Carl Fransen Talks Remote Cybersecurity On Global News

Carl Fransen Talks Remote Cybersecurity On Global News

Working remotely may be safer as the coronavirus pandemic continues into 2021, but it’s not necessarily secure. Are you putting your data at risk while your staff works from home?

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced many businesses to adopt a long-term remote work model. With employees stuck at home, they have no choice but to find a way to deliver remote access to business data and applications.

It’s important to recognize that this pandemic has been like open season for cybercriminals. When businesses start prioritizing remote access to data over the security of that data, they make an easy target for hackers.

That’s precisely what CTECH Consulting’s Carl Fransen recently appeared on Global News to talk about:

Click Here To View Carl Fransen On Global News

The Challenge Of Remote Cybersecurity

Think of it this way: at the office, everything is protected by the same set of cybersecurity solutions – firewalls, antivirus software, etc. These are defenses that you’ve invested in and can trust.  Is the same true of your employees’ home networks and personal devices? Probably not.

With so many employees operating remotely, working from a laptop or smartphone, how can you be sure that your data is completely secure? Make sure you’re taking the necessary steps to maintain security while your staff works from home.

Threats You Need To Be Aware Of In 2021

• Phishing Scams: Phishing emails still pose a major threat to the digital landscape of many business organizations across the globe. COVID-19 communications have provided the perfect cover for these emails to lure unsuspecting users. By creating a sense of urgency, these emails might persuade your employees to click on malware links that could steal sensitive data or install malicious viruses inside a computer.
• Ransomware: Targeted ransomware attacks are increasing every day. It is estimated that a ransomware attack will happen every 11 seconds in 2021. Ransomware attacks hold an organization’s critical data for a ransom, and millions of dollars are paid to hackers every year as corporations do not want to risk losing their sensitive data. However, there is no guarantee that your files will be secure even after you pay the ransom.

How To Maintain Remote Cybersecurity During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Keep the following tips in mind:

• Implement Identity Management: With the right security monitoring solutions, you can implement processes that track the characteristics of your users to better spot irregular behavior that could give away a cybercriminal’s attempts to impersonate them.
• Add External Document Security: You can implement security measures on documents and other files that will allow you to control access even after they’ve left your system. You can revoke or grant access to protected files, set time limits on how long a document can be viewed, and arrange for other limitations and protections that are in line with your internal document governance standards.
• Implement Email-Based Data Control Policies: Email security controls can help you enforce more strict security measures for the way files are shared and information is disseminated. AI-based monitoring can identify when sensitive documents enter an outbox, and flag them before they are sent in an unsafe manner. Restrictions including “Do Not Forward” and “Encrypt Email” can be added to emails that require them to further limit security risks.
• Arrange Remote Work Through A Secure Cloud Platform: By having your remote workers access all sensitive data through the cloud, you prevent any such data from being stored locally on home machines or accessed through home networks that may not be secure. Furthermore, controls can be implemented to prevent users from copying data and pasting locally or printing files at home. This arrangement gives your organization the flexibility needed to work remotely, with a far smaller risk profile.
• Implement a Mobile Device Management Policy: An effective MDM policy should instill safe and secure practices for employees that use personal devices for business purposes while working remotely:
• Decide When And How Mobile Devices Will Be Used: These devices can be used to access, store, transmit, and receive business data. You’ll need to have policies in place to regulate how employees use their devices to interact with sensitive data.
• Implement Controls: Ensure that any mobile devices with access to business data can be remotely wiped in the event they are lost or stolen.
• Consider How Mobile Device Use Can Pose Risks To Your Data: A risk analysis will help you identify vulnerabilities in your security infrastructure, and help you determine the safeguards, policies, and procedures you’ll need to have in place.
• Keep Home Systems Up To Date: Did you know that one of the most common ways that cybercriminals get into a network is through loopholes in popular software? Much of the software you rely on to get work done every day could have flaws —or “exploits” — that leave you vulnerable to security breaches

Don’t Sacrifice Business Security In The Remote Environment

The bottom line is that, even though you need remote access to keep things running, you shouldn’t sacrifice cybersecurity in the process.

If you need help securing up your remote work solutions, don’t assume you have to handle it on your own. CTECH Consulting can assist — we will help you map out a cybersecurity strategy to protect your business during the pandemic.

Written by Carl Fransen

posted on February 1, 2021

Carl Fransen

My passion is to make my mark on the world in a positive and lasting way. I want to set an example for my son that his father can compete with integrity in today’s world, be very successful, and leave the world a better place for him.

Combining my technical/business-based education with a long career steadily progressing up the corporate ladder, I decided to build a company that held true to my values. So, I founded and designed the next generation of IT support firm: CTECH Consulting Group Inc. We are a completely automated, cloud-based IT company designed to compete against any other IT firm without the overhead. We promote a lifestyle to all our staff where they can work anywhere, at any time, access any information on any device that is relevant to their job, and collaborate with anyone they want to.