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Why Should We Secure Remote Access To Computer?
Remote employees face unique cyber security threats.
Some new risks arise, including employees' increasing dependence on personal computers and routers that are vulnerable to malware infections but difficult for IT staff to secure and manage effectively.
Employees' use of public internet connections to connect to company systems or storage facilities poses a new danger, with the potential for third parties to intercept and steal sensitive data that has not been properly encrypted and protected.
This act would be far more difficult if all data were restricted to corporate networks.
Remote workforces employees to use multiple tools, which widens the attack surface for attackers to exploit. Remote workers also deploy additional applications like RDP and VPN clients, which create additional security risks.
Work-from-home environments present similar risks as other working environments; however, these threats can be exploited more cleverly and innovatively.
Phishing attacks, for instance, aren't limited to employees working from home; however, they might be easier to carry out when employees aren't as aware of potential dangers or use personal devices to access corporate resources.
Malware attacks are more likely when employees use personal devices that do not receive updates to address security threats; by contrast, company-owned devices are usually administered and maintained centrally by an IT team, offering greater protection.
Remote work can be highly advantageous to businesses, yet it also carries security risks. Businesses can minimize these risks by following best practices to keep their systems and data secure when employees work remotely.
Assume that threats will occurRecognizing there may be threats is the cornerstone of remote access security. At times, it can be challenging to understand this mindset, particularly if your company excels at protecting its on-premises infrastructure.
Remote-access configurations pose security risks but may go undetected due to employees working from home using systems not readily visible to management.
Reality be damned, however: there will almost certainly be vulnerabilities in the applications and infrastructure used by employees when working remotely.
IT teams should assume these risks exist even if they cannot see them directly.
Create a Telework Policy
To effectively address remote access threats, organizations must create clear rules regarding employee work procedures.
Telework policies must address topics like: Employees could use their own devices to work remotely from anywhere. Which data may employees download onto their devices versus which must remain within the office? Employees using remote access devices could install non-work related applications onto them for personal use.
This could create issues if employees can install software not related to their jobs on these devices.
How employees who work remotely and cannot reach the IT department directly can report suspected attacks. Advice like this can go a long way toward mitigating security risks associated with remote access systems.
Encrypt Sensitive Data
Data encryption remains a must from a security perspective, particularly for employees working from home, as there's the possibility of them misplacing devices outside a corporate setting or sensitive information being intercepted when traveling over the Internet.
To do so, ensure all data sent between systems owned by your company and remote locations is encrypted as it moves over the network.
One way is for employees to connect using VPNs which feature built-in encryption; similarly, ensure RDP clients use up-to-date versions, as outdated clients might not automatically encrypt data.
Designate Specific Remote Working Devices And Secure Them
Ideally, employees would use only company-issued devices when working remotely - the policy should reflect this.
Instead, companies should give employees dedicated devices for remote working that are managed and updated by IT to prevent potential risks such as software or data being downloaded by malicious individuals.
Employ User Authentication
Employees should use multifactor authentication when accessing company resources remotely. Although it may seem simpler, making resources like file servers readily available could pose a serious security risk.
Follow the principle of least privilege, which means all access should be blocked by default, and only those accounts needing it should have access.
Although this requires more configuration effort, its security benefits make up for it.
Install a VPN
VPNs offer three key benefits to businesses and employees: remote access to resources that would otherwise be inaccessible, encrypted communications, and some access control on corporate networks.
To protect resources while employees work remotely, it's wise to set up and require all remote connections to go through a VPN gateway - this way, keeping resources safe while keeping employees working remotely secure.
Keep in mind that VPNs should not be seen as a silver bullet; while they can reduce certain types of attacks, such as data sniffing, such as those related to data collection and storage, they do not protect against phishing attacks and may contain vulnerabilities which attackers could exploit.
A VPN should only serve as one layer of protection when remote accessing is necessary - not the sole solution.
