As we all know, 2020 has changed how people worked due to the pandemic. Businesses had to rely on remote work to continue running while allowing their staff to work in their homes’ safety. While this has worked for many companies, it has also presented opportunities for cybercriminals to attack business networks.
Many employees use their home computers and networks, which, more often than not, is not as secure as the devices and networks offered by businesses. As such, the problems of security will continue, affecting cybersecurity trends well into 2021.
In this article, we will outline the ways remote work will affect cybersecurity trends in 2021 to help you understand what you can do to reinforce your business security.
1. Data privacy will be in danger
Data privacy has always been a significant concern when it comes to working online. However, with more cybercriminals roaming the internet due to the rise of remote work, this topic has become even more critical.
Businesses handle data every day, most of which must remain private for legal reasons. With more attacks done to their remote workers, this is an issue that needs to be addressed at all times. Fortunately, there are many ways companies can fight such an attack. For instance, reminding employees to utilise VPNs when connecting to any network can ensure that their data is encrypted and their IP is hidden. While this will not stop an attack, it helps protect the data from being deciphered and compromised.
2. Attacks from social media platforms
Social media platforms have been used by businesses to carry out some of their business activities. Unfortunately, it is also where many cybercriminals start their attacks. Rather than attacking specific individuals, they target businesses and will continue doing so. This is because many social media platforms have poor authentication and verification processes. This can lead to malicious links scattered around social media, which an employee may unknowingly click.
To fight this issue, companies must train their employees to be highly vigilant when surfing social media platforms and the internet as a whole. They need to be taught how to spot malicious links to avoid putting themselves and the business at risk.
3. Remote workers will always be targeted
Remote workers are one of the biggest targets of any cybercriminals. That is because they know not all remote workers are well-informed in the world of security, presenting plenty of opportunities for these attackers to enter their networks and steal data. They also know that remote workers will be using home devices, which, as mentioned earlier, is not as secure as business devices.
To counteract this issue, businesses have a few options. First, they can give employees company devices which are maintained by the IT department for anything work-related. This way, the IT personnel can keep these devices updated and secure, and implement measures if they are compromised.
Second, they can teach their employees how to secure their networks and work in a safe environment. This can include updating their operating systems, installing antivirus, setting up firewalls, and such.
Cybersecurity is and will always be a concern for businesses around the world. With remote work becoming increasingly more common, the opportunities for cyberattacks to happen is much higher. For that reason, staying on top of your security procedures and implementations is a must-do to ensure your company remains secure at all times.
That being said, if you do not have the resources to carry out security-enhancing activities, do not be afraid to reach out to cybersecurity agencies. They will help protect you, allowing you to focus on growing your business without running into cybersecurity issues.
FraudWatch International is an online brand protection specialised company, protecting clients worldwide from phishing, social media impersonation, malware, and more. If you need protection against phishing and more for your remote employees and business, inquire with us today!