Cybersecurity Firms Warn Businesses to Expect More Attacks on Remote Workers

The number of high-profile cybersecurity attacks in recent years is growing at an alarming rate. But whilst attacks on major corporations are grabbing the headlines, every other company is under threat as well. 

According to reports, there was a 93% rise in cyberattacks in the first half of 2021. With employees forced to work remotely during the coronavirus pandemic, cybercriminals have seized the opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities. 

Moving forward, the majority of companies are considering implementing a hybrid office. This will allow staff to work from home part of the time but still have the opportunity to come into the office on chosen days. 

This flexibility appeals to employees that crave a work-life balance. Workers will also benefit financially by saving on high commute expenses and eat-out meals. 

A hybrid office, on the other hand, means companies have to ramp up cybersecurity. Remote workers operating on home wi-fi networks, unsecured public networks, and personal devices increase the risk of a data breach.

Cybercriminals Attacks on Remote Workers

Security firms warn that remote workers are the latest threat to the security of your personal data. Cybercriminals naturally target firms that store the data of the general public. 

IT management teams will need to take a different approach to network security. The onus is on IT managers to determine potential threats and find appropriate solutions. 

Cloud computing has been dubbed as a safeguard. However, moving your sensitive data to the cloud is not a standalone solution. As we saw with the recent breach of Microsoft Azure, remote servers are not impenetrable. 

The key takeaway from the latest attack on Microsoft is that IT teams cannot rely on the tech giants’ security protocols. You also need an in-house strategy that protects your digital working environment from the bottom up. 

For example, a simple misconfiguration of cloud software can provide malicious actors with a gateway into your business network. Cyber firms claim over 90% of data breaches are caused by human error. 

Companies also need to ensure their employees understand the threat that cybercriminals pose. Phishing and spear-phishing account for a high percentage of attacks on businesses. 

Cybercriminals use a variety of techniques and tactics to breach IT networks. Your employees need to be made aware of the main cybersecurity threats today’s businesses face. 

Cybersecurity Solutions

The statistics and reports around cybercrime make for glum reading. However, there are plenty of cybersecurity solutions companies can adopt to protect their IT networks. 

Solutions include anti-virus software, VPNs, patch management, two-way authentication, and SQL injection. If you’re using cloud software consider speaking with cloud specialists to ensure the configuration is right. 

Virtual desktops also decrease the risk of successful cyber attacks but still provide remote workers with a secure environment from where they can access business data. 

Regulators are coming down hard and fast on businesses that fail to meet data protection compliance. The cost of implementing effective cybersecurity solutions is far less destructive to the continuity of your business than government penalties.