Abstract
In this Article we’re going to discuss about a very important & current matter which affects most of us who directly or indirectly work in the ICT Sector. The topic is “Ensuring Information Security While Employees Work from Home”. The Main Objective of this article is to create awareness among employees & employers alike about current security threats, security measures to avoid them & other current information they need to know when working from home. Ensuring information security is a very important task nowadays because most of the time when you work online you are vulnerable to various kinds of threats. So, it is a responsibility of both the employees & employers to take necessary precautions to ensure information security.
Introduction
Since the pandemic, the concept of ‘working from home’ came into existence. The employees can carry out their normal office work safely while staying at home. Working from home is very convenient and has its own benefits but while this method can ensure safety from factors like the pandemic it can expose the employees to another kind of threat. Those are Cybersecurity threats. Certain Cybersecurity Threats like Phishing have become more common with the rise of Remote Working. The main reason for that is in a workplace most likely a dedicated IT team will take care of the Cybersecurity threats and implement precautions against them. But when working from home you can’t do that exactly because the employees are distributed all over. So, to overcome these modern threats the employees and employers should be aware of the cybersecurity threats and should practice the correct precautions to avoid Cyberattacks like phishing. Following are some Precautions employees and employers should practice Ensuring Information Security While Working from Home.
1. Establish a Cybersecurity Policy.
2. Ensure All Internet Connections are Secure.
3. Keep Passwords Strong and Varied and Use a Password Manager.
4. Rely on Two-Factor Authentication.
5. Use Encryption Software.
6. Use Firewalls, Antivirus Software and Anti-Malware.
7. Participate in Routine Cybersecurity Training.
8. Stay Alert for Phishing or Other Cyberattacks.
9. Keep Work and Personal Stuff Separate.
In depth analysis of above topics are discussed below. Remember to Practice them to Ensure Information Security while Working from Home.
Significance of the Topic
During the recent global Lock-down, the concept of work from home has become very popular and has been used by small and even large organizations around the world. This included banking systems, various financial institutions, and even public administration institutions. The data circulating in these systems is very sensitive data. If these are possessed by unauthorized persons, the damage that may occur to the organization and related persons may be enormous. In this concept, it always happens that the employee enters the system of his company online. This can leave the organization's system exposed to cyber-criminals. Therefore, the concept of remote working should focus on cyber security more than anything else. The reason for this is that the damage that can be caused by one small mistake can be a huge amount of money or a huge damage to the reputation of the organization. You will understand the importance of this topic very well from the points mentioned above.
Critical Evaluation of the Topic
1. Establish a Cybersecurity Policy
1.1 What is a Security Policy for Cyber Security?
Protection policies are a formalized collection of regulations that an organization issues to make sure that users who have been granted access to corporate technology and information assets abide by the rules and standards pertaining to the security of that information. The organization's written policy is in charge of determining how to defend against dangers and deal with them when they materialize. A security policy is also referred to as a "living document," which indicates that it is constantly updated to reflect changes in personnel needs and technological requirements.
The purpose of an information security policy (ISP) is to ensure that all end users and networks within an organization adhere to the bare minimal standards for IT security and data protection.
All of an organization's data, programs, systems, infrastructure, authorized users, third parties, and fourth parties should be addressed by ISPs.
1.2 Why Need a Security Policy To Secure Information?
- The ability to increase uniformity, which saves time, money, and resources, is the finest thing about having a policy. The policy should explain to the employees their specific responsibilities as well as what they are allowed and prohibited to do with confidential company information.
- When a human error compromises system security, the organization's security policy will support any disciplinary action and serve as evidence in court if necessary. The company's policies serve as a contract that attests to the fact that the company has taken precautions to safeguard both its clients' and customers' intellectual property.
- During a business transaction involving the transfer of their sensitive information, corporations are not required to give other vendors a copy of their information security policy. When working with smaller organizations that have less sophisticated security systems in place, it is true that larger businesses guarantee their own security interests are protected.
- A well-written security policy can also be viewed as a teaching tool that informs readers of the significance of their role in safeguarding sensitive company data. It includes selecting the appropriate passwords and outlining procedures for file transfers and data storage, all of which raise employee understanding of security in general and how it may be reinforced.
