data, such as customer records, the IT department probably does not need to know the ins and outs of the customer base. Similarly, high level executives generally need access to larger datasets than more junior colleagues.

By limiting who has access to what, large corporations can prevent internal data breaches, whether intentional or not. Temporary permissions can be granted and access can be revoked depending on emerging workflow requirements. With remote work, using the Principle of Least Privilege can prevent unauthorised access to corporate resources.

Cloud-based VPN supports remote workers

Many regions in the Middle East and Asia prevent the use of certain social media platforms, search engines and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) applications. In South Africa, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Google and Facebook are very much integrated into business communication, particularly for customer service. The reliance on these platforms can be an issue for employees travelling abroad.

To overcome this, employees make use of virtual private networks (VPNs), especially free ones. This can pose a major cyber security threat to business. Hackers can easily gain access to devices, infecting computer systems with malware and leaving business networks exposed to cyber attack. Businesses should consider making use of enterprise-grade VPNs, particularly cloud-based VPNs to protect remote workers.

VPNs offer easy management, giving IT teams excellent control over remote devices and users. Business network access can be remotely granted, meaning that the employee doesn't need to hand in their device for manual configuration. Even if the employee is already abroad, IT teams can set up a secure virtual private network connecting devices to the business network.

Cloud security for teams working remotely

The cloud itself is a key component in cyber security. Offering instant backups and on-demand capabilities, the cloud ensures that employees have continuous access to business resources. The cloud minimises downtime and offers effective disaster recovery. Should an employee device stop working or get stolen, all documents and communications will be easily recovered.

Businesses need a remote access management strategy to reduce the risk of cyber attack. A proactive approach to security must include adequate protection for the cloud. The cloud offers new levels of collaboration, but if critical business assets are held on the cloud then they need to be properly secured.

SEACOM Business offers cloud security solutions that provide the most advanced levels of protection for business networks. End-to-end encryption ensures that remote access is secure for teams operating in various geographical locations.

Cyber security training to protect remote workers

For the most part, your employees are probably not experts in cyber security. Having IT policies and procedures in place can help to alleviate the risk of security breaches, particularly for remote teams. Security training for your employees can help to keep them informed, understand the risks, and keep abreast of current threats.

Phishing scams are the most common type of cyber attack. Hackers send emails in an attempt to extort funds or gain access to confidential information. Your employees need to be able to spot phishing attempts, particularly those that ask for funds to be transferred or customer data to be changed. Companies need regular security awareness training for their staff so that phishing attempts are not successful.

Cyber protection for remote workers

As the world opens up again, businesses need to ensure that remote workers can securely access business networks without the risk of data breaches. SEACOM Business has a number of cyber security tools, such as cloud-based VPNs and intelligent security software, that can be used to manage remote devices and users.

Telecommuting has restructured the business model. Mobility and remote collaboration trends will continue and businesses need to address the related security issues. Partnering with experts in cybersecurity means that businesses don’t need to take on additional IT personnel.

SEACOM Business works in collaboration with South African businesses to ensure that they address their cyber security issues with the right policies, procedures, and software. For more information or to get a quote for our various cyber security services, email us at marketing@seacom.com or leave us a message.

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