Best Practices For Securing Remote Workers

As telework becomes more prevalent, organizations need to design and implement a cybersecurity strategy that accommodates a remote workforce. Telework security may require a number of different changes from existing cybersecurity strategies, but these best practices are essential.

1. Ensure remote access is secure

As employees work from home, they connect to the enterprise network via their home networks and the Internet. Thus, they are exposed to threats that do not exist when they are on-site.

Security solutions are typically deployed at the network perimeter, scanning traffic as it enters and leaves the network. As remote employees work with cloud-based applications and infrastructure, traffic may not naturally pass through this boundary.

To ensure remote workforce security, virtual private networks (VPNs) and secure access service edges (SASE) are a priority. With these solutions, remote workers’ devices and traffic are inspected and secured by an enterprise security stack.

2. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication

Authentication and credentials pose a persistent security threat. The implementation of password-based authentication systems is easier and more comprehensible to users, which makes them a popular choice. People are at risk of compromising their online accounts if they use weak passwords and/or the same login credentials for different accounts online.

An increasingly reliant remote workforce on online authentication portals only exacerbates this problem. Cloud infrastructure and software as a service (SaaS) solutions have become essential parts of the modern enterprise, and remote workers log in via VPNs and remote desktop protocols (RDP). All of these systems must be public facing, exposing them to credential stuffing and other password guessing attacks.

In the event that an organization cannot trust its employees to implement strong password security, they should take steps to secure their businesses. When a password is breached or guessed, multi-factor authentication (MFA) reduces the impact since an attacker would also need access to the second factor to log in successfully. In addition, data protection regulations, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), increasingly require the use of MFA.

3. Deploy Endpoint Security

Cybersecurity has always been dependent on the endpoint. By filtering out malicious content at the network perimeter, many organizations have attempted to block threats before they reach endpoints.

As teleworking becomes more common, this approach becomes less feasible, and endpoint security becomes more critical. Personal and dual-use computers are much more likely to be used by remote workers, which are less likely to conform to corporate cybersecurity standards or have enterprise cybersecurity solutions installed. Additionally, these devices (at least occasionally) connect directly to the Internet, leaving them vulnerable to malware infection without the protection of enterprise-based cybersecurity solutions. Any infected devices can then be used as a staging point by attackers to access enterprise systems via their VPN connections.

An endpoint is the first line of cyber defense for a remote workforce, so it needs to be effectively protected. In order to monitor and defend teleworkers’ devices against cyber threats, corporate endpoint security systems must be installed on their devices.

4. Provide Tools For Secure Collaboration

Face-to-face meetings and in-person collaboration are no longer possible in a remote work environment. Communication and collaboration between these employees are still necessary, however.

As a result of COVID-19, telework surged, driving increased interest in online collaboration platforms. It is becoming increasingly common for employees to communicate, share documents, and perform other tasks online.

In the absence of corporate-approved and usable solutions for online collaboration, teleworkers will find their own. Therefore, organizations should select, implement, and endorse an approved platform for secure communications and document sharing.

5. Have A Clear Telework Policy In Place

It is common for employees to be unfamiliar with the concept of working from home or to be unaware of what is or isn’t appropriate when teleworking. An organization’s cybersecurity may be threatened by some deviations from the norm, such as taking a few minutes off to help a child with homework.

When employees work from the office, they are accustomed to the organization’s cybersecurity defenses. Teleworkers may be exposed to malware even without URL filtering when working from home.

It is ignorance, not malice, that causes remote workers to make cybersecurity mistakes. Companies should put into place a clear telework policy that outlines cybersecurity best practices, acceptable behavior, and how to respond to a potential cybersecurity incident. This provides employees with the guidance that they need to stay secure while working remotely.

6. Invest In Outsourced Security

Enterprises face an expanded threat landscape as a result of telework. Cybercriminals are more likely to compromise remote workers, and remotely resolving cybersecurity incidents is more challenging than on-site responses.

An organization’s existing security teams may be overwhelmed by these new challenges. Partnering with a SOC as a Service provider can give an organization the resources and experience it needs to excel in securing remote workers.

Keeping remote workers secure

Cybersecurity needs to adapt as organizations and employees adapt to remote work. Employees who work remotely cannot benefit from traditional cybersecurity approaches that require them to be physically present at work. A telework cybersecurity program can be adapted to a teleworking environment by implementing these best practices.

Contact us at marketing@tecnics.com