Pandemic & Post Pandemic Cyber Security Remote Workforce

The current pandemic gives cloud computing a push forward; our clients are taking advantage of CyberSecOp Alliance resilient cloud-based digital infrastructure for businesses of every size to protect their data. We have noticed 58% growth in our Cloud services, securing and protecting data while working remotely is one of the top concerns for most of our clients.

During the crisis, cyberattacks have increased worldwide, including against critical healthcare institutions, which have been the target of ransomware attacks. Private-sector data reveals a 350% surge in phishing websites since the start of the pandemic.

Our security professionals prepare for a new level of untrusted network activity and cyber attacks as remote working is expected to continue. What are the questions you should be asking, and what controls need to be in place?

Pandemic & Post Pandemic Cyber Security

While we are still very much on this transformation journey, we are working on the mindset of our clients to be prepared for quicker response to a crisis like COVID-19, by doing this we will increase business continuity and build-in security for all remote working processes. Removing legacy systems, introducing more automation, better identity and access management for remote systems, secure build for remote devices, extended security services such as Managed Detection and Response (MDR), IPS/IDS, Advanced Endpoint Protection, Application Firewall, DNS Filtering, Automated Virus Containment, and Filer Reputation Detection this will provide an additional layers of security for remote workforce, please see below for other recommendations.

Telecommuting is the only way of working for many

1. Adoption of virtual desktop will finally see an upswing:

With tele-working likely to become the norm, virtual desktops could become the security baseline for IT teams to enforce data management standards. Virtual desktops emulate a computer system so that IT can control access as such adding input/output devices as well as software and applications. This could become an important control point when remote workers are operating outside the safety of a corporate network.

To meet the stringent criteria of regulatory and corporate compliance regarding data security, many companies will see the adoption of virtual desktops as the go-to solution.

2. We will notice surge in adoption of decentralized cyber security:

Traditional cyber security controls dictate a centralized approach where data is consolidated from different sources to perform analysis and investigation. With swift digitization, security controls will shift to data sources, similar to the trend witnessed in IoT. We could start seeing a new wave of anti-virus, data loss protection, digital rights management and endpoint-based firewalls and other security controls gaining traction.

With millions of employees working from home, hackers’ focus has shifted from enterprise to remote working individuals. To handle the menace that exists in cyberspace, decentralized cyber security will rise where greater emphasis will be placed on data sources such as actual remote employees themselves.

3. Rise in bio metric way of authentication:

User access controls have largely revolved around one or two-factor authentication. These methods rely on “something you know (username)” and “something you have (password)” and given hackers’ interest in employees as the weak link to start a technical exploit, we will see cyber attacks directed towards individuals.

This means identity protection will be of priority and the best defense should focus on building authentication systems which focus on “who you are.” This would require advanced bio metric solutions such as fingerprint/thumbprint/hand print, retina, iris, voice, and facial recognition technologies.

With bio metrics, hackers’ attempt at impersonating you just got a lot harder than trying to break into passwords. 

New processes will govern our way of work

1. Global privacy regulation and policies will require a re-look:

The current state of privacy regulations is designed around the enterprise network and building the proverbial wall to keep sensitive data out of prying eyes. With remote working concepts taking center stage, re-evaluation of these policies is needed to address the new cyber threats.

From a risk management perspective, global privacy policies will need to encapsulate standard operating procedures regarding BYOD, GDPR, NYDFS, CCPA, SHIELD Act compliance and state privacy laws.

Governance around companies and employees’ social media profiles would also have to be included as these platforms are frequently trolled by hackers as they carry out reconnaissance before launching a cyber attack.

2. Cloud will become more important than ever before:

 The shift to cloud services offers employees, customers, suppliers, and everyone else across the ecosystem a seamless and frictionless access to data and applications. Remote access by various users would compound security challenges and presents many new potential attack vectors.

In the post-pandemic world, IT resources would shift towards data, particularly keeping data secure across cloud platforms.

3. Containerization technology will be extended beyond enterprise network to include endpoints:

IT architectures will extend containerization and zoning concepts to include not just systems, but also people, roles, and the level of sensitive data they possess. Containerization, thus, will be extended beyond enterprise networks to include endpoints such as remote worker machines and mobile devices.

This will facilitate cyber security teams to apply varied access controls and demarcate data storage to minimize risk of cyber intrusion and data breach.

Source: Cybersecurity Ventures