Every business owner hates the idea of a network security breach. There’s no denying that 2020 has had a massive impact on the way that we do business. Technologically speaking, things were already progressing rapidly before the pandemic, so when a huge number of businesses were forced into remote work, a whole new set of challenges came about. Network security is something that all businesses have to take seriously these days, but now with remote work, everyone’s susceptible to cyber attacks. In this post, we’re going to look at some of the emerging network security threats and how your business can combat them.
1. Remote Work Issues
Due to the pandemic, companies have had to scramble to accommodate workers as they’ve transitioned into remote work. Because homebound employees aren’t set up with network security in the same way that they are in the office, a multitude of problems can potentially come about.
Most businesses have made quick pivots to the cloud and implemented new and untested IT measures. Unsurprisingly, this has lead to a lot of vulnerability across the board. Remote work isn’t likely to disappear with the pandemic, so stronger security measures are needed to accommodate this phenomenon.
2. Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the things companies are making use of is multi-factor authentication for their remote-working employees. Although this is meant as a way to enhance security by forcing users to use more than one device to prove their identity, there are growing risks with MFA.
A big problem is that telephone network security is comparatively weak. SMS codes aren’t encrypted, leaving them extremely vulnerable to attackers that want to access their plain text codes.
3. Ransomware
Pre-pandemic, ransomware was one of the most common and fear-inducing threats to data security. It encrypts a company’s files so that they can’t gain access, then demands a “ransom” payment for returned access to the files. Last year, the average ransomware attack cost their victims around $4 million.
VPN’s are a good way to secure data and provide access to employees, but cyber criminals are savvy and ransomware is getting more sophisticated. Zero Trust Network Access has emerged as a better option for combatting ransomware in 2021 and beyond.
4. Phishing Attacks
Phishing has been on the rise during the pandemic, especially with pharmaceutical companies and vaccine distributors. People are receiving phishing attacks disguised as vaccine appointment emails.
Likewise, because of the quick shift to remote work, many companies’ networks are vulnerable to phishing attacks. They can easily go after an employee trying to connect to their employer’s network. In order to combat these schemes, companies will have to start reassessing their identity management and overall security strategy so that access is only being given to those who need it.
Combat Network Security Threats With Managed IT
These are just a few of the biggest network security threats that have been emerging in the last year, but there are sure to be more. As network and data security improves, so does the sophistication of cybercriminals.
The best way to combat network security threats is with managed IT services. Inception Network Strategies gives you hassle-free IT services for your small business, so you can keep your network and data as secure as possible. Visit our site today to learn more about what we do and contact us to discuss how we can improve your company’s network security.