Manage Sensitive Data Securely
Essential to ensure sensitive data remains secure, it is equally vital that employees working remotely use encryption and access controls to safeguard any sensitive files they encounter.
If your company imposes compliance rules that dictate data remains on specific servers, ensure employees don't download this onto any devices they are using for working remotely.
Even if compliance isn't your top concern, it is still wise to establish policies regarding whether employees can copy data onto remote devices.
You don't want an employee copying customer personal data onto an unattended thumb drive and having it disappear; this would expose sensitive data.
Work With Vendors And Third-Party Partners
Remote-access scenarios necessitate greater cooperation than in traditional settings. Companies managing file servers or providing remote desktops to employees working remotely play an essential role in keeping systems and data secure.
Select vendors and partners dedicated to remote security who are prepared to react swiftly when threats emerge.
Opting for solutions that automate as much of security as possible will help manage security risks despite existential challenges like alert overload, manual process reliance and skills shortages.
How To Design An Effective Remote Working Infrastructure
Recent data reveals that 85% of remote employees now prefer hybrid working styles that integrate office and home-based methods, creating increasing pressure for businesses to meet remote employee demands, particularly with home working becoming more prevalent than ever before.
A secure yet accessible remote working infrastructure is key for meeting these new demands and challenges effectively.
This article will provide an introduction to remote working, including how to establish a remote work infrastructure in your business.
Our IT specialists offer advice in this regard; please continue reading to discover more!
What Are The Benefits Of Remote Working?
You might wonder what the big deal is with the rise in popularity of remote work amongst workers. Both companies and remote workers can benefit from remote working.
Here are some of the top benefits that remote workers enjoy:
- Employees and employers can enjoy a better work-life balance
- Productivity levels higher and better outcomes
- Employee freedom and well-being is promoted by promoting employee well-being
What is Remote Working Infrastructure (RWI)?
IT infrastructure refers to the collection of components required to operate and manage enterprise IT environments, whether implemented within cloud systems or at an organization's facilities.
IT infrastructures may consist of software applications, physical components and data storage solutions.
Remote working infrastructure (RWI) is an IT system designed to facilitate team members working remotely while remaining as effective as possible.
Remote working arrangements must adapt to changes in how people access file networks, communicate, and collaborate while working from home. Every remote company (or hybrid business which occasionally utilizes remote working opportunities) needs an efficient remote working model in place in order to run smoothly.
Read More: Why Cybersecurity is Important for eCommerce Business
What Makes A Successful Remote Working Infrastructure?
Two key traits can define a successful remote working environment:
- Reliability to guarantee: smooth business operations, efficiency, stable network traffic, and productive results.
- Security to make: sure data protection laws are established and followed, sensitive information is protected, and systems are optimized for maximum protection.
Cloud Integration Is Important
Benefits of Cloud computing is an indispensable element of remote working infrastructures.
Due to physical limitations, physical networks simply do not permit closed network environments like those found in offices.
Cloud computing allows employees to work from any device and access important files securely while still communicating with coworkers in an open and safe working environment.
Cloud infrastructures are less susceptible to ransomware or malware attacks than your device due to large companies that provide cloud services typically employing high-grade security measures.Implementing Cloud Computing into your IT infrastructure has many additional advantages, including:
No need to spend money and resources building out your remote-working infrastructure or equipment, thus reducing the workload for IT staff.
Instead, simply pay for what services are required and can add or delete them at any time as desired.Solely via this means can remote employees gain access to confidential data or store documents on company servers.
A Successful Business Plan Depends On Effective Communication
Communication is of utmost importance in any workplace setting. Effective dialogue can mean the difference between successful collaboration and poor collaboration; maintaining healthy communications within an office setting may be easy enough, but what about remote working environments?
To ensure an efficient communication strategy, remote workers must be connected in such a way as to create the same sense of support, communication and community as office-based employees.
Slack or Skype live chat applications are popular choices when trying to achieve this aim.
Communication strategies can bring many advantages when working remotely, from enhanced relationships and job satisfaction to collaboration and conflict resolution.
Therefore, we recommend prioritizing developing a robust communications plan as a top priority.
Video Conferencing Solutions Are Key
Every remote company uses video conferencing software to ensure efficient communication. Video conferencing applications can be utilized for international meetings, brainstorming sessions or regular check-ins with employees.
Zoom meetings may soon become obsolete, but software such as Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom can provide an effective starting point.
They allow for direct communication on certain matters which cannot be expressed via chat. They're also great ways for employers to conduct an in-depth audit with employees.
Select Your Hardware Carefully
Establish an office for your remote workers to facilitate an easy transition. Make sure the technology meets standards so employees are able to work as efficiently as if they were working from an office setting; seeking advice from experts regarding software and hardware options would best support your business.
Expert Remote Working Infrastructure
Do not take chances with something as essential to your business as the IT infrastructure, where even small mistakes could prove costly due to GDPR and data protection laws.
Expert services are available to help build an infrastructure suitable for remote working. With years of experience and training under their belts, these experts provide invaluable expertise needed in this climate of data protection and remote working.
Expert Strategies To Help Secure Remote Work Environments
Businesses that adopted remote working arrangements during pandemics have often decided to make them permanent. While leaders may wish to capitalize on the flexibility, cost savings, and morale-boosting properties of work-from-home policies, they mustn't overlook security concerns when considering work-from-home policies as an option.
Remote work can be an excellent way to increase productivity and efficiency while remaining secure and private. A work-from-home policy is often adopted as part of a permanent strategy at companies; it requires planning, dedicated software, and firm rules for its successful implementation.Technology Council members share some effective methods businesses can employ when creating safer remote working environments.
Establish Well-Rounded WFH Policies
Security begins at each employee's front door and windows and is further affected by their network, surroundings, and neighbors.
We risk losing control over company resources if policies don't outline acceptable use of systems and equipment and establish employee education programs; furthermore, in remote environments, it is crucial to monitor security and control access privileges - Robert Strzelecki of TenderHut.
Secure the Identity Perimeter
Threat actors constantly find new ways of bypassing traditional security measures, making identity security paramount in this context.
Identity has effectively become the new endpoint, so businesses should dust off their endpoint security playbook and apply the same level of scrutiny when considering remote work security policies. By doing this, companies will ensure a zero-trust approach to remote work environments. -3. Leverage Zero Trust
Businesses should implement the zero-trust model of security to create a safe remote working environment. This model emphasizes regular verification of identities, permissions and credentials.
Privacy by design will help protect sensitive data while protecting user privacy.
Establish Layered Security
Layered security is an umbrella term referring to an approach that incorporates multiple technologies and principles for improving security, including multi factor authentication (MFA), managed detection and reaction (MDR), zero trust, DNS filters, security awareness training programs and password-aware tools designed to prevent business email compromise.
This strategy enhances security in both distributedly and on-premises environments.
Create A Robust Asset-Tracking System
Your assets must be easily trackable wherever they reside: office building, cloud or remote employee homes. Simply knowing about assets won't do; instead, it must also include knowing about patch management, antimalware protection, segmentation solutions, etc - plus whether or not these solutions are up-to-date and require VPN connectivity for accessing securely.
Businesses must establish processes that minimize cyberattack risks. This includes using antivirus software and creating internet usage guidelines.
Furthermore, businesses should require employees to use VPNs when accessing work equipment as this makes their traffic encrypted and harder for hackers to hack into. Finally, data should also be stored safely on cloud servers. -
Conduct Regular Operational Reviews
IT leaders must conduct frequent reviews of their environment. Most companies--regardless of whether employees work remotely, in hybrid arrangements, or from within an office--should embrace a zero-trust model and conduct regular reviews to monitor operations and set clear action items.
Without this practice in place, leaders may assume everything is running according to plan without real oversight being conducted regularly and set clear action items for review and action items being put forth by IT.
