The Risks of Hybrid Business: Cybersecurity Protection in the New Era
What is hybrid working? What risks does it cause? How can data protection be ensured under hybrid work?
There is no doubt that the global pandemic has caused significant disruptions to people's lives and businesses, and while business leaders have understandably learned to prioritize crisis management, operational resilience, environmental initiatives, and employee well-being, it is also imperative to address the security of hybrid and remote systems and networks in the post- The epidemic.
Many companies are choosing to maintain fully remote or hybrid work arrangements even in the post-pandemic years, and it is essential to remain vigilant about the implications this has on physical, employee, and system security.
In this article, we will learn more about hybrid work, its security risks, and how to deal with them.
Benefits and challenges of a hybrid work culture
The shift to remote or hybrid work inherently entails greater reliance on technology, which in turn exposes organizations to increased security vulnerabilities. This increased reliance on technology creates fertile ground for various security threats, including cyberattacks, data breaches, fraud, and bribery. Corruption and others, the sharp rise in cybercrime since the outbreak of the pandemic is evidence of the urgent need to take strong cybersecurity measures in hybrid work environments.
With employees feeling comfortable in a variety of workplaces, ensuring their safety and implementing proper security protocols will be crucial to business continuity. However, there are a large number of advantages of hybrid working which we will now mention.
Advantages of hybrid working
A recent Gallup poll revealed the top benefits reported by employees working in a hybrid environment:
Improve work-life balance
More efficient use of time
Less fatigue at work
Increase productivity
Low overhead expenses
The Doc Suite system helps achieve the benefits of hybrid work by providing means of remote collaboration and easy document sharing capabilities, which enhances communication and coordination among team members. It can also be used to effectively schedule work and provide tools to improve time management, which contributes to improving work-life balance and increasing... Productivity.
Risks and challenges of hybrid work
There are also a number of risks surrounding hybrid work, which are:
The IT environment is inconsistent
One of the biggest issues in a hybrid business security environment is maintaining a secure, cohesive IT environment across multiple sites, devices, and network integrations.
Cloud-based applications, commonly used in remote work settings, introduce new security risks to hybrid work and data management complexities. Employees must receive proper cybersecurity awareness and training to stay up-to-date on the latest technology trends and counter the tactics used by cybercriminals.
Huge attack surface
The expanded attack surface resulting from remote access to company resources increases potential entry points for cybercriminals, including unsecured home networks, personal devices, and public Wi-Fi hotspots. Stringent data protection measures and strong authentication protocols are essential to mitigate the risk of attacks. Targeted data breaches.
Respond to complex incidents
Managing incident response becomes more difficult in a hybrid environment due to several factors, namely:
The dispersed nature of employees and the use of different networks and devices makes it difficult to quickly identify and respond to security incidents.
The lack of a central physical presence makes it difficult to coordinate and communicate effectively during crises.
Compliance violations
While IT and security teams typically implement policies to restrict access to high-risk websites through firewalls, these policies may not cover remote workers, and as a result, the devices and data of employees working from home may be exposed to potential threats from cybercriminals. The decentralized nature of remote or hybrid work makes it difficult to implement consistent security measures and controls, underscoring the need for comprehensive security solutions that address the unique risks associated with hybrid work environments.
DocSuite helps overcome the risks and challenges of hybrid work by:
Improved Collaboration: DocSuite enables hybrid teams to collaborate effectively, as users can share documents and data via the cloud.
Cross-device access: Users can access and work on their files from any Internet-connected device, enhancing flexibility and reducing geo-presence challenges.
Data Security: DocSuite provides high levels of security, with the ability to specify access permissions for users, and encrypt data to protect against security threats.
Version Management: DocSuite enables efficient tracking of changes and management of file versions, reducing the risk of data loss or confusion.
Facilitating virtual meetings: DocSuite tools can be used to organize virtual meetings and interact effectively with teams in various locations.
Enhance Work Productivity: DocSuite provides tools for efficient file editing and sharing, which increases work productivity and contributes to achieving personal and team goals.
Overall, DocSuite improves communication, organization and security, making hybrid work more efficient and effective.
How do you manage security in a hybrid environment?
To effectively manage cybersecurity in a hybrid environment, organizations must implement security protocols and measures that protect data and technology assets. This includes access controls, firewalls, data backup and recovery systems, encryption, regular security assessments, and training. It is the responsibility of designated individuals within the organization to manage cybersecurity. Tasks such as identifying team members, maintaining folder structures, and ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information.
DocSuite can manage security in a hybrid work environment by providing a range of security options and features. This allows you to protect your documents and control access for users. These features can include:
Determine access permissions
Assign permissions based on user roles, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Document encryption
Use encryption techniques to protect documents during hybrid work and ensure confidentiality of information.
Two-factor authentication
Activate two-factor authentication to provide an additional layer of security by verifying the user's identity.
Track activities
Record and monitor activities to track document usage and detect any unauthorized activities.
Define security policies
Establish strict security policies that define how documents are handled and accessed.
User identity management
Linking the Doc Suite system to the identity management system to facilitate identification and control of user accounts.
Security updates
Ensure that the Doc Suite system is updated regularly to avoid vulnerabilities and enhance security.
Safety training
Providing training to those working in a hybrid work system on security practices and how to avoid security risks.
By implementing these measures, your hybrid work environment can be safe and effective using the Doc Suite system.
