Security concerns can affect any company, whether a non-profit, a small business, or a large enterprise. You have to ensure that your organization is protected and can defend against evolving threats.
To help you get started, you can read this guide that outlines the current security issues companies face. Whether you’re working on-site or from home, these issues need to be addressed or they can affect you and your business.
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Remote Work Risks
The pandemic caused many global companies to pivot from office-based work to remote options, allowing non-essential employees to work from home. This transition from one location to another triggered a major security concern. Work-from-home employees are unprepared for cybersecurity attacks, making them prime targets for cybercriminals.
Many work-from-home employees lack the ample security measures and firewalls offered at corporate locations. Their home Internet connections simply don’t have the protection office Internet does.
Another reason why these workers are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks is because many of them use their own personal computers for professional tasks.
Unfortunately, the average personal computer doesn’t have the appropriate security features that office computers usually have. If the company doesn’t supply their workers with computers from the office to use at home, the possibility of downloading malicious software on their own devices is high. This is what opens them up to the possibility of data breaches and hacks.
If your employees work remotely, protect your business by ensuring the computers they use have all the security features you need. Use trusted security software and add firewalls to their computers to stop any possible intrusion by unwanted entities. Invest in cybersecurity solutions that can also notify your information technology (IT) team of any changes in your network.
If at all possible, don’t allow your workers to use their own computers for work. Instead, provide them with units that have all the protection your company needs.
Employee Negligence
Preventing employee negligence does not necessarily mean you do not trust your employees, nor does it mean you believe your employees will purposefully expose confidential information. Accidents can happen, yet they could be just as dangerous as any malicious attack regarding your security. Business leaders must address this issue of carelessness as a result.
The risk of human error often traces back to simple bad habits. Your employees may leave notes with sensitive data unattended on their desks. Some might even write down passwords on post-it notes beside their computer. Bad habits can also include someone leaving a work PC unlocked when they go on break, as this leaves their computer (and all the confidential data it contains) available to anyone walking by.
Carelessness can severely harm your organization, so you must take preventive measures that can help you reduce this risk. If your office has areas where confidential data is kept, make sure you carefully manage and monitor those who have access to it. Ensure that they know the risks involved with not following security protocols when accessing such data.
Hold training sessions that can help teach your employees the importance of good security habits.
You can also try proximity cards to increase security. Proximity cards allow only employees with the appropriate security clearance to enter areas with sensitive company data. Using such a system will help you keep track of who entered the area and when. This way, if a security issue arises, you can easily backtrack and find out who was the last one in the area.
Even offices aren’t totally safe from breaches. If an unauthorized individual gains access to specific areas in your building, your firm may suffer significant consequences.
When almost anyone can easily access areas with sensitive data in your building, stealing or destroying information is a piece of cake. The risk of unauthorized entry can lead to significant problems, like identity theft and the selling of data, which can compromise your company’s credibility.
You can use Avon Security Products to address these risks and protect your business as well as keep sensitive data secure within the company.
Cybersecurity Concerns
As cybersecurity attacks evolve, businesses struggle to keep up with such attacks. Efforts to detect and protect become more and more challenging. These days, such attacks are becoming more targeted and more sophisticated. Some malicious actors even go to great lengths to collect and use voice snippets in phone phishing scams.
All of these points simply underscore how crucial it is to practice good IT habits at work, whether at home or in the office. Educate your employees with user awareness training so they can help keep your data safe and secure.