- The ability to increase uniformity, which saves time, money, and resources, is the finest thing about having a policy. The policy should explain to the employees their specific responsibilities as well as what they are allowed and prohibited A well-written security policy can also be viewed as a teaching tool that informs readers of the significance of their role in safeguarding sensitive company data. It includes selecting the appropriate passwords and outlining procedures for file transfers and data storage, all of which raise employee understanding of security in general and how it may be reinforced. To govern the security of our network, we utilize security policies. The majority of security policies are created automatically after installation. We can alter policies to fit the circumstances of our particular environment.do with confidential company information.
- A data security policy tries to implement safeguards and restrict data distribution to those with authorized access. Companies establish ISPs in order to
- Create a broad information security strategy.
- Policies for user access control and document security
- Identify compromised information assets and lessen their effects, including misuse of data, networks, mobile devices, PCs, and apps.
- Safeguard the organization's reputation
- Obey laws and regulations such as FERPA, NIST, GDPR, HIPAA, and others
- Safeguarding client information, including credit card details
- Offer efficient channels for handling complaints and inquiries about actual or fictitious cyber security issues like phishing, malware, and ransomware
- Ensure that only those with legitimate uses have access to important information technology assets.
Spyware and Virus Detection Policy
The following risks are covered by this policy:
- By utilizing signatures, it assists in identifying, eradicating, and repairing the effects of infections and security issues.
- Using reputation data from Download Insight makes it easier to identify dangers in the files that users try to download.
- SONAR heuristics and reputation data are used to identify programs that behave suspiciously.
Firewall Policy
The following risks are covered by this policy:
- It prevents unauthorized individuals from gaining access to the networks and systems that are connected to the Internet.
- It recognizes cybercriminals' attacks.
- It eliminates the undesirable network traffic sources.
Intrusion Prevention Policy
This policy automatically recognizes and prevents browser and network assaults. Additionally, it shields applications against flaws. It examines the contents of one or more data packages and finds malware that enters the system using legitimate channels.
Host Integrity Policy
To maintain the security of company networks and data, this policy gives users the power to specify, enforce, and reinstate client computer security. We employ this policy to guarantee the security and compliance of the company's securities policies on the client computers that access our network. This policy mandates that antivirus software is installed on the client system.
Application and Device Control Policy
This policy controls the peripheral devices that can connect to a system and safeguards its resources from applications. While the application control policy can only be applied to Windows clients, the device control policy is applicable to both Windows and Mac machines.
Live Update Policy
There are two type of live update policies. Live Update Setting Policy and Live Update Content Policy are two examples. The parameter that controls when and how client computers get content updates from Live Update is found in the Live Update policy. We can specify which computer users use to check for updates and plan when and how frequently users should do so.
Series: ISO 27000
The International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission produced the family of information security standards to offer a broadly accepted foundation for the best information security management. It aids the company in maintaining the security of its information assets, including its intellectual property, financial data, and personnel information.
The requirement for the ISO 27000 series is brought on by the organization's vulnerability to cyberattacks. Every industry that uses technology is constantly at risk from hackers as a result of the daily increase in cyberattacks.
ISO 27001
This standard, ISO 27001, enables us to demonstrate to clients and stakeholders of any organization that the best security is being managed for their private data and information. For establishing, implementing, running, monitoring, maintaining, and enhancing our ISMS, this standard calls for a process-based methodology.
2. Ensure All Internet Connections Are Secure
2.2 What is a Secure Connection?
In order to protect the security of data moving between two or more nodes, a secure connection is one that has been encrypted by one or more security protocols. When a connection is not encrypted, it is vulnerable to threats from malicious software and rogue and unexpected events as well as being easily listened to by anyone who knows how to do it.
Since anyone may simply enter and exit the computer's network and take sensitive information like login credentials, passwords, and other private information with them, anyone who wants to access information from an unsecure connection can do so.
When employees operate remotely, cybersecurity dangers take on new forms and dimensions. It becomes more difficult for corporate IT staff to manage and secure some emerging sorts of hazards, such as workers' reliance on personal computers, routers, and other devices that could be infected with malware.
When connecting to systems or storage resources that are present in the offices of their employers, employees may be required to access or send data using open internet connections. When all data is kept inside company networks, it is far more difficult for outside parties to eavesdrop on connections and steal important information. If that data is not properly secured, however, this could happen.
