Over the last several years, the widespread acceptance of the remote model has radically changed the business landscape. The trend toward remote or hybrid working is strengthened by technological advances and a mindset change about how tasks can be executed. While companies were initially skeptical of such an arrangement, it turns out that remote working offers several benefits for both the employers and their employees. It offers flexibility and time-savings, reduced transportation costs, and the opportunity for a healthier work-life balance. