What are the Security Pitfalls that Stem from Remote Work?

Updated: Jul 11, 2023

Security Pitfalls that Stem from Remote Work

The SailPoint Technologies study released in November reflects on the security pitfalls that stem from remote work. It covers how the transition to remote work amid lockdown has opened a cybersecurity pandora’s box with security and compliance gaps surfacing, paving the way for potential data breaches.

Are you using your personal devices for work?

While we can all now better work from anywhere, the reality shows that we all wear more than one hat throughout the day – as working professionals, parents, caregivers, teachers etc. So we invariably share devices with our spouses, children and other family members daily.

1 in 3 employees stated that they use their computer and smartphone to enable remote work, with 17% using a computer and smartphone owned by their employer.

Targeted phishing emails, calls and texts are on the rise

With every major event or crisis, criminals will look to take advantage of through targeted scams and phishing attacks – one of the largest threats posed to businesses today can be their employees.

48% of total UK respondents said they had experienced targeted phishing emails, calls or texts in a personal or professional capacity during the first six months of remote work.
7% of total UK respondents said they were targeted by one or more every week.

Employers - Is your team unaware of the risks with their work devices or what a phishing email is? Security awareness training helps your employees become more cyber aware and become a confident line of first defence for your company.

Keep those passwords to yourself!

Even during a pandemic, your employees shouldn’t share passwords with team members (or family at home). This report found that 24% of people shared work passwords with partners, flatmates, friends or someone else. This also reminds us that we should regularly change our passwords (using a password manager will help make tracking this easier).

🔐 44% of respondents have not changed their password in over six months.

Are you doing enough to protect your staff?

34% of UK businesses promote staff cybersecurity protection through regular password resets.
Just 28% of UK businesses had given regular cybersecurity training to staff.
Only 18% of UK businesses had introduced staff to more secure access to files and folders.

Too many employers are operating with protocols which are severely lacking in the vital cybersecurity requirements demanded by the way we’re all using technology today. Employers must enforce more password resets and regular security awareness training and provide employees with a more secure approach to accessing files and folders when working remotely. It’s a big challenge for employers and shows a large oversight of who has access, who should have access, and what they do with that access.

Download the SailPoint Cybersecurity Pandora’s Box of Remote Work Report.