Secure connections must be able to do three key tasks if they are to protect the data being passed from one machine to another.
Stop confidential information from falling into the hands of outsiders.
The identity of the person wishing to access and exchange the data must first be verified. It must safeguard data against viewing or modification by unauthorized persons.
Although there are numerous ways to create a secure connection, the majority of them include data encryption. Data encryption is a technique for keeping information secret from unauthorized third parties. On both computers connected using this method, an appropriate program that can encrypt and decode data must typically be installed.
These are the fundamental security protocols that are part of popular communication protocols including TCP/IP, HTTPS, POP3 and IMAP. In some ways, firewalls and antivirus software can also help establish secure connections.
When Employees Work Remotely or Work from Home, They Must Adhere to Below Policies,
Control the Connection to Your Network
Your internet connection is a private, password-protected network if you have control over it. You may manage who is authorized to access your Wi-Fi by using a private connection. Both connection speed and security depend on this. Changing the name of your wireless network and requiring a password to join are the first steps in taking control of your connection. Make careful to update the administrator password on internet routers, which comes with a weak default password. The following step is to choose the most recent security protocol.
Possess the WPA/WPA3 Security Protocol.
Make sure the network is protected with a WPA/WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security protocol before using an internet connection. By encrypting your behavior, these security procedures make it more difficult for unauthorized parties to link your online activity to your device and obtain personal information. The latest and most safe protocol, WPA3, rivals the security of a VPN in terms of security.
Even with a weak Wi-Fi password, WPA3 helps keep your activities private and makes it simpler to connect all of your smart devices without sacrificing security. We advise stacking a VPN on top of your connection if your internet connection is protected with WPA2 or WPA for extra protection.
Rely on the Network's Other Linked Devices
Everyone should use computers with the most recent operating system and reliable anti-virus software, both at work and at home. Everyone on your network should regularly obtain cybersecurity training, which is equally crucial. This significantly lowers the likelihood that someone may fall victim to a phishing attack, which might expose the entire network. We advise utilizing a VPN to safeguard the public Wi-Fi connection if you're working in a cafe or other public area. By using a VPN, you can manage your network rather than being forced to share it with a huge number of unidentified, maybe malicious people.
Using a VPN, the Connection is encrypted.
Using encryption, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can efficiently conceal your internet activities and IP address, virtually erasing your location and activity. If you want the most secure internet connection possible, whether you're working from home or somewhere else, you should invest in a VPN.A multi-layered security approach must include a secure internet connection as a crucial component. Without it, you're susceptible to online threats and uninvited monitoring of your activity. Don't overlook this important part of your cybersecurity wherever you operate these days.
By Managing the Home WIFI
Your complete home WIFI network may be supported and maintained using managed Wi-Fi. Your network will operate more quickly, clearly, and securely with less congestion thanks to this. Managing your Wi-Fi is the same as enhancing its functionality.
Benefits of A Managed Wi-Fi Include:
Keeping an eye on the functionality of your router and every device linked to your network.
Removing undesirable visitors and devices from your Wi-Fi.
Keeping track of the network bandwidth, speed, and strength of your Wi-Fi signal.
Regulating guest networks, Wi-Fi extenders, and other coverage metrics.
Machine learning for troubleshooting and rapid alerts.
Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)EMM software can scan the untrusted endpoint and assess whether it complies with a predetermined degree of acceptability from an OS, application, and security perspective for employees who wish to use their own PC or mobile device to carry out work-related tasks. The device cannot access the network if it does not meet these requirements until all problems have been fixed.
Other Security Considerations about Remote Work
Last
but not least, it's significant to emphasize that remote workers should take
other security goods into account that are unrelated to networks. This contains
programs for keeping track of passwords and preventing malware. Furthermore, if
remote workers need Wi-Fi connectivity, they can decide to use wireless
features that are more common in secure corporate networks than secure
residential networks. This includes the use of Wi-Fi Protected Access 2
business authentication, which substitutes a complex pre-shared key for a
user-specific username and password to gain access to the wireless network.
3. Use Varied and Strong Passwords, and Use a Password Manager
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| Image Source: FreeImages |
Keeping track of complex passwords can be a real challenge. Some users create unique passwords for every website they visit, which is a good practice if you keep track of what you’ve put where. But if you have dozens of websites that require different logins, it might get challenging to keep track of them all. Keeping passwords separate from one another also helps prevent anyone from cracking them with a password-cracking software program. But how do you do that when your password list is so extensive? It’s often easier to remember a password than create one from scratch, but using strong and varied passwords helps thwart the average hacker at guessing what your password might be. Thankfully, there are some simple ways to keep your password strong and varied while still remembering them all.
Create a Strong Password
Creating a strong password is a critical part of keeping your online accounts secure. A strong password is one that is separate from your login account’s password. It is something that only you would know. The best passwords are those that are longer than 6 characters and contain a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. You should also try to keep the password length to 12 characters or less. Keeping the length short makes it easier to write down the password and harder to remember, which means you’ll end up using it less often. You could also try using a password manager to help you create strong passwords. The password manager will create unique passwords for you and keep them synced across multiple devices so you don’t have to worry about remembering them.
Don’t Use Your Login Account’s Password
Some people use the same password for their login accounts as they do for their financial accounts. This is a bad practice for a few reasons. When you use the same password for multiple accounts, an attacker only needs to find one of those password pieces to access your accounts. It’s not difficult to do since most people keep their login information for all of the accounts they use on one piece of paper. If your login information is sitting on one piece of paper, in one place, an attacker could find it and access all of your online accounts. The other reason not to use your login account’s password is that it makes it much easier to recall your passwords. You are much more likely to write down your login information than create a new strong password.
Create Unique, Strong Passwords for Each Site
Regardless of whether you use a password manager, it’s a good idea to create unique passwords for each website you login to. Doing so not only helps prevent your online accounts from being accessed by others, it also helps prevent any one password from being used across multiple sites. If one password were to be cracked, it would be much easier to deal with the consequences if you remembered one unique password for each website you use. You can use a password manager to create strong and unique passwords for you, or you can use a password manager on your own computer. It’s important to not only keep track of the password for each site you log into, but also to keep track of which password you used for each site. This way, even if you forget which password you used for one site, you can go back and get it from your password manager. You may also want to keep a list of all of the passwords you create, just so you don’t forget which ones you’ve used.
Use a Password Manager
A password manager is a software program that helps you create strong and unique passwords while also keeping track of which passwords you’ve used for each website. The password manager will help you keep track of which passwords you’ve used for each site and also remember them for you. This allows you to simply enter the website address, without worrying about having the correct password memorized. There are a variety of password managers available, and it can be overwhelming to know what to look for when choosing one. Some of the most commonly recommended software include LastPass, 1Password, and KeePass.
Software to Help You with Strong Passwords
There are a number of password management software programs available to help you keep track of strong passwords, create strong and unique passwords, and remember them for you. Some of the most commonly recommended software include LastPass, 1Password, and KeePass.
4. Using Multi-Factor Authentication
One of the easiest ways to add an extra level of security to your online accounts is to enable two-factor authentication. This is when the site you are logging into requires not just your password but also a secondary form of security like a code sent via text message to your phone. So even if someone were to obtain your password, they would also need to have your phone to log in. This is an especially important feature if you are logging into a financial account. Many services, such as Gmail and Google accounts, support two-factor authentication, so it’s a good idea to enable it right away. Two-factor authentication is also a good idea if you use services that require you to submit your username and password to access. If someone were to steal your username and password, they would only be able to access your account with that information. But if they were also able to get your phone, they could log in without needing your password.
The most popular and susceptible elements of your digital control system are, by and large, passwords. In accordance with a Verizon study from 2017, 80% of hacking-related breaches involved stolen passwords that were insecure, simple to guess, or obtained through a phishing scam. Nowadays, criminals have no problem using techniques like social engineering and psychological manipulation to take advantage of security flaws in businesses. Some of the predictable human behavior that hackers might take advantage of in the modern environment includes poor password protection. There will be additional potential for security vulnerabilities to emerge as people continue to work from home and utilize their own devices. The issue with relying just on passwords to secure your company is that these solutions don't really give you much insight into the individual identities of individuals. Without a person's knowledge or permission, passwords are easily disseminated and misused. The account holder's level of effort and the security of their password largely determine the password's level of security. Let's face it: instead of the multi-symbol codes that our IT leaders advise, we have all utilized passwords that are simple to remember. This kind of security flaw is what has caused two-factor and multi-factor authentication to become more popular in digital security. With MFA, or multi-factor authentication, you have an additional layer of security guarding important accounts.
