The need for effective cyber security has been exacerbated by the pandemic, as businesses and organisations were forced to bring their operations online wherever possible. A recent global survey by insurance group MMB found that cyber security was one of the top concerns of UK respondents, and the area of most concern globally.
Security News Desk reports that the pandemic has exposed gaps in the ability of firms to respond to the risks associated with their workforces, with even senior managers lacking the necessary access to skilled resources and leadership engagement.
Another survey recently reported by the BBC found that 56% of senior IT technicians believe that their employees have picked up bad cyber security habits while working from home. Furthermore, nearly two in five employees admitted that they were less rigorous in their cyber security practices at home.
This lowering of standards was mainly because people felt they were freer and less scrutinised by IT departments when working on their own devices. However, this can leave businesses extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which have become more frequent over the past year, as hackers exploited the climate of change and uncertainty.
One of the most common mistakes businesses are making is to move company data to personal email accounts. This removes all forms of two-factor authentication, which makes it much easier for a hacker with malicious intent to access the company’s confidential and sensitive data.
Once confidentiality has been breached, the consequences can be disastrous for a business. From the issuing of fake invoices to the destruction of reputation and loss of customer trust, it can be very difficult to recover from a cyber-attack.
Any devices which are being used for remote working, whether they are the personal property of the employee or not, must be carefully screened for malware. As hybrid and remote working becomes the new normal, it is crucial for employees to be trained how to navigate cyber security in an effective manner.
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