IT Security in Today’s Hybrid Office

Over the past few years, remote and hybrid work setups have become the norm.  Combining remote and in-person work can benefit everyone by offering flexibility and the opportunity to tailor work environments to different tasks. While many companies are still navigating their optimal balance – such as three days in the office and two days remote – it is evident that this hybrid work model is not just a passing trend but a permanent feature in the modern work environment.

Although many of us are used to working from home, it’s important to remember that there are many differences between working in a corporate space and home office in terms of IT security. With the rate of cyber-attacks increasing by nearly 600% in recent years, it’s critical for organizations to have both their own devices, and those of their employees, fully secure in order to reduce the risk of an attack.

Keep technology consistent.

While working from home, employees may be using their personal devices throughout the day, causing a security risk for both the company’s data as well as the employee’s personal information. Businesses can equip workers with previously vetted laptops, monitors, docking stations, printers, and routers to ensure the proper software and protective measures are in place when setting up devices.

Encrypt company data and enable endpoint protection.

Organizations can offer an extra layer of security by converting confidential information into an unrecognizable code that can be only accessed with a key, making it unusable by hackers. Additionally, endpoint security can defend devices against a potential intrusion for those working remotely on a network or cloud. If a threat is suspected, the IT department can quickly take action and mitigate the threat.

Differentiate your passwords.

Many of us are guilty of reusing our passwords for many (if not all) of our accounts. Hackers can easily guess and break into systems through weak password security, which can be a major threat to an organization. By creating unique passwords with various special characters, changing them periodically, and enabling multi-factor authentication on devices, workers can protect themselves and their company from becoming victims to an attack.

Educate employees.

Cybersecurity attacks can come in many forms, so it’s important that the workforce is aware of the various threats to understand the best solutions for protection. Invasive methods such as phishing emails have unfortunately become a standard in employee inboxes and, when engaged, can spread malware throughout a system. If an employee suspects an email to be a phishing attempt, it’s critical that they do not click on any links and notify their IT security department immediately.
 

As corporations continue to operate in a hybrid work model, it’s essential that proper security measures are in place to best protect individuals as well as businesses from losing confidential data. Sharp's remote work technology offerings include all the hardware and software employees need to work remotely, including IT security monitoring to protect from cybersecurity attacks. Learn more here >>