Some MFA systems need your employee to input their password and a code that was delivered to their phone in order to access an account. Other, more sophisticated technologies may make use of things like real keys or biometric information.
It's crucial that your staff members require more than simply a password to access sensitive information. This makes it far more difficult for crooks to access your important information.
How MFA Works To Secure Employee Information
Multi-factor authentication can take many various forms, as was already mentioned. Typically, this safe access control technique verifies the identification of your users using a variety of credentials that are specific to each person. It usually involves two or more of the following credentials: This identifies a pertinent user for an account using speech recognition software and biometric scanners.
This makes use of a device owned by the user, such as a smart key or card, to unlock things.
Something the user is aware of: A password, PIN, or the response to a security question, for example.
Multi-factor authentication adds an additional layer of protection, ensuring that a hacker cannot access the system even if one of the authentication elements, such as the password, is compromised. Because they won't be able to access one of the other credentials, they will be compromised. For example, if a password is stolen from a computer left at a coffee shop, the customer's biometric information or unique pin will not be accessible to the burglar. As a result, MFA is among the best and most straightforward solutions to secure your Google technology.
Adhere to MFA for strategy
For many businesses, multi-factor authentication is just one element of a broader security and privacy strategy. These tools have a negligible cost associated with them, both in terms of the real cost and the time it takes to train your staff on using new services. The advantages that these extra precautions can offer, however, considerably outweigh the very little cost associated with using MFA technologies. Although incorporating MFA into your security and privacy strategy may initially cause a minor inconvenience, it also increases your likelihood of being in compliance with the most recent security and privacy laws and guidelines. Companies who go above and beyond to secure their employees and consumer data stand out from the competition, whether or not a crisis, like the COVID-19 epidemic, is present.
Contact Apps Admin right away for additional details if you're unsure whether MFA is one of the instruments you should be adopting to defend your business in this new digital world. We are always willing to assist.
5. Use Encryption Software
· 
What is Encryption?
The public's trust on the internet is decreasing. Online snoopers, who frequently work for businesses and security organizations, pose a persistent threat to our privacy and personal information. When we exchange critical files or financial information, this is very dangerous. To fix this issue mankind found simple method called Encryption. Encryption is a path to keep data secure that send and receive over the internet. That can include very sensitive information like passwords, credit card information. It prevents unauthorized access to important data. In order to encrypt user data so that only intended receivers can access the contents, mathematical techniques are used. To put it another way, think about encryption as turning your data into a language that only you and your recipient understand, and more critically, a language that a cyber - criminal cannot translate.
· What Is Encryption Software?
It is a tool to protect your stored data from eavesdroppers. By using one or more encryption algorithms, encryption software encrypts data or files. It is used by security staff to prevent unauthorized people from viewing data.
Each
file or data packet encrypted by encryption software often needs a key to be
unlocked and restored to its original state. The software generates this key,
which is then exchanged between the sender and receiver of the data/file.
Therefore, even if the encrypted data is hacked or removed, it will still be
impossible to decrypt it without the encryption key. The most popular types of
encryption software include disk encryption, network encryption, file
encryption, and email encryption.
· How Does Encryption Work?
Your message's trip through an encryption algorithm starts with a key. Of course, that is a long line of ones and zeroes rather than a real key. Data is encrypted using a unique key that is generated by an algorithm. Although these keys might be used for both encryption and decryption, they are now often created independently to increase security. Of course, the harder it is to crack the key, the more complicated it is. As a result, increasingly complicated encryption methods are being developed. Below picture explains it clearly.
The encryption tool uses the key, often referred to as a public key, to process all the data packets after it is generated. The recipient is then sent the key along with the data. When the communication reaches its receiver, the receiver's encryption software decrypts the data using the private key. Your personal key is never shared and serves as a kind of identity verification for the recipient. In order to decrypt the message, it first requests access from the public key.
There are many types of encryption ways available. Some are complex and hard to use but security is high, and some are easy to use, and security is low. But the distribution of the key distinguishes two primary types of encryptions. These two types can explain as below picture.
