Still Working Remotely? Here’s What You Need to Know
Remote working is the new norm; therefore, it’s crucial to understand how to work remotely without compromising security. Although the UK has recently lifted all COVID restrictions, significant security risks remain for those of us who continue to work remotely.
At the outset of the pandemic, many organisations and employees were unprepared for the sudden shift to working from home. It was an unprecedented situation, and we faced numerous challenges, including accessibility of services, Wi-Fi reliability, collaboration tools, and hardware issues.
Since then, organisations and employees have adapted, resolving most of these challenges and resulting in a more efficient workforce. Secure remote working can also offer cost savings, promote a healthier work-life balance, and enable the recruitment of skilled employees regardless of their location.
Hybrid Working
Recently, we have seen a return to the office, with the option to continue working remotely. This flexibility has been well received, as it fosters trust among employees. However, it also requires organisations to provide a secure and seamless transition for those participating in hybrid working.
Hybrid working has gained popularity in many workplaces due to the freedom and flexibility it offers. Employees can choose to work from wherever they prefer, including the office. This adaptability can be beneficial, allowing individuals to manage their workloads more effectively. In a post-Covid world, employees are increasingly seeking roles that support hybrid working, leading more organisations to adopt this model to enhance retention and meet employee needs. A 2021 study by HRD found that 41% of workers would prefer to work entirely from home, with less than 10% wanting to return to the office full-time. This shift in mindset highlights how employee expectations have evolved.
The Downsides of Hybrid Working
Despite its popularity, hybrid and remote working have their drawbacks. The methods for assessing employee performance have changed, making it difficult for managers to identify who may be struggling or excelling outside of an office environment. This challenge may explain why 29% of employees feel there has been a lack of career progression opportunities while working from home over the past two years. Another issue is the work-life balance. Working from home is not suitable for everyone, as it can be difficult to establish boundaries between personal and professional life. Mental health can also be adversely affected, as the lack of social interaction that comes with office work may be essential for some individuals.
Regardless of the positives and negatives of this widely adopted culture, it does bring additional security concerns for both employees and organisations.
Common Security Issues
One key issue is the use of unsecured networks, such as home or public Wi-Fi. If employees access sensitive data over these networks, hackers may intercept and spy on the transmitted information. It is therefore recommended that employees use a VPN when accessing untrusted networks.
Using personal devices for work also poses a security risk. Employees may not regularly update their applications, software, or operating systems, leaving security gaps in their devices. Additionally, employees might use unencrypted file-sharing platforms or retain sensitive company data on their devices after leaving the organisation.
Email scams have become more prevalent since the pandemic, largely due to the confusion surrounding the switch to remote working. Phishing scams are particularly common, as they trick individuals into divulging secure information, such as usernames or passwords, leading to the theft of sensitive company data.
How to Reduce the Risks
Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) is strongly recommended. For example, employees might be required to log in and then confirm their actions on a separate device.
Encryption should be used for nearly all forms of data transmission. If your data is intercepted, it is rendered useless without the decryption key.
Enforcing mandatory updates is also crucial. Updates are often postponed, leaving employees and organisations vulnerable. Enabling mandatory updates ensures they occur regardless of user input, and scheduling these updates can help minimise disruptions.
Restricting user access to certain areas is necessary. Preventing users from downloading specific programmes without permission reduces the risk of malicious software being installed.
Adopting cloud-based computing, where users log in to a virtual desktop from their computer, allows for tighter security control.
Maintaining multiple backups of your data across different storage units is essential. This practice ensures that old data can be retrieved, even if it is lost, destroyed, or compromised, potentially saving your organisation.
It is clear that remote working will remain a long-term practice, even as we move beyond the pandemic. As employees increasingly seek roles that support remote working, organisations must embrace this change, ensuring it is done safely and securely for both themselves and their employees.