With unprecedented situations comes the need for unprecedented measures and more adaptable solutions. Covid-19 has shaken the whole world from within which has resulted in every business sector and business model to undergo a drastic change regarding how the businesses and their workforce functioned. As more and more businesses and their workforce is going virtual, effective remote workforce security has turned out to be of utmost significance.
The new normal has made virtual networking and remote network access of the workforce a necessity. It has also made businesses more efficient and productive. As per the webinar snap poll by Gartner, it was seen that close to 91% of attending HR executives of renowned businesses have implemented work from home in their arrangements since the outbreak began. It is also predicted by 2030, remote work will see its demand increasing by almost 30% more due to the effects of Generation Z.
What Are The Cons Faced While Working Remotely?
Though as the workforce is enjoying its multifarious benefits, remote access might also have major cons as to be more vulnerable to cyber breaches, threats, and attacks. Cyber malpractices have got new opportunities and chances to breach and scrape valuable data enabled through virtual functioning of remote access. According to ReedSmith, Covid-19 has become the largest ever security threat with a massive 400% increase in cyber-related scams during covid.
This signifies how important secured remote access is, where a massive transition to virtual functioning is also leading to a massive cyber disaster. Here is where technologies like Behavioral Biometrics and Split Plane Architecture are making a major mark in promoting efficient Remote Workforce security.
The Need for Secured Remote Access
With more and more employees working remotely, new risks and uncertainties are emerging regarding the new kinds of cyber-attacks and malpractices. Remote working makes use of personal computers, mobile phones, routers, and other devices that are highly vulnerable to threats like malware, ransomware, and other kinds of cyberattacks.
Another major threat is the exposure of high volume data mobilization of the workforce on public internet connections while connecting to storage through remote connections. Accessing these confidential data storage on remote networks could lead the third parties to open their vast hands of data scraping and data breaching which makes the need for a streamlined and equipped Remote workforce security of utmost importance.
Best Practices for Secure Remote Access
- Encryption of sensitive information
Data encryption is a widely accepted practice for promoting remote security. With data encryption, the end-to-end data security for the exchange between the company-owned system and storage is managed and taken care of. Data encryption could be performed efficiently with remote connections using VPNs that offer built-in encryption.
- Maintain strict user authentication
The workforce working remotely should go through strict user access control to access any of the company’s resources remotely. The system and remote storage should be shielded with Multifactor Authentication that offers a safeguard of multiple levels of authentication while accessing any resource through remote connections. Also, a system of minimal usage authentication should be enabled in order to promote only specific users to access resources, keeping the other unnecessary users blocked by default.
The strict user authentication could be managed and monitored effectively with the help of a zero trust security network that takes extreme measures to check the authentication of the users and monitor their access.
- Creating Remote Working Policies
Arrangements should be set with specific rules and regulations regarding the access and downloading capacity of the sensitive data. Certain rules should be framed regarding how employees access resources remotely to mitigate the vulnerability of data on remote systems. These rules could be regarding which data can be accessed and downloaded on personal devices, whether employees are agreed upon to access data through personal devices, whether non-related data is allowed to be downloaded, or regarding how the suspected attacks should be dealt with on remote access infrastructure.
- Designate work devices for remote functioning
Personal devices are most likely to get affected by any cyber malpractices, so the policies should be set regarding non-usage of personal devices while accessing remote networks. Companies should allow their own devices enabled with all the security measures that are managed by a dedicated IT team to ensure utmost security with regular monitoring and updates.
- Setting up and management of VPN replacement
VPNs are termed to be highly effective for remote functioning as it provides the utmost features to access resources online from different locations. Moreover, at the same time encrypts connections and provides accessing controls to the corporate networks. Setting up and managing VPNs and letting every resource access request pass through the VPN is the best remote security practice.
VPNs act as a thin layer of defense for remote access networks. They are beneficial in diverting certain kinds of attacks such as data sniffing. There should also be regular VPN replacement to maintain enhanced security and check the functioning of all VPNs.
- High-end management of Sensitive Data
Breach and leaks of the company’s valuable and sensitive data could lead the Companies to be blown down the water with tons of losses. Thus, the protection of sensitive data is very crucial. The management of sensitive data should be equipped with high-end security and encryption technologies with specific and important rules set for the one trying to access it. Also, a subject of compliance rules should be set focusing on the servers that will hold and store the data, rules regarding the downloading of copies of data, and certain measures that involve the exposure of the company’s critical data.
Final Words
Hardcore remote workforce security is the need of the hour in today’s environment where teams across all industries are working remotely. As a remote workforce opens up with new capabilities and opportunities, it also comes with new threats and exposure to increased cyber-related risks. Being the reason why a power-packed and extremely strict remote access security framework is required.
InstaSafe is the perfect solution to your remote security requirements where we come with advanced and enhanced technologies to make your remote workforce abilities secured and more efficient. We bring in multiple security solutions to give your crucial data the utmost safety and importance.
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