When encrypting your data, you may encounter a variety of algorithms in addition to key distribution. Triple DES, AES, RSA, Blowfish, Twofish, FPE are best encryption algorithms use nowadays.
6. Using Firewalls, Antivirus Software and Anti-Malware
What Do Firewalls Do?
By blocking malicious or superfluous network traffic, firewalls defend your computer or network from outside cyberattacks. Additionally, firewalls can stop harmful software from connecting to a computer or network over the internet. Firewalls can be set up to permit relevant and essential data through while blocking data from specific places (Ex: - computer network addresses), ports, or programs.
There are two types of main firewalls in use.
- Software – Many Operating Systems have built in firewall for additional security purpose, even if you have a firewall externally. Software firewalls have the advantage of being able to regulate the particular network behavior of individual apps on a system. The fact that a software firewall is often installed on the same machine that is being secured is a serious drawback. Being on the same system can make it harder for the firewall to find and block harmful activities. Software firewalls may also have the drawback of requiring individualized management and updating if there is one installed on each computer in a network.
- Hardware - These actual objects, which are often referred to as network firewalls, are placed in between your computer and the internet. Small office/home office routers with integrated firewall functions are widely available from vendors and some internet service providers. Hardware-based firewalls are very practical for securing a number of machines and managing network traffic that attempts to get through them. Hardware-based firewalls have the benefit of adding another line of defense against attacks that target desktop computing systems. They are independent devices, which has the drawback that skilled personnel are needed to support their configuration and maintenance.
- What is Anti-Virus?
Antivirus software looks for, finds, and eliminates viruses as well as other harmful programs like Trojans, worms, adware, and more. This software is designed to be used as a preventative measure for online security to stop threats before they can damage your machine. While you may believe that your computer is secure as long as you avoid visiting dubious websites, hackers actually employ many more subtle methods to infect your PCs, necessitating the usage of a powerful antivirus program to stay one step ahead of them.
The results of a virus entering your computer could be fatal. Numerous types of malicious behaviors can result from viruses. They have the ability to destroy your device, monitor your personal accounts, or spy on you using your camera. Viruses can be used by hackers to steal your personal data, including account logins and financial data. The use of this can then be made for identity theft, phishing scams, and other crimes. Network protection is now more crucial than ever because of these potential repercussions.
- What is Anti-Malware?
Malware is any software created with the intention of causing harm, including data theft, computer damage, and privacy violation in general. When a victim clicks on a suspicious link or download, malware frequently spreads. Malware is a broad phrase that covers a variety of kinds, from viruses to ransomware.
However, fewer individuals consider installing anti-malware software. Antivirus software provides all-purpose defense against a variety of known viruses, whereas anti-malware software is more specialized in that it is designed to combat Trojans and ransomware. By preventing harmful programs from downloading or causing havoc on your computer, antivirus software often focuses on prevention. In that it hunts out and removes harmful files that have already been downloaded and are posing problems, anti-malware is more reactive.
So using Anti-virus and Anti-malware software is more important for data transfer and secure your data.
7. Participate in Routine Cybersecurity Training
7.1 What is Cybersecurity Training?
- Cyber security training can be termed as a type of training to educate employees about potential IT risks and vulnerabilities. This training enables employees to identify potential cyberthreats when working with computers over the Internet.
- Cybercriminals are always trying to get into systems through various methods.
- To minimize the risks of exposure, it is essential to train employees to protect sensitive data, to identify problems, to prevent access to personal information and access to the account.
- Most security breaches are caused by human error.
- That is why cyber security training is very important for the information security of businesses/organizations.
7.2 Why is Cybersecurity Training Important?
The main purpose of cyber security training is to protect themselves from cyber criminals who are trying to harm their organization or business.
Cybercriminals may obtain financial information of organizations, customer information and even demand ransom. The primary goal of these attacks is money, and besides, the damage of data exposure can be even greater.
7.3 Cyber Security Training Types for Employees
Investing money for cyber security has become an essential issue at present and many organizations are paying attention to it. An important point expected from this is to give access to a proper training program to the staff.
The methods and tools used by cybercriminals for attacks change regularly. Therefore, this training should be updated.
