If employers fail to educate their employees, they are at risk of having their data compromised as cybercriminals are now putting their focus on employees working remotely while using their own internet connection.
This according to cybersecurity expert and J2 CEO, John Mc Loughlin. Mc Loughlin says according to a recent study by Microsoft, more than 25% of employees working remotely have experienced a cyberattack.
“Some businesses can afford to put strict security measures in place, but some of the employees working remotely do not know what to look out for. Many of the employees working remotely have not noticed that the security controls they make use of are not the same as the ones they make use of at the office. Some employees might be forced to work remotely for longer than expected so it is best for everyone to acquire knowledge about what it is that they need to do to remain secure.”
Mc Loughlin says throughout the years cybercriminals have become dangerously sophisticated and because of this, businesses must develop security controls that will protect them from any future cyberattacks. Installing the best firewalls at the office does not protect the employees working remotely. Cybercriminals do not focus on attacking the mobile phone or laptop; they focus on attacking reliable internet access, secure access and processes to attend virtual meetings and access data.
He says to ensure that the business is protected from cyberattacks, training must be interesting, consistent and give real life examples on what to look out for. Everyone within the business must get the training and it is the executives’ responsibility to ensure that everyone follows security protocols. Each business has to have open communication and practical security controls, with increased visibility. With increased visibility, mistakes can be prevented and companies can respond to threats immediately.
“Total visibility will give a view on anyone who may install unverified apps on their work devices, send sensitive or confidential work documents to personal email addresses or share passwords. Employees working remotely must ensure that the work devices are only used by them and for work-related matters. Employers should make sure that they have visibility of what is really taking place with their data and on their systems to reduce their risk exposure,” concluded Mc Loughlin.
Corn Koteli
