Covid-19: Businesses feel the need to elevate their Information Security

There is no denying that the ongoing pandemic has forced organizations to go one step ahead to protect their systems and networks. It has mostly become harder than ever to do so, partly because employees are doing work from home. In this process, they’re trying and learning new communication and work tools to keep the business going.

In this a difficult time, cybersecurity experts and leaders have to play a big role in adding an extra layer of security to keep the business's smooth functioning and safeguard its most crucial data.

The Covid-19 Situation

Due to the potential threats and risks associated with Covid-19, most businesses are not working at full potential. Whether or not companies are working at full potential, they had to protect and secure the data and information at any cost.

Can cyber experts and leaders protect the data from unwanted access? Can we add another extra layer of security to our business? In this piece, let’s talk about how businesses can protect themselves during the Covid-19 pandemic:

Secure the Work-from-home Infrastructure

One of the biggest challenges for businesses is to protect the work-from-home system and arrangements used by employees. The remote work culture has grown rapidly worldwide as businesses have no other options to continue working. It has given rise to more security threats and risks than ever. Security teams at organizations have to rely on their employees’ existing knowledge of managing a new tool. Many employees had given proper training before they could hop on to these new normal work tools.

As most communication is happening over the internet, scammers and fraudsters are finding new ways to access the network and pose a new security risk for the organization. At that time, cybersecurity experts had to play a big role in securing the networks. They can do this by adding another security layer like using a strong VPN service or installing a protected chat window. The cybersecurity team can also outline a detailed remote working policy to ensure all strategies are followed properly.

Smartly Avoid Covid-19 Scams

Only securing the communication channels and networks may not be enough for your business. The security leaders in organizations should teach their employees how to identify fake charity emails related to Covid-19 and scams. Since the pandemic, there has been a pool of information related to Covid-19. Due to this, it has become extremely difficult for companies to differentiate between a good and a bad sender.

Many scammers use the legitimate email address to look genuine. But you need to make sure you don’t come in their tactics and smartly ignores or report the potential emails related to Covid-19 or charity. Before clicking on any link, make sure to copy and paste a part of it on Google to see and learn more information about it. It will keep your business safe and help other authorities identify their scams and emails and take action against them.

Use Password Manager and Other Tools to Protect Sensitive Data

Today, it’s common to have accounts on multiple websites and platforms. It may be for work or leisure purposes. At that time, it becomes difficult to remember account details or passwords for all of them. And in the Covid-19 crisis, when hackers are preying over your sensitive data, including bank account, it has become more critical than ever. Whether you’re a system administrator, the hiring manager, or a staff member, the security team should encourage everyone to use strong passwords and save it securely in password managers.

Weekly Roundup for Staff Personal Device Security

In the new normal, employees had to use their computer systems, laptops, and smartphones for remote working. This makes it difficult for organizations to regulate the communication channel and take control of the same. The cybersecurity experts in companies should hold a weekly meeting and share proven ways to protect personal devices. It will help employees learn more about their devices' security and take actions to check their accounts and devices regularly.

They could do patching techniques to send regular security updates, install licenses anti-virus on the computer, and use only certified USB cables and devices. All these techniques will add an extra layer of security to protect your business in the Covid-19 crisis.

Conclusion

Protecting your business from various online threats and attacks is essential in the Covid-19 pandemic. As more and more people are going digital, attackers are taking advantage of this to penetrate the system to steal your data. But protecting your business is not a one-day task. You should evaluate and review your systems and your employees' security to ensure the overall safety during and after the ongoing pandemic.