OPERATIONS
Hybrid working might offer many benefits , such as increased flexibility and reduced overhead costs , but it also presents unique cybersecurity challenges
WRITTEN BY : MARCUS LAW
he pandemic might be behind us , but hybrid working is here to stay – with a recent report by Littler Mendelson PC finding over 70 % of US employers are embracing hybrid work models .
But , though hybrid working offers many benefits , such as increased flexibility and reduced overhead costs , it also presents unique cybersecurity challenges that companies must address . With employees accessing sensitive data from multiple locations and devices , the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches is higher than ever before .
According to a report by EY , remote working can increase an organisation ’ s vulnerability to security threats , such as cyberattacks , data breaches , fraud , bribery or corruption . Ransomware attacks and social engineering risks increased by 53 %, the report said , while 40 % of organisations reported a cyber intrusion directed at their remote work environments .
As remote and hybrid working continues to become the norm for many organisations globally , IT teams face the challenges of ensuring the new corporate network and infrastructure are fully equipped to be able to securely facilitate this new flexible work environment .
As Etay Maor , Senior Director of Security Strategy at Cato Networks , explains , traditionally , the corporate workforce has been tethered to office configurations that made it easier to provide secure access to company applications . cybermagazine . com 59