Workers around the world learned from the pandemic that business as usual can be continued, even with remote workers, and many of us wish to continue telecommuting. According to a Boston Consulting Group survey, 89% of workers expect to continue working from home after the crisis. Some employees will need to return to their businesses, while others will work remotely. IT teams face unique security challenges in a hybrid work environment.

According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach report, remote workers increased the average cost of a data breach by almost $137K. Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated and using ransomware and cyberattacks in order to block computers from operating is alarming. Ransom demands can exceed $1 million. Businesses that have been hit by ransomware and cyberattacks have spent $144.2 million to fix the problem.
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IT departments face the challenge of protecting their business and employees from cyberattacks while preserving productivity, collaboration and access to digital assets. According to Security magazine, cybercriminals will target remote workers throughout 2021. It is crucial to find a secure, workable solution that will not only save money but also help you save time and money. Malwarebytes reports that nearly 25% of companies have had to pay unexpected costs to address cybersecurity breaches or malware infections because they did not create a secure remote solution.

A Security Plan for the Future of Hybrid Work
It is difficult to secure employees working remotely from cyberattacks. This requires careful balance between allowing access and hindering productivity.

1. BYOD or not?
Many companies have adopted a flexible Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), policy to allow employees more flexibility and make it easier for them to work remotely. While BYOD can seem like a cost-effective way for employees to stay connected to work email, it comes with its own risks.

You must recognize that not all employees use and update security applications. Many may not even be using secure passwords. You should also consider the possibility of device theft, loss, or malware hacks. You should have a BYOD policy.
Establish security requirements. This includes requiring employees to install a device safety application to access company data. Security Awareness Training for Employees in a Home Wi-Fi Environment. Your most important data security risk is your remote workforce.
Employees should be trained on how to change their default admin password on their routers. Remind them to change the password regularly.Encourage employees to segment their router to create a dedicated virtual local area network to isolate company-related Wi-Fi activity.Consistently educate employees about recognizing phishing emails and being cautious about opening email attachments or clicking on links.Encourage employees to store data in cloud accounts and not on their own devices.3. Digital Asset Inventory and VPN Access
Data belonging to your company must not be compromised. This will limit employee productivity, workflow, and ability to collaborate.
Passwords are what you use to protect your data. Passwords
Black Hat hackers won’t cause all data breaches. Employees may inadvertently make you vulnerable to cyberattacks through negligence. Security Magazine reports that employees are 85% more likely to leak files today than they were before COVID.
Multifactor authentication (MFA) requires two or more identity credentials to gain access. Multifactor authentication (MFA) requires two or more identity credentials to gain access. This is according to Microsoft.
Although it won’t eliminate risk, a remote workforce risk management program can help your IT team detect, prevent, detect, and make you aware of cyberattacks. It can also help you to create an effective, fast response. You can also monitor your security continuously to better protect your remote team members and your data. Learn more about cybersecurity training.