The global move to the blended, digital workforce introduces concerns around security, access and business confidentialityThe new workforce emerging from the rubble of the year wants the freedom to leverage both digital and physical environments to get the job done. Picture: 123RF/MICHAEL SIMONS
However, as companies and employees evolve and adapt to the new world of work, there is a critical need to embed security into this evolution from the outset. The problem in the pandemic is that IT departments were thrust into remote working conditions as rapidly as everyone else. Patch management, security, access, remote management – these concerns had to be addressed remotely, often while adapting to new systems and solutions cobbled together at the last minute.
Threat hunters have been taking advantage of the chaos – phishing attacks have increased; malware is on the rise and ransomware continues to plague even the most sophisticated systems. People are lured into clicking links that have been designed to prey on the fear factor, using terms such as Covid-19 and vaccination. And because they are external to the office, people are more vulnerable and susceptible than in the past.
Threat monitoring and management has to become a priority. Often, issues aren’t caught and compromises missed due to the complexities introduced by the virtual workplace. Organisations need the insights provided by threat analysis so that they can make the right security decisions.