Things were pretty crazy in 2020.  By no means are we back to normal or out of the woods, but there are signs of progress.

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Cybersecurity Should be Your Top Priority

Regardless of where the next few months or years takes us, there is a clear indication that the landscape of many working environments could be permanently altered.  And from a cybersecurity perspective, that is a lucky break for cybercriminals who have been having a field day as a result of these changes.

As many organizations rushed to get employees prepared to work from home, their cyber-attack vulnerabilities doubled, and many security concerns fell to the wayside to get things setup so quickly, a perfect storm for cybercrime.  The reality is that security protections that are available in corporate office environments are much more than those in a work from home environment.  Also, the disconnect from co-workers makes it more difficult to communicate about potential dangers like phone scams and phishing. 

The best thing we can do to weather this storm is to keep cybersecurity a top priority whether you are working at home or in the office. 

Cybersecurity Concerns

If you are continuing to work from home, treat every suspicious email and phone call with caution.

Be aware that being out of the office could result in more phishing emails getting through.

Be cognizant of common scams such as tech support scams and Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams which phisher criminals defraud businesses out of millions of dollars by performing wire transfers that are not legitimate.

Make sure you are connecting to your corporate environment securely and only using your work computer for work functions. 

If you do find yourself going back into the office, make sure you refresh yourself on company policies and procedures.

If you think you have made a mistake or clicked on something you should not have, contact your supervisor and IT as soon as possible.

Beware of the security concerns that should be addressed when allowing personal devices for business purposes.  Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) can be convenient for organizations but keeping company data secure and confidential can be a challenge.  

Video Chat Platforms

One of the most widely used application that has become extremely popular is the online video chat platforms like Zoom.  While video conferencing technology isn't new, we see more people using these services than before the pandemic.  Hackers are taking advantage, and in many cases, they have the ability to listen in, view, or even jump into unsecured meetings.

If you are using a platform or in a situation where you are governed by any regulations, like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act) or financial such as FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), you have to make sure that the platform you are using is secure and encrypted from end to end.  Some platforms don't have the security that these regulations require.  If your business wants to use the services to stay connected, it's important to learn which are the most secure.

We Are All Vulnerable 

Your company may have the best security software and most comprehensive security policies, but your actions play a big part in helping to keep data safe. Consider this: A single employee could make a mistake by sharing sensitive company information on their smartphone or clicking on a corrupt link and that could lead to a data breach.  Regardless of if you are sitting on your couch or in a cubicle, be a cybersecurity spokesperson by spotting threats and alerting your co-workers as soon as possible. Make sure to continue using all the cybersecurity best practices you’ve learned and continue to educate yourself about the small things that contribute to cybersecurity.  Always be reminded of your company's policies and procedures and focus on a few short-term actions that will bring peace of mind and bolstered security for right now.

If you need assistance in charting a course for your organization's information security, contact navitend.