Developing a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Plan for Distant Employees in Five Meticulous Stages
With the surge in remote work due to the pandemic, businesses face enhanced cybersecurity threats. As employees use personal computers for work, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities. Therefore, a cybersecurity policy for teleworking is crucial to establish a safer digital workspace for distant teams.
The Cybersecurity Perils of Remote Work
Remote work provides flexibility and convenience to employees, with around a third (35%) of U.S. employees working full-time from home. However, it has presented employers with new cybersecurity challenges.
A survey revealed that 23% of respondents had observed a rise in cybersecurity incidents since transitioning to remote work. This increase is largely attributed to employees using personal devices, connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and falling prey to phishing attempts.
In an office, situations are under tighter control, allowing managers or IT teams to trace the origin of a cybersecurity incident. Remote work settings, however, can vary significantly, as employees might engage in activities such as:
- Using outdated software
- Sharing sensitive information over unsecured platforms
- Neglecting password updates
These loopholes represent the most common cybersecurity weaknesses that unscrupulous individuals can exploit. Acknowledging these risks is the initial step towards establishing an effective cybersecurity policy. By identifying vulnerabilities in teleworking, company owners can implement safeguards to protect their teams and data.
Creating a Cybersecurity Policy for Remote Workers
1. Evaluate Your Current Cybersecurity Position
Before crafting a cybersecurity policy for your remote workforce, it is essential to understand your current security landscape. Adopt the following procedures for a detailed assessment:
- Begin with a security audit: Analyze your security arrangements to identify weak spots in your present setup. Review your employees' software and tools, analyze how they access corporate data, and unearth past security incidents that could recur.
- Evaluate your tools and processes: Assess whether your current tools are suitable for a remote environment. Are team members utilizing secure file-sharing platforms? Do you have encryption protocols for sensitive data? Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each tool helps determine where improvements or new solutions are required.
- Understand your team’s tech capacities: Remote teams often differ in technical expertise and access to secure devices. Some might depend on personal laptops or outdated equipment, which can introduce risks. Catalogue the tools they use, and consider supplying brand-approved equipment if feasible.
2. Establish Clear Guidelines for Secure Remote Functioning
Clear and practical guidelines ensure that your remote staff can work securely. However, it is equally important to strike a balance, as too restrictive or complex policies can undermine compliance.
A Harvard Business Review study found that 67% of remote workers confessed to disregarding cybersecurity policies at least once, with an average infraction rate of one in every 20 tasks. Notably, one of the top reasons for noncompliance was the need to complete tasks more efficiently. Other deterring factors included family obligations conflicting with work, and stress induced by policy demands.
The secret to drawing up guidelines is to make them simple enough to adhere to consistently while strong enough to defend sensitive data. For instance, instead of requiring complex password changes every few weeks, encourage the use of password managers. This simplifies security while alleviating stress.
When outlining policies, consider workers' daily challenges. If a policy creates unnecessary barriers to productivity, individuals are more likely to circumvent it. Offer flexible solutions, such as enabling secure mobile access for balancing work and familial commitments. Explain the importance of specific protocols and how these procedures safeguard the enterprise and the individual.
3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication and Strong Password Policies
A straightforward yet effective method to boost a remote team’s cybersecurity is to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and stringent password policies. These measures fortify a remote team’s cybersecurity by adding critical layers of protection, preventing unauthorized access even if a hacker compromises a password.
MFA requires users to validate their identity through multiple methods, such as a password and a temporary code sent to their phone or email. This renders cyber attacks more challenging, as cybercriminals need more than a password to hack the system.
However, robust passwords remain a vital component of top-notch cybersecurity practices. Incorporate the following guidelines into a password policy:
- Lengthy, difficult-to-guess passwords: Passwords should be at least 12 characters long, containing a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Avoid reuse: Prohibit people from reusing passwords across platforms to reduce the risk of widespread breaches.
- Use encrypted password management systems: Encourage the utilization of password management tools that securely generate and store login information.
In addition to creating strong passwords, employees should modify them every six months. This time frame ensures sensitive data remains secure while minimizing frustration during changes. Make sure to incorporate this practice with MFA to protect sensitive information from cybercriminals.
4. Provide Secure Access to Corporate Resources
Implementing solutions that safeguard sensitive data while enabling efficient collaboration with a teleworking team is crucial. For instance, a virtual private network (VPN) can effectively encrypt data transmitted between the team and enterprise servers.
VPNs establish a protected tunnel for internet traffic, preventing hackers from intercepting sensitive information. Furthermore, all remote workers should utilize a company-approved VPN when accessing corporate resources, especially on public or home Wi-Fi.
An alternative approach is to adopt zero trust, which operates on the premise of "never trust, always verify." Instead of granting unlimited access, a zero trust network verifies each user for every resource they access. This minimizes the risk of insider threats and restricts exposure during a breach.
Any system, no matter how secure, could potentially face a breach or cyber attack. Having an Incident Response Plan (IRP) in place is vital for minimizing the damage and quickly recovering from security incidents.
Cyber threats such as phishing attacks, ransomware, and data breaches can result in significant financial losses, averaging around $46,000 per incident. A well-defined IRP can help teams save time and money by providing a clear response strategy. The plan ensures everyone involved knows their responsibilities and steps to take in the event of an incident, reducing downtime and mitigating risks.
To create a robust IRP, consider the following key components:
- Assign roles: Clearly define roles for incident management, such as the individual responsible for investigations, liaising with stakeholders, and overseeing recovery efforts.
- Establish reporting procedures: Implement a straightforward and easily accessible reporting system for incidents. This could involve creating a dedicated email address, secure messaging platform, or phone line for employees to contact IT security teams.
- Document response procedures: Outline specific actions to take during common cyber threats, such as isolating affected devices or notifying the relevant parties and regulatory bodies.
- Develop a communication strategy: Create a plan for how managers should communicate with employees, clients, and stakeholders during and after an incident. Openness fosters trust and ensures everybody understands how to resolve issues.
Further reading:
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Bolster Cybersecurity for Remote Workers
As cyber attacks and their repercussions increase, crafting a cybersecurity policy for remote teams is indispensable. Clear guidelines enable a distributed workforce to operate securely and with confidence from any location.
Written by:
Zac Amos, Features Editor at ReHack, where he focuses on cybersecurity, AI, and HR tech. His thoughts have been showcased on VentureBeat, TalentCulture, and DZone. Follow him on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Related:
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- Given the rise in cybersecurity incidents among remote workers, implementing a company-wide policy that mandates the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strong password policies could significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
- In the context of remote work, establishing a zero-trust network policy can mitigate the risk of insider threats, ensuring that each user is verified for every resource they access, thereby restricting exposure during a potential breach.
