In 2020, businesses had to make drastic changes to their working models due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At first, the remote working model emerged as a temporary solution. But, as more time passed, businesses embraced working remotely. Today, many people agree that remote working is here to stay. Every day, more businesses adopt solely remote or hybrid working models.
But, the remote workforce has become an attractive target for malicious actors because they see remote employees as the easiest way to leak corporate networks, and steal important credentials, data, etc. According to Fortune, in 2020, cybercriminals targeted remote workers and sent %61 malware through cloud applications.
Remote or hybrid working models bring higher risks of cyber threats and potential breaches. For this reason, businesses should take enhanced cybersecurity measures to keep the remote workforce and corporate network safe.
Securing Remotely Working Employees
When it comes to securing remotely working employees, there are several security approaches and solutions that ensure a safe network, secure access, and enhanced protection against potential and existing cyber threats. So, End-Point Protection, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Remote Access VPN, and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) are amongst hybrid work security best practices.
Even if employees connect to the corporate network via the public internet or use personal devices, these practices will provide secure access and enhanced protection against possible breaches. Let’s see how these practices help businesses to maintain security when employees work remotely.
Providing End-Point Protection
In today’s decentralized work environment, it is crucial to provide end-point protection to employees, and their devices as well. Remote workers don’t use corporate devices all the time, when needed they use their mobile phones or personal laptops too. So, policies like Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) permit employees to use their personal devices to access the corporate network, and applications to do their jobs productively.
Implementing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Implementing Zero Trust Network Access to your cybersecurity will enable enhanced protection to remote employees and corporate networks. Zero Trust is a modern approach to cybersecurity that is grounded on the idea “never trust, verify all.” Regardless of users’ location, or device, it always demands identity verification before granting access to the corporate network, and applications.
In today’s complex work environment Zero Trust Network Access is one of the best ways to maintain security for the remote workforce. It limits employees’ access to cloud-based resources and makes sure that only authorized users are in the corporate network. Additionally, it segments the network and doesn’t allow lateral movement. So, it reduces the surface areas of potential breaches. Even if cybercriminals leak the corporate network, they can’t roam, and more importantly, their suspicious behavior will be detected immediately.
Using Remote Access VPN
Remote Access Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an essential component for securing a remote workforce. It enables a safe connection between employees and the corporate network regardless of location. Lastly, it encrypts all the activities and traffic from the public internet and secures your corporate network.
Integrating Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a holistic security and networking service which consists of several components including Zero Trust. SASE is designed to intensify security in the cloud, and function as a cloud-native service. It aims to secure end-points in the cloud while providing safe and direct access to remote employees.
SASE combines networking and security features together. Its multi-layered security components enable secure access, lighter network traffic, and enhanced protection against cyber threats. It frequently scatters network traffic across the cloud and makes it easier to detect unwanted malware and threats. Additionally, it monitors data flow between users and applications and provides visibility across the enterprise
By all means, Secure Access Service Edge is one of the best practices to maintain security for employees who work remotely.
Final Words
As more businesses adopt remote or hybrid working models, their employees are attractive and vulnerable targets for cybercriminals. Maintaining security for remote employees is critical more than ever. Security practices must be up to date with constantly increasing threats.
Implementing and integrating End-Point Protection, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Remote Access VPN, and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) practices will keep remotely working employees safe.
