Do your employees work remotely? Is your company prepared for secure remote access? Do you know what the cybersecurity best practices are for this type of work model?
This article will walk you through the eight most important topics you should consider when implementing remote access to your business-critical data.
1. Awareness is the basis
With the growing popularity of remote work models, the frequency of data breaches has increased significantly. Did you know that according to IBM Security’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2022, almost 21% of breaches were caused unintentionally through the negligent actions of employees or contractors? To avoid such scenarios, you have to perform regular safety training for your personnel. You must emphasize the most important security topics, including:
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi at places like malls, coffee shops, and airports; instead, use a personal hotspot from a dedicated device or your phone.
- Using two-factor authentication.
- Paying attention to sight lines—people behind you can see everything you are typing.
- Locking the computer while leaving your desk.
- Not leaving the company’s devices or laptops in the car.
- Not using random thumb drives.
Remember that employees with remote access to business-critical data must be trained in security and closely monitored because their negligence may pose a significant threat to the company’s assets.
2. Don't get caught
Make your employees aware of phishing threats. These types of attacks are typically mass and untargeted, but they can also be directed at a specific employee and personalized to appear as a legitimate exchange of company communication. In this case, education is also the most significant element of prevention. Teach employees how to deal with suspicious emails, including:
- not to open any attachments,
- not to click on uncertain links,
- report any doubtful situations to the administrator as soon as possible.
Implement appropriate security procedures to gain more control over the company’s communication standards and emphasize the importance of catching phishing cases before they become harmful.
3. Implement multi-factor authentication
In 2022, the most common initial attack vector, responsible for 19% of breaches, was stolen or compromised credentials. Do you think your only job is to ensure passwords are strong and secure? I have bad news. Usernames and passwords are vulnerable to brute-force attacks and can be stolen by third parties. This is why implementing multi-factor authentication will significantly enhance your company’s security. While one credential becomes compromised, there will always be a second authentication requirement that unauthorized users will not be able to break. That will prevent them from accessing the targeted data, devices, or network. Maybe it is also worth considering the use of biometric authentication methods.
4. Keep up to date
Installing updates, running antivirus scans, and blocking malicious sites must be part of your regular routine. This can keep your assets away from viruses or malware and make them less vulnerable to cyberattacks.
5. Archive, archive, archive…
A good practice is to have backup procedures for the company’s sensitive data. Backups have to be stored in a safe location that enables you to perform a restore immediately after a data breach or loss occurs.
6. Work computers for work data
Emphasize the importance of keeping company data on company equipment. Employees must be aware that their home devices don’t meet high security standards and can be a big threat to a company’s network or assets. Every piece of equipment with access to a company’s sensitive data is required to pass regular updates and antivirus scans.
7. Encrypt sensitive data
Encryption of sensitive data stored on a computer or sent in emails is essential for any business. Setting up a company’s devices to encrypt stored data prevents interception in the event of theft or loss. Also, encrypting emails ensures the confidentiality of the transmitted data. Unintended recipients will not be able to read the information.
8. Manage all company’s remote access using tailored cybersecurity tools
Have you ever heard about Malicious Insider? This type of threat occurs among the most expensive types of breaches in 2022, according to the Cost of a Data Breach Report 2022. Malicious Insider is usually a current or former employee or business associate with privileged access to a company’s sensitive data or critical infrastructure. This is the most difficult opponent to handle because he has authorized access and intentionally misuses his privileges to steal information.
But don’t worry, there is a solution to this threat. Fudo One is a professional tool that will help to protect your assets and monitor remote employees. And it’s free.
Fudo One will help you audit users’ activities and prevent unintentional and unnecessary data access. You can closely monitor all privileged employees with a free and easy-to-implement tool. As a result, users have access to specific applications and accounts only when needed and for a specific reason. All authorized users’ activity is constantly monitored and recorded. Fudo One also allows you to perform a variety of actions on both recorded and live remote access sessions. Key features include the ability to watch a session live, share it with others, and terminate it with the possibility of blocking the user when dangerous behavior is detected. If you want to learn more, check out the Fudo One website.
