Securing Remote Infrastructure and Mobile Technology
Cybersecurity risks skyrocketed when COVID-19 forced workers to transition to home offices and children to remote learning environments. By March 2019, coronavirus-themed campaigns and attacks were well underway. These attacks began so quickly at the beginning of the outbreak that the World Health Organization released a statement warning of imposters using the organization’s name.
Today, organizations have had roughly a year to adapt to changes caused by COVID-19. By now, businesses should be transitioning from their initial emergency response measures to a permanent long-term strategy for incorporating remote workers. A successful plan for accommodating remote and mobile workers should include:
- Maintaining employee productivity and user experience from any locationo
- Keeping both employee and organizational data secure at all timeso
- Maintaining regulatory compliance while enacting BYOD policies and allowing employees to work from remote locations
The steps seem simple, but each device, software app, and location added to the infrastructure exponentially increases its complexity. An estimated ten-fold increase in work from home employees also represents an increase of routers, smartphones, mobile devices, and personal PCs handling company data. This puts companies in the difficult position of no longer having to worry about the security of one network, but thousands.
VPNs felt an enormous strain as some vendors reported usage increases of 165% in a month. Increased VPN usage from remote workers introduces new security risks, as all protected data is funnelled to a single location, the provider’s company. Incorrectly configured and/or vulnerable VPNs can expose remote employees who believe themselves secure to potential cyber-attacks.
Vulnerabilities specific to VPN and remote communications were not the only new cybersecurity risks facing companies. Many home-based employees use personal or BYOD technology to assist with their job responsibilities. Ensuring employee’s personal devices are updated and secure is a Herculean task. Confirming that the software and third-party apps on personal devices are also secure and up to date is an exercise in futility.
Jill Broom
Jill Broom
Jill leads the techUK Cyber Security programme, having originally joined techUK in October 2020 as a Programme Manager for the Cyber and Central Government programmes. She is responsible for managing techUK's work across the cyber security ecosystem, bringing industry together with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors. Jill also provides the industry secretariat for the Cyber Growth Partnership, the industry and government conduit for supporting the growth of the sector. A key focus of her work is to strengthen the public–private partnership across cyber to support further development of UK cyber security and resilience policy.
Before joining techUK, Jill worked as a Senior Caseworker for an MP, advocating for local communities, businesses and individuals, so she is particularly committed to techUK’s vision of harnessing the power of technology to improve people’s lives. Jill is also an experienced editorial professional and has delivered copyediting and writing services for public-body and SME clients as well as publishers.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-broom-19aa824
Annie Collings
Annie Collings
Annie joined techUK as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023. In this role, she supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector.
Before joining techUK, Annie was an Account Manager at a specialist healthcare agency, where she provided public affairs support to a wide range of medical technology clients. She also gained experience as an intern in both an MP’s constituency office and with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Annie holds a degree in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- anniecollings24
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-collings-270150158/
Tracy Modha
Tracy Modha
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 02073312000
- Twitter:
- @TracyModha,@TracyModha
- Website:
- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83,https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83