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28 November 2023
At a Glance
Hybrid working can expand a business’s security risks as employees access company systems and data from different devices, networks and locations. Common challenges include a larger attack surface, limited IT resources, reduced visibility and poor data-handling practices. Strong security controls, employee training and appropriate IT support can help businesses manage these risks while retaining hybrid working flexibility.
Talk to Redpalm today to learn how our experts can address remote work security challenges.
How to Keep Your Hybrid Business Secure From Threats
As businesses struggled to survive during and after the pandemic, many couldn’t keep up and were made redundant, unable to withstand the economic challenges of the global health crisis. To sustain themselves in a volatile environment, entrepreneurs adopted new ways and strategies for their businesses.
One major shift we all witnessed was the widespread adoption of remote work. To maintain continuity and balance, many businesses have also implemented the hybrid work model, which combines office and remote work.
This working model offers flexibility and efficiency but still comes with both advantages and challenges. While it supports work-life balance and expands talent pools, it also introduces remote work security risks.
Our guide explores the 4 common security challenges to your hybrid working model.
1. Increased Attack Opportunities
The increasing adoption of the hybrid work model increases the risk of cyber threats to your organisation’s cyber security. With more employees working remotely and using personal devices and networks, this work environment has expanded the endpoints of your organisation. These expanded endpoints increase vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit.
Security departments must handle the daunting task of securing all these endpoints, networks and software applications, significantly increasing their workload. Your entire business can be exposed to breaches if it fails to adequately secure even one endpoint.
2. Insufficient IT Team
If you own a small or medium-sized business and are transitioning to a hybrid work model, keeping your security position strong is extremely important. However, as a growing business with limited resources, you may prioritise time and money to other essential areas of your business over the security of your hybrid work business.
A problem arises when you are tempted to cut costs by minimising your investment in a large IT team. As mentioned earlier, growing challenges in remote work security require additional safeguarding efforts from your IT department.
If you don’t have a dedicated and adequately sized IT team to address all the endpoints, your business may become easy prey to potential data breaches, operational disruptions and reputational damage.
To address this issue, another option is to partner with a reliable IT service provider that can offer tailored solutions suited to your business’ unique cyber security needs.
At Redpalm, we specialise in providing robust cyber security solutions for businesses of diverse scales. We help protect your business against evolving cyber threats and remote-work security risks, so you can scale efficiently.
3. Less Oversight by Security Staff
With employees working remotely, traditional oversight by security personnel diminishes. Unlike an office setup, it’s difficult for your IT team to keep a constant tab on the personal networks of remote workers. The very nature of this work model shifts system access, network traffic and data beyond the conventional perimeters of enterprise technology environments, potentially putting your organisation’s cyber security at risk.
With a hybrid work model, you can’t monitor the devices and networks your employees use. This gap in hybrid working security surveillance means that if there is a weakness, it will not be identified and therefore may lead to a security breach.
4. Poor Data Practices and Procedures
As more people work in a hybrid setup, important data is more likely to be at risk. For different reasons, employees may save important data on personal devices without proper protection. Trying to work faster, they might also share important company information using unsafe methods like email.
To lower this risk, it’s crucial to have training programs that teach employees the right ways to protect data. By making sure everyone knows how to handle data securely, businesses can better protect against accidental data leaks. It will also encourage a culture where everyone takes responsibility for managing information properly.
Contact Redpalm To Secure Your Business from the Risks of a Hybrid Work Model
These are just a few risks that a hybrid work model poses for your business. But how to keep your hybrid business secure from threats? Remote work benefits your business in multiple ways, but you also need to mitigate the remote work security challenges and risks involved. To do that, consider hiring an experienced cyber security company to fortify your digital defences.
At Redpalm, we have a team of skilled cyber security professionals experienced in safeguarding businesses in and around Northampton. We can provide a resilient security plan, along with practical cyber security tips for your hybrid business, helping you scale your business while keeping it safe.
We also offer a range of IT services to help your business stay on top of industry trends and keep up with the latest technology. Our services include hybrid IT, technology procurement, cyber security and cloud services and hosting.
By partnering with our professional IT experts, you can get everything you need to run your business efficiently.
To learn more, visit our services page or get in touch with us today!