There are many exercises like attack simulating, detailed reporting, cyber security awareness building etc.
1. Cybersecurity Awareness Training
2. Specialized Cyber Security Training
3. Compliance Security Training
1. Cybersecurity Awareness Training
This training is a basic cyber security training. It focuses on about increasing awareness of possible cyber threats of employees. This training can include few types,
- Social Engineering training
- Internet Security Training
- E-Mail Security
- Information sharing procedure
2. Specialized Cyber Security Training
This program is the most advanced training. This training gives deep understanding of cyber security and build up their skills to build up their defenses. Usually, this training gives to IT roles like security analysts. This training can be including OWASP top 10, network security system security, penetration testing etc.
3. Compliance Security Training
This training focusing on the law side of the cyber security. Since, privacy is the most crucial in the present, government always trying to protect it changing rules and regulations. So, as a company we have to focus on these things also.
8. Stay Alert for Phishing or Other Attacks
8.1 What is a Phishing Attack?
Phishing Attack is a type of Social Engineering Attack mostly used by attackers to steal user data like login credentials and credit card numbers. Most phishing attacks happen when an attacker is disguised as a trusted source sends the user an email or text message. The user is tricked into clicking on a malicious link which leads to the installation of some Malware, freezing the system as in a Ransom ware Attack or giving the attacker the total control of the user’s system.
8.2 Results of a Phishing Attack
These attacks can have a varied range of results. Some can have a little impact while others can have devastating impacts. For individuals the impacts can be stealing of Funds from bank accounts, unauthorized purchases from the credit card or identity theft. If the phishing attack is larger which targets a certain company or government organization, it’s known as an Advanced Persistent Threat (ATP) event. In a scenario like this employees are compromised and security parameters are bypassed resulting in distribution of malware inside the network, gaining administrative access to the whole network and secure and private Data. If an organization becomes a victim to such attack they can suffer from serious financial losses in addition to decline in market share, loss of reputation and customer trust. If a phishing attack turns into a Ransom ware attack then it becomes more deadly as the organization has to stop their ongoing operations and pay the ransom which would be a huge amount.
8.3 Phishing Techniques
There are 2 main phishing techniques;
1. Email Phishing Scams
Email phishing is a numbers game; that means an attacker sends out thousands of malicious emails at once. Even if only a few people fall for this scam still it sums up for a higher net value. Attackers use some techniques to increase their success rates. First they design their fake emails just like actual valid emails from trusted sources using the same phrasing, typefaces, logos, headers and signatures. This makes the receiver not suspect anything about them and leads to clicking on that malicious link. Also the attackers try to push the receiver into clicking in a hurry by creating a sense of urgency, like for example they send an email saying that the recipient’s account will be expired before a certain date. By applying such pressure the user becomes more careless and more prone to error. Lastly the malicious links resemble legitimate links but if you look closely you will see that they contain misspelled domain names or extra subdomains.
2. Spear Phishing
Spear phishing targets a certain specific person or organization unlike in email phishing scams where it targets random people. It is a more advanced in-depth version of phishing that requires special inside knowledge about the targeted person or organization.
8.4 How to Prevent Phishing Attacks
To be protected against phishing attacks it requires steps taken by users and the organization. The main protection is Vigilance because you can identify a fake email if you look carefully enough. Here are 10 steps you can use to prevent Phishing Attacks.
1. Know What a Phishing Scam Looks Like
New phishing attack methods are being developed all the time, but them all share similarities that can be used to identify them. There are many informative sites that will keep you up to date about latest phishing attacks and their key identifiers. The earlier you find out about these cyber-attacks the better chance you have fighting against them.
2. Don’t Click on Suspicious Links
It’s generally not advisable to click on a link in an email or message. Even if you know the sender. The least you should do is hover over the link to see if the destination is correct. Some phishing attacks are fairly sophisticated, and the destination URL can look like a carbon copy of the genuine site, set up to record keystrokes or steal login/credit card information. If you can go straight to the site through your search engine, rather than click on the link, then you should do so.
3. Install Anti-Phishing Add-Ons
Most browsers nowadays will enable you to download and install add-ons that will spot the signs of a malicious website or alert you about known phishing sites.
