Managing Remote Security During the Covid-19 Era
EV-Consultech • Aug 22, 2020
Managing Remote Security During the Covid-19 Era
Covid-19 has changed the way people work, forcing many to adjust to performing their jobs from home. While some organizations are taking steps towards operating from an office again, many other companies are encouraging their employees to remain at home and work remotely for the time being.
Whether you find your business in one category or the other, it is unlikely that this remote work trend will disappear anytime soon. Why? Because people have found that it works, and that there are many benefits to be enjoyed from performing their job from the comfort of home.
However, because many employees are now working remotely, security has become much more important. While traditional business networks are protected by firewalls and other security measures, not all home networks are in the same boat. Because of this, it is crucial that certain security measures and practices be put in place, so company data and technology are properly secured from threats.
The following three topics are recommendations for companies currently operating with remote employees.
1. Phishing Awareness
Employees working from home must be aware of common phishing practices if they are to operate safely while on the job. Microsoft states that
phishing attacks tend to have the following characteristics:
- Poor Spelling/Grammar:
Email messages with frequently misspelled words and improper grammar are likely to be fake. Phishing messages are often sent out to mass numbers of email accounts, and as a result the body text of these messages are not usually designed to look personal or authentic.
- Suspicious Links or Attachments: Email messages containing unexpected links or strange attachments are likely phishing attempts. If these messages are from an unknown contact, they should not be interacted with. If they are from a familiar contact, the contact should be consulted for legitimacy before any user action is taken.
- Threats or Urgent Action Required: Email messages or phone calls containing threats of financial or judicial nature are often attempts to gain access to critical company data or user credentials through the use of a fear tactic. The best response is to remain calm and analyze the situation before taking any action.
- Impersonation of Legitimate Email Accounts or Services: Often phishing attempts may appear to come from a known email account or online service such as Facebook or Amazon. In these cases, it is best to first consult either the user the email appeared to originate from, or call the company to verify the authenticity of the claim.
While phishing attempts are not limited to the techniques listed above, these are some of the most common most users see. In most cases, phishing attacks succeed when users are quick to respond and take action rather than verify the legitimacy of the threat or request. Employees working from home must be educated on recognizing phishing techniques and responding properly to them if they are to work safely from home.
2. Personal Devices and Company Data
Since many employees are working remotely, it may be all the more tempting to use personal email accounts, cloud subscriptions, or a personal desktop computer to share or store company data. However, as business IT infrastructures are commonly designed around security and are much more protected than a home IT infrastructure, managers must ensure employees are operating safely and keeping company data in the corporate environment. Not only does this lead to better security of critical business information, but also a better work-life balance for employees working from home.
3. Home Network Security
Another important aspect for managers to consider is their employees' home network security. Even when employees are complying with company policies regarding secure remote work, a poorly secured home network is an invitation to unwanted intruders who might be able to gain access to crucial business data. How will you ensure your remote employees are able to securely access the resources they need, without any fear of a security breach?
We are partnering with ZeroOutages to provide for this need by offering the ZeroOutages Home Office SD-WAN Teleworker Wifi Router for just $49/month. This router is embedded with the following features:
- Built-In Wifi for Easy Deployment
- Extend the Enterprise Network to the Home Office with Secure Encrypted VPN (no software client required)
- Even Simpler Deployment with 4G Integration (add-on that includes automated home office redundancy)
- Endpoint Protection Client (add-on that stops malware and ransomware)
- Up to 1Gbps throughput
If you are interested in this service and would like to learn more, or would like to discuss your business remote security needs, we would love to learn about your company and how we can support you during this challenging season.
STOP
Your Shield Against Insider Attacks
Password Managers
Cyber Insurance
In today's day in age, the use of AI-generated platforms has become increasingly popular across the internet. These platforms allow for a fast and facilitated way to complete tasks such as professional work, education, or expanding one's personal knowledge. Anyone has the ability to discover new or pre-existing information regarding a multitude of topics by simply imputing their inquiries on platforms such as Chat GPT. Chat GPT has had a striking impact on society because of how easy it is for people to gather information on any topic. The platform provides information on anything asked through its online chat and it does so with a fast response. However, Chat GPT and AI-generated platforms can have potential risks such as... Data Breaches Data breaches can happen when using any type of online platform, especially those generated by AI. Chat GPT must be accessed through a web browser since it cannot be downloaded. Because of that, data breaches can occur if an unauthorized party gets a hold of your online chat logs, personal information, or any other sensitive data. A few consequences are: Privacy compromises : If an unknown person or group gains access to your personal information through the platform, your privacy has been compromised and you identity could be exposed. Identity theft : Cybercriminals could use your personal information to act under your name rather than their own. They would steal your identity by using it against you in order to perform fraudulent actions. Misuse of data : User data could be subject to misuse when a data breach occurs on an AI platform. With that, your information could be used without your consent for suspicious activity online. Open AI appears to be taking accurate cyber security measures in order to make it less likely for data breaches to take place. However, not all systems are free from errors or breaches in security, and Chat GPT is a good example of this. Access to Confidential Information Chat GPT has the ability to use personal information entered into the online chat by its users. In order to ensure the user's safety and continual privacy while using the platform, it's best to not exploit one's own information when using the AI chat. Gaining access to user information isn't easy for an AI-generated platform to achieve, but if the user provides the data themselves, it can have some consequences. Biased or Inconsistent Information An additional risk in using Chat GPT is that it could potentially provide biased or inconsistent information to its users Because of the wide range of information the platform contains, it could possibly generate false data that could be confused for something else. This can definitely affect industries or companies that use AI-generated content for their line of work These businesses could provide faulty service to their customers all due to the misleading data given by an AI platform. This has the potential to hinder the company’s advances and overall performance as a result. In the end, it's up to the user and the user alone how they interpret the information given by the AI chat bots; it could be completely right or completely false. Question: Is it safe to use? In certain aspects, Chat GPT contains multiple potential threats to one’s online experience. A platform such as this one can provide misinformation and exploit your personal information. However, it can still be used without problems if certain measures are taken accordingly. Safety Measures You Can Take: Browse on and interacting with AI platforms through anonymous accounts Keep personal or sensitive information private Review the platform’s privacy policy and be well-informed about its activity To conclude, yes, Chat GPT is safe to use as long as it is used responsibly and accordingly to reap the benefits. These types of platforms will continue to be prevalent in the world for years to come and it’s important to know how to ensure we have the best experience with AI. Where can I learn more about the effects of AI for my business? At EV-Consultech, we can answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding the influence of AI. Learn more by contacting us below.
Why Using A.I. Chatbots Will Impact The Way You Conduct Business
Pandemic Impact
When an employee decides to leave a company, there is an offboarding process that needs to happen. This process “decouples” the employee from the company’s technological assets and is vital to cybersecurity.
The pandemic has been a reality check that companies all around have shared. It required major changes in how they operate. No longer, did the status quo of having everyone work in the office make sense for everyone. Many organizations had to quickly evolve to working through remote means.
The one constant about technology is that it changes rapidly. Tools that were once industry standard, like Internet Explorer and Adobe Flash, age out, replaced by faster and more secure alternatives.