Limit Employee Access To Critical Data
Security hinges on restricting employee access. Employees with access to sensitive data like salary details may misuse it inadvertently or maliciously; you can reduce risk by allocating only necessary resources per role - creating an inviting workplace atmosphere, and maintaining friendly remote teams - Anton Abyzov of Softgreat.
Deploy Secure Web Gateways
Remote employees cannot always be trusted to comply with security protocols designed to protect company applications and data at their homes, so installing a secure Web portal at each employee residence could extend as much enterprise-level security as possible to their home environments - Leonard Lee from neXt Curve
Take The Cloud Into Your Arms
Cloud-first your IT infrastructure for remote work. At our organization, all core infrastructure services such as antivirus protection, malware detection and removal, device management, identity (like Microsoft ActiveDirectory), VPN access and VPN have all been made remotely accessible so users who use mobile devices or laptops from home are just as safe as if they were at our office.
Remote Device Management
Remote device management can make remote work much simpler. Monitor critical software updates, push out new versions and ensure devices are backed up remotely.
Lockdown admin rights on your computer so no one installs unapproved software without your approval, while remotely pushing new configurations or security updates saves everyone time while increasing security. Educate employees.
Education, education and more education No one should assume they know everything necessary to secure remote workers without proper security knowledge.
Education can create an environment in which employees take personal responsibility for both their security as well as company assets. Here are eight security best practices for hybrid and remote workforces.
Encryption Robust data: encryption should be utilized throughout all stages of processing: in transit, during use and storage.
Software Defined Wide Area Networks can be utilized to create dynamic multipoint VPNs using IP Security that form encrypted tunnels between remote users and corporate network infrastructure through the Internet. All information should, as a general rule, be encrypted before being transmitted; modern devices that store or cache data also offer this capability.
Strong Passwords: Adopt best practices when creating passwords, such as length, character types and symbol use standards.
Standard passwords should include at least 12 characters that include uppercase/lowercase characters as well as numbers and special characters such as punctuation marks or special characters.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA): adds another layer of protection to data beyond usernames and passwords.
MFA takes many forms, from direct device PIN delivery or security code storage for employees to questions about personal history or biometric identification such as voice print analysis or fingerprint readings.
Zero Trust: Traditional security models operate with the principle that users who are authenticated receive access to resources when given an account with which to log in; this could happen through either being within a secure corporate perimeter or using VPN technology.
A zero-trust approach assumes every user poses a potential threat and includes authenticating devices to ensure their integrity before providing access to any resources or zones within an IT environment.
Data Categorization: Categorizing enterprise information according to its sensitivity and then implementing controls accordingly is known as data categorization.
Access control should not be the sole consideration; sensitive data must also be protected during transmission and storage by servers, data centres, or network attached storage devices; categorization must include destruction so that sensitive material doesn't end up on systems without sufficient security policies and controls in place.
Automation: Cloud Security Posture offers automated tools that automate many aspects of incident response and security monitoring.
Patches and updates should be automatically deployed on all enterprise infrastructure, systems, and user devices - ideally by cloud services such as Cloud Security Posture - to minimize downtime due to limited IT resources or workers prioritizing work over updating security apps on their devices.
Policies and Procedures, Training: Remote employees face various security threats that are less prevalent when working at a corporate office.
Organizations must not only reinforce IT security practices but also address other aspects, such as protecting devices and documents against theft or eavesdropping.
The Conclusion Of The Article Is:
The pandemic revolutionized both our lives and working environments. Employers historically assumed employees needed to physically be present at their desks in order to be productive; remote work became essential as the world faced shutdown.
Some companies were equipped with appropriate technology, security and processes in order to deal with this change; others had to rush to implement support systems for remote workers.
Many workers find the experience of remote working arrangements to be satisfying. They are reluctant to go back into an office environment after working remotely for some time.
According to research conducted by McKinsey, 63% of employees preferred remote or flexible working arrangements, and over 30% would quit if forced back into an office environment. Employers are forced to adapt their working practices due to this preference for remote or hybrid work from employees.