4. Never Give Your Information to Unsecure Sites
If the URL of the website doesn’t start with “https”, or you cannot see a closed padlock icon next to the URL, never enter any sensitive information or download files from that site. Even though all the sites without security certificates may not be intended for phishing scams it’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Rotate Passwords Regularly
This is a fairly simple tip. Never use the same password for multiple accounts or use the same password for the same account for a longer period of time. You should make it a habit to rotate your passwords regularly so that even if an attacker gets your password you can minimize the damage even if you were unaware that your password was leaked.
6. Don’t Ignore Updates
Always update your device and its apps. Security patches and updates are released for a reason. They make your device keep up to date with protection against modern cyber-attacks. They patch up the vulnerabilities you have in your system which can be used to take advantage by an attacker.
7. Install Firewalls
Firewalls are an effective method to prevent external attacks. They act as a shield between your computer and the attacker. Both desktop firewalls and network firewalls when used in tandem can enhance your security and reduce the chance of an attacker infiltrating your system.
8. Don’t be Tempted By Pop-Ups
Pop-Ups are not just irritating but they are often linked to malware as a part of attempted phishing attacks. Using ad blockers and pop-up blockers will give you protection against these most of the time. If a pop-up does manage to evade the ad-blocker though, don’t be tempted to click! Occasionally pop-ups will try and deceive you with where the “Close” button is, so always try and look for an “x” in one of the corners.
9. Never Give Out Important Information Unless You Must
As a general rule and common sense unless you trust the site 100% you should never give out your private and confidential information like your credit card info. If you must provide the details make sure that the site is genuine and trustworthy first.
10. Have a Data Security Platform to Spot Signs of an Attack
Having a data security platform helps to take some of the pressure off the IT team by automatically alerting on suspicious user behavior and unwanted changes to files. If an attacker has access to your sensitive information, data security platforms can help to identify the affected account so that you can take actions to prevent further damage. It helps to detect attacks fast and to react in a timely manner when an attack happens.
9. Keep Work and Personal Devices Separate
Demonstrating the use of personal devices for work is common among home or remote workers. That's why a notification is needed in this regard. Many personal devices use outdated, cracked applications installed without scanning for viruses. It is very easy to steal data from these. Institutional devices prevent such installation etc.
Also, some people use corporate devices for their personal work. Insecure websites are accessed for downloading movies, games, applications etc. Also unsecured pen drives etc. are inserted into the devices. Due to such facts, the computer systems of organizations may become very vulnerable.
Therefore, all remote workers should keep separate private devices for their personal activities and corporate devices for work activities.
Conclusion
While over 70% of Global employees work remotely from home at least once per week, there still aren’t a lot of resources that help to address the Cybersecurity risks introduced by remote work. In the past workplaces were not set up to work remotely, but the recent Corona Virus Pandemic resulted in Lockdowns in many countries that resulted in Companies and Organizations to work from home. There is a lot that can be done at the infrastructure level and the individual level to keep Data and Information secure. But the Truth is A Company’s confidential Information is only as secure as its weakest link.
But although this is a new Field in working, you can still implement some level of security to ensure your information security. By following cybersecurity remote work best practices employees, employers and organizations can avoid risks and ensure safety. Following the above-mentioned Safety precautions and methods can guarantee your company’s information security while working from home.
All the Employees and Employers of a company should be well aware of these above-mentioned safety precautions when working from home. By practicing these remote-work best practices the security of the information & data of the company or organization can be protected from outside potential cyberattacks and attackers. The employees should be instructed to follow them every time they work from home. And the management should check-in on them at least once a month to ensure if they follow them regularly. This can ensure the Information Security While Employees Work from Home.
Even once the pandemic fades, many predict that remote working will remain prevalent across multiple sectors. So, ensuring safety for these employees and their work is going to be a Regular thing. So, Companies should be more precautious and willing to ensure the security of these remote workers. And the only way they can do it is by following the above-mentioned safety practices and making aware to their workers to follow them also.
Recommendations
- Use licensed software and Anti-Virus software at home.
- Use centralized storage solution.
- Secure home Wi-Fi
- Keep operating systems and other software up to date.
- Use VPN
- Always access company network through via secure network.
- Don’t plug in any unusual devices to company devices.
- Beware about phishing links and E-Mails.
- Keep family members away from working devices.
References
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