How to Maintain Data Security in Hybrid Work?
Hybrid work is an increasingly common work format, adopted by companies that have identified its various advantages, such as greater savings and convenience. But how does data security fit into this new scenario?
The concept of remote work became more widespread due to the need for social distancing during the pandemic caused by the feared coronavirus.
With the need to stay home, many companies had no choice but to allow their employees to work from home.
The big plot twist, as movie fans say, was that remote work turned out to be more efficient, cost-effective, and dynamic than the more traditional in-office work format.
This led many companies to rethink their ideas about what constitutes an ideal work model, even continuing with the hybrid style after the return to the population's routine.
Remote Work vs. Hybrid Work
First, it’s important to understand the difference between hybrid and remote work. These terms are often confused when defining work formats.
To avoid confusion for you, your company, and employees, here are their main characteristics:
- Remote Work: This is the format where work is done from a distance. Also known as telecommuting or, informally, home office, the work does not need to be performed in a specific space. You can work from home, a hotel, a restaurant, etc.
- Hybrid Work: Hybrid work is a type of work division with alternating periods of service at the company and in remote spaces. The determination of how many days or hours should be spent in each environment is agreed upon during the employee's hiring process.
All this context is necessary to address another issue: cyberattacks.
This shift to a more digital and remote service model has made occurrences of cyberattacks and data breaches even more frequent.
This obviously can disrupt the company’s service dynamics, cause significant financial damage, and even result in the loss of clients.
So, what can be done to ensure data security is not a problematic issue in this new hybrid work scenario? What measures should be adopted within a company?
Continue reading to find some tips that can help your company be better protected from digital dangers.
The Increase in Attacks in Hybrid Work
According to the Online Criminal Activity Report in Brazil, our country is among those with the highest number of data leaks in the world. In 2021 alone, over 2.8 billion data records were exposed.
Much of this problem is related to the increase in hybrid or remote work and to companies that are still not adept at data security measures.
Many companies have employees who use the same computer for work and personal access, for example.
Many even share their laptop or desktop with other family members who also need to perform periodic access for studies, research, and work.
Shared computer use is a complex issue, as company data and information are exposed to people who are not part of the professional team.
Additionally, weak and amateur settings, lack of passwords and checks, among other factors, only contribute to data security being a problem within hybrid work.
Unfortunately, these are recurring issues, as not all companies have adapted quickly to new work formats, forgetting to consider digital dangers.
It is important to emphasize that most of the security breaches recorded last year were aimed at stealing data, both from companies and institutions, as well as from clients.
However, with the implementation of the new LGPD (General Data Protection Law), this scenario should change. According to the law, companies operating in Brazil are now required to take measures and make investments aimed at information security.
The big question is how they are taking these security measures, and if they are truly effective, following established laws.
Main Vulnerabilities in Data Security in Hybrid Work
As mentioned above, hybrid or remote work can make data security a more complex issue.
This type of work allows employees to work some days in the company and other days remotely, at home or other chosen spaces.
In many cases, the home computer ends up being shared with other people or used for personal access. This violation makes company and client data much more vulnerable to theft.
Furthermore, when company information, platforms, and systems are used in other locations, the data is exposed to digital environments that are quite different from corporate spaces.
Generally, remote work does not have as strict access controls as those applied in company offices and networks, and the software used may not be as protected.
Tips for Maintaining Data Security in Hybrid Work
Now that you know the problems related to data security within a hybrid work system, it is important to know that it is not necessary to abandon this format due to security concerns.
There are different measures that companies and employees can take to adapt the service to this new work style, which, despite these dangers, offers various advantages.
Here are some tips your company can follow to ensure better data security:
Train Your Employees on Home Office SecurityMany cyberattacks and data breaches exploit human factors. Therefore, it is crucial for the company to invest in strategies such as home office or hybrid work policies, where employees commit to not accessing certain sites or being cautious with links and unknown digital environments.Additionally, creating an information classification and communication policy among professionals is beneficial to ensure sensitive information is not left unprotected.Training the team to handle, even at a basic level, cybercrime dangers is also a valuable measure of protection and precaution against potential cybercriminal actions.
Invest in a VPNConsidered one of the best ways to protect company and client data in remote work, a VPN is a type of virtual private network.Various documents can be accessed securely, as the VPN creates a protective network between the company’s server and the employee’s computer, thus making potential attacks more difficult.
Implement a More Rigorous Password PolicyAlthough this is a frequently highlighted factor, many people opt for very easy passwords for fear of forgetting the sequence.However, using weak passwords poses several risks, including facilitating the work of someone attempting to breach the network or computer.Many companies use password generators, which, despite the complexity, provide greater security in access.The adoption of multi-factor authentication (2FA or MFA) is also highly recommended, as it requires not only a password but also a token, further increasing access security.
Keep Systems Updated and Have Good Antivirus SoftwareBefore using a personal or company computer, it is important to perform regular scans for possible viruses and network or system intrusions.Additionally, it is crucial to note that outdated operating systems are more vulnerable to potential breaches and attacks from cybercriminals who constantly study network vulnerabilities.Therefore, keep company or personal computers updated and protected with antivirus software.
Consider Bug Bounty Programs as a Protection OptionA strategy that is gaining more recognition in information security is hiring a Bug Bounty program.In this program, ethical hackers, also known as hunters, “attack” authorized company networks looking for vulnerabilities, flaws, and gaps that could facilitate cybercriminal activities.This search service is done in exchange for rewards given to the hunters, who also produce reports detailing their findings.This proactive approach helps ensure your company is even more secure when implementing hybrid work in your employees' routine.BugHunt, the first Bug Bounty platform in Brazil, is ready to answer all your questions about the program and its functionalities.