By Elea Andrea Almazora of RingCentral US
During
the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to shift toward
remote working and telecommuting. To follow safety protocols and social
distancing measures, businesses have rapidly adapted to the reality presented
by these unprecedented times.
Due
to the implementation of various telecommunication technologies, most
businesses have been able to embrace this digital transformation. Devices and apps such as
VoIP phones, collaboration software, project management programs, and order management
software have helped companies avoid an absolute work stoppage - and the
disastrous consequences that would have come with it.
It's
important to note that the situation facing many companies right now does have
some positives. In fact, there are many advantages to remote
working. Lots of digital businesses have reported an increase in employee
satisfaction and productivity, as well as a reduction in office maintenance
costs.
However,
we won't deny that this compulsory shift toward remote working has brought
challenges. The foremost of these concerns cybersecurity. According to Statista, the worldwide cybersecurity
market was valued at 137.63 billion US dollars in 2017.
Although
that number seems large, it pales in comparison to the projected numbers for
2021 (202.97 billion) and 2023 (248.26 billion).
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Even
though cybersecurity has long been a priority for digital companies and
eCommerce platforms, some businesses have been forced to confront these
problems for the first time.
If
this is the case for you, don't despair. Here is a list of nine essential
cybersecurity practices to protect your business during remote working.
1. Hire a cybersecurity expert
Let's
start this discussion with the most obvious solution. Remote workers are more
exposed to cyberattacks than ever before. Your staff now have to do most of
their work online and your team is not ready for the risks that come with that
change.
Though
some digital companies are not suited to tackle cybersecurity challenges on
their own, try not to worry: there's nothing wrong with acknowledging a lack of
expertise in a specific skill set, especially something as nuanced and
detail-oriented as cybersecurity.
A
quick look online can overwhelm business owners, but t's important to remember
that finding the best cybersecurity firms in the market takes time and
patience. If you don't feel confident taking care of your cybersecurity, then
there's no shame in resorting to a professional - it's what we'd recommend.
Many
companies underestimate how difficult it is to protect a business in the
digital era. Other times, business owners think they'll save a few dollars by
ignoring the sensitive nature of cybersecurity altogether.
If
you want to avoid these mistakes, follow our simple rule: spare no expense when
it comes to cybersecurity, or your mistake could cost you millions.
2. Minimize your IoT risks
At
this point, we're all aware of how mainstream IoT devices have become. This new
form of connectivity has taken over most companies. Remote workers, like sales
experts that use VoIP phones, for example, tend to fully embrace this.
A
particularly exposed group is companies that follow BYOD (bring your own
device) culture. Since your remote workers' devices are IoT connected to your
network, this comes with certain inherent risks.
You
can mitigate IoT issues by taking simple steps like network segmentation.
Network segmentation is one of the biggest cybersecurity trends of
2021.
Segmenting your network allows companies to isolate specific parts of their
data.
In
case of an unlucky leak or cyberattack, you are thus able to avoid having your
entire network taken down. If your business employs IoT devices, you should
consider looking into network segmentation.
3. Password protect documents
This
tip is particularly important for B2B companies and digital businesses that
operate in industries like telebanking or telehealth, where vulnerable
cybersecurity measures can have disastrous consequences in the event of
sensitive information being leaked.
If
this is relevant to you, enforcing a secure document sharing policy should be at the top
of your list of priorities. As a digital business, you should try to protect
sensitive information when sharing documents with people outside your
organization.
To
do so, you can password protect documents so that only those who are allowed to
can access them.
4. Implement end-to-end
encryption
Data
encryption is especially important for companies that have started to use team chat software during the pandemic. These
apps have helped teams and businesses to carry on working in an organized
manner during this shift toward remote employment.
However,
not all communication apps are created equal, especially regarding
cybersecurity measures. Some of the more popular options don't enforce
end-to-end encryption. Slack's messages, for example, are not protected in this
way.
End-to-end
encryption is especially important for those operating in heavily regulated
industries like financial services, healthcare, and government, who need to
choose how they want to encrypt messages, files, and other information shared
on their various platforms.
End-to-end
encryption is an encryption technique that focuses on coding messages so that
only the device/s to which they're sent can decrypt them. This is important to
properly protect sensitive and/or confidential information.
Luckily,
the market is full of options, and companies shouldn't struggle to find
software or applications that suit them. For example, if you're looking for a
superior option in terms of encryption, search online and take advantage of
articles like Alternatives to Slack: 7 Affordable Tools for Small
Businesses.
Other
companies like Flock do use end-to-end encryption, and they implement security
protocols like SOC 2 and TLS 1.2. However, Flock services tend to be pricey
when it comes to cybersecurity.
Luckily,
there are options for smaller companies with more modest budgets. If you want
to invest in cybersecurity without draining your funds, you can always go for a
more economical but similar solution to Flock.
5. Train your staff
Now
we've gone over options like investing in cybersecurity measures and hiring
experts, let's move on to another key approach. If you want to make sure your
remote workers are doing their job safely, consider outfitting them with some
basic understanding of cybersecurity.
Training employees for
mobile security is especially important for companies that have decided to
follow a BYOD (bring your own device) approach to remote working. If your
employees are using their personal smartphones or laptops for work, then a
possible cyberattack or virus infection on their devices could directly affect
your company.
To
avoid such disastrous scenarios, give them basic training regarding
cybersecurity, delivered by either in-house or contracted professionals.
6. Scan emails
During
the past year, the email inboxes of many companies have seen a massive increase
in the mail sent due to the newly adopted remote work culture. As a result,
email scanning has become one of the most popular cybersecurity tips to
protect data.
According
to a survey conducted by email security expert Tessian, 96% of phishing attacks
arrive by email. That's not the most worrying statistic either: during those
cyberattacks, 60% of organizations lose data, over half see their information
compromised, and almost a fifth experience major financial losses.
For
those that might not know, "phishing" is a form of online scam used by
criminals who impersonate legitimate companies and contact online shoppers or
other businesses via email, text message, or advertisement to steal sensitive
information.
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7. Execute ICS measures
ICS
stands for "industrial control systems". This safety protocol helps automation
industry leaders strengthen their cybersecurity, especially for AI-based
machinery and computer-controlled systems.
Now
that most workforces are forced to stay at home, many businesses have had to
employ automated production systems in their factories to carry on producing
utilities. Thanks to these protocols, companies can control their product
production, handling, and distribution.
According
to Tom Kellermann's 2021 cybersecurity
predictions, however, ICS attacks will soon be on the rise. This is especially
relevant for companies that have embraced an RPA (robotic process automation)
approach.
Automation
can help companies boost productivity and reduce the costs associated with
employing a human workforce. However, unlike people, automated systems can fall
victim to cyberattacks. So, implement proper ICS measures to avoid this
happening.
8. Follow PCI DSS religiously
This
next tip is particularly important for eCommerce companies that operate
remotely via online card payments. PCI DSS stands for Payment Card Industry
Data Security Standards. To be clear, these standards are not compulsory, which
means there's no legal obligation for businesses to be PCI DSS compliant.
However,
following this guide is recommended. The best way to do this is by implementing
knowledge automation. Knowledge automation
technologies combine machine learning with content analytics. This combination
gives digital companies the ability to identify knowledge gaps and correct them
with curated and updated content.
This
could allow businesses like yours to update their payments via the appropriate
card security protocols.
9. Update your antivirus
software
Last
but not least, let's tackle an obvious but often neglected aspect of
cybersecurity in the digital era. With most of your staff stuck at home and
using personal laptops and desktops, your remote workers are more exposed to
malware than ever.
Even
though it seems like the most obvious first step, according to a report
conducted by SentinelOne Global Ransomware, over half of
organizations blame legacy antivirus protection for failed ransomware
prevention.
Additionally,
that same report states that nearly seven out of 10 of these companies have
replaced their legacy antivirus with next-gen endpoint protection to prevent
any future ransomware infections.
Why
not follow in their footsteps?
Apply
these nine top tips today to protect your company and its new remote workforce.
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ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Elea Andrea Almazora- RingCentral US
Elea is the SEO Content Optimization manager for
RingCentral, the leader in global enterprise communication and team collaboration
solutions on the cloud. She has more than a decade's worth of experience in
on-page optimization, editorial production, and digital publishing. She spends
her free time learning new things.