Intelligent CIO LATAM Issue 13 | Page 68

INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Enterprise Security

Five recommendations for data security in hybrid work

Cristina Moldovan , Business Development and Sales Manager for Endpoint Protector by CoSoSys , explains how to maintain data security in companies that have chosen the hybrid work model .

One of the new work policies that emerged with the pandemic was hybrid work . According to the 18th edition of the Robert Half Confidence Index , the model will be used in 2022 by 48 % of the companies surveyed . implemented to minimize the risk of data loss , leakage and theft .

2 . Optimize productivity and collaboration : In a hybrid workspace , it ’ s crucial for business to balance collaboration security and employee productivity . Without proper controls , collaboration tools can expose your organization to risk . Internal threats are present when the team uses workflow collaboration tools . They can take different forms , for example , accidentally sharing a customer database , intentionally disclosing company business plans or sending sensitive data to the public cloud . DLP solutions with content-aware protection capabilities can help to reduce these security risks by monitoring and blocking sensitive data being shared .
3 . Adopt Zero Trust : ‘ Never trust , always verify ’ is the basic principle of Zero Trust and means that there is no implicit trust granted to networks , systems or data . If the organization adopts a hybrid model , it means a mobile workforce and the need to protect people , devices , applications and data , regardless of their location . In this case , DLP solutions support the Zero Trust concept and everything is blocked , allowing access to content according to the needs of each employee .
Many organizations such as Google , Facebook and Salesforce have announced plans to combine remote work with time in the office .
In addition to the opportunities , embracing a hybrid work model presents several challenges , such as providing employees with the right technology and implementing new policies to manage the team .
The way of working becomes mobile using devices and networks that lead to greater adoption of cloud collaboration technologies for the sharing of potentially confidential information between colleagues . It creates new cybersecurity challenges for businesses .
Here are some recommendations to ensure the security of this hybrid work model and also balance accessibility for companies .
1 . Strengthen device security : Employee devices for work-related tasks should be kept up-to-date with the latest antivirus to reduce the risk of external threats . For risks originating within the organization , a Data Loss Prevention ( DLP ) solution must be
Cristina Moldovan , Business Development and Sales Manager for Endpoint Protector by CoSoSys
4 . Secure cloud-based solutions and services : These are often used in hybrid work environments as they offer flexibility , accessibility and scalability . Some of the best practices for protecting information in these environments are monitoring , controlling and limiting file access , keeping network security up-todate and using strong passwords . Another strategy involves encrypting sensitive data before transferring it to the cloud .
5 . Train the workforce : A new work model emerges with new threats and demands that require awareness . It means that security efforts are incomplete without employee training . For example , if a company wants to remain as efficient as possible in a flexible working environment , it should consider ( re ) training employees , especially those working in a hybrid or fully remote model . One tip is to focus on the threats they need to be aware of , as well as cybersecurity best practices they need to know about . p
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