Important statistics about hybrid work
Supporting, empowering, and securing remote and hybrid workers is now a business necessity. As of February 2022, 42% of workers were in a hybrid work schedule, and 39% of them worked entirely from home, according to a Gallup survey of 140,000 American workers. Given... Future, Gallup numbers confirm that:
53% of workers expect to continue hybrid work and 24% expect to work fully remotely.
Nine out of 10 prefer some degree of remote work flexibility.
54% of employees who work from home said they would look for another job if their employer stopped offering remote work options.
38% of hybrid workers also said they would look for another job if remote work wasn't an option.
In a work environment that some have described as “The Great Resignation,” enabling remote and hybrid work is now at stake, and that means adopting best practices in securing remote workers so they don’t inadvertently cause harm to your organization or themselves, now or in the future. . It also means adopting a cyber-aware corporate culture as adversaries increasingly target the larger attack surface and additional vulnerabilities of the hybrid world of work.
Steps to address cybersecurity challenges for hybrid work
How do you address the technological and cultural challenges of cybersecurity in this highly charged environment? Here are five key steps IT, cybersecurity, and business leaders can take to make your organizations and workers more secure and productive:
Look for an integrated, comprehensive platform model
One of the biggest problems cybersecurity teams have struggled with in the past few years is the proliferation of point solutions. Some companies have dozens or even hundreds of point products. An integrated platform, with solutions designed to work together, eases the burden on overworked cybersecurity teams. Indeed, this model is not only more effective in supporting a remote or hybrid workforce, but it is also more cost-effective.
Leverage cloud-based security for a single management view
Due to their reliance on multi-point products, most organizations manage their security products using separate consoles, and this model is not only ineffective in today's environment, but also risky; It limits your ability to have a single view across all environments, including multiple clouds. With cloud systems, you can protect every layer of the cloud. Regardless of the cloud provider, you can identify, respond to, and mitigate threats before they can harm your organization. .
Additionally, the cloud is a more efficient security delivery model compared to on-premises infrastructure. With an integrated, end-to-end cloud system, you can deploy innovation faster while simplifying and accelerating the processes involved in issuing alerts, updating protections, identifying threats, managing policies, and ensuring secure remote access.
Don't neglect basic security precautions
Require hybrid employees to use complex, unique passwords, with antivirus software, strong firewall, and firmware protection in place
Create a data breach policy
This helps hybrid employees know how to respond to the loss or theft of company data. They need to know what constitutes a data breach, how to recognize it, and what action to take. The definition of a “data breach” varies between countries and regions, so if Your company does business internationally, make sure your hybrid employees know what constitutes a violation in their local market so they can take the right steps to address the issue.
Make sure your privacy policy is up to date, and provide guidance on new ways to access or process personal information such as holding meetings on new video conferencing platforms such as Zoom.
Establish best practices for using mobile devices
Separate containers are recommended to partition data, personal applications, and company data. Hybrid employees can use them to access all essential office functions such as email, calendar, contacts, or company resources. IT, in turn, has the advantage of being able to delete container data remotely if the device is lost or lost. I stole it.
Update all software regularly
Outdated software is an area of vulnerability that hackers can exploit, and system updates and upgrades are made to improve the usability or design of the software and to add new security features.
Use secure document archiving
Secure access to and storage of business documents such as invoices, contracts, or employee files should be possible from anywhere, and DocSuite supports this, as it includes user authentication, HTTPS data transfer, 256-bit encryption, multi-level access control and traceability, and data protection. Robust against malware and other forms of attack, among other features.
Educate employees
It doesn't matter how strict your internal security model is if cybercriminals can take advantage of your hybrid employees' ignorance or negligence – whether it's using insecure passwords, carelessly opening dangerous email attachments, or visiting unsafe websites, rely only on Technical security measures Forgetting the human factor in the equation, means you may miss some huge security vulnerabilities.
Developing knowledgeable employees is an integral part of efforts to improve cybersecurity, and e-learning and virtual training courses can make learning a flexible, location-independent part of daily work.
One of the critical factors driving the need for active safety in cybersecurity is the recognition that human error often serves as a significant vulnerability. By addressing this vulnerability and focusing on eliminating human error, organizations can significantly strengthen their security posture. This includes educating employees. Empowering them to become better participants in the digital landscape.
In a hybrid work culture, active safety mechanisms enable organizations to proactively identify and prevent potential threats, and adapt security measures to the ever-changing business landscape.
DocSuite is used to manage and organize cloud computing and data, and plays an important role in addressing the cybersecurity challenges of hybrid work, as it can provide many benefits:
Access Management: DocSuite provides mechanisms to manage access to applications and services, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Service Isolation: Container technologies in DocSuite can be used to isolate applications and services from each other, increasing system security.
Manage security policies: Security policies can be configured in Doc Suite to meet specific security requirements for hybrid work, such as data encryption and attack protection scanning.
Security monitoring and analysis: Doc Suite provides tools to monitor and analyze unwanted cyber activities, which contributes to detecting attacks and responding effectively to them.
Security Updates: DocSuite allows for fast and efficient updates of applications and services, ensuring that the organization benefits from the latest security patches.
In short, Doc Suite plays a pivotal role in improving the security of environments by providing tools and technologies to manage and secure infrastructure and applications.
DocSuite is a comprehensive risk management and compliance platform that can provide valuable support to companies navigating the risks associated with hybrid and remote work cultures. With its cutting-edge features and functionality, DocSuite offers a range of solutions specifically designed to address the unique challenges posed by these work environments.