The increase in remote and hybrid work during the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a new wave of cybersecurity threats. Bad actors now have more opportunities to target companies and more personal data to make their scams seem credible. To combat this changing threat landscape, companies need to focus on securing expanded perimeters, educating and empowering employees, and removing data from the hands of criminals. People are often the weakest link in cybersecurity efforts, with 84% of data breaches resulting from employee mistakes. Attackers target individuals through social engineering tactics, such as phishing attacks. While companies can mitigate risks with physical security measures, such as firewalls and threat-detection software, phishing attacks still remain a significant threat. This is because attackers have access to a vast amount of personal information available online, which they use to personalize their attacks. Remote work environments are particularly vulnerable due to less secure home networks, the use of collaboration tools with minimal security settings, and the mixing of personal and work tasks on different devices. Employees also face isolation, making it harder to seek immediate assistance or verify suspicious communications. Companies can protect themselves and their employees by implementing identity management solutions, applying software updates regularly, and providing training on threat recognition and security best practices. It’s also important to create a reporting culture where employees feel comfortable reporting threats or mistakes promptly. Additionally, enrolling employees in data privacy services can help remove personal data from people search sites, which are often sources of information for phishing attacks. In conclusion, companies must prioritize the security of their people, environment, and technology. By utilizing various security measures and empowering employees, while also removing personal data from public sources, companies can better protect themselves from cyberattacks.
Key Points:
1. The increase in remote work has led to a rise in cybersecurity threats.
2. People are often the weakest link in cybersecurity efforts, with employee mistakes contributing to the majority of data breaches.
3. Phishing attacks, often using personalized information, are a significant threat to companies.
4. Remote work environments are particularly vulnerable due to less secure networks and the mixing of personal and work tasks.
5. Companies can protect themselves by implementing identity management solutions, applying software updates regularly, providing training, and enrolling employees in data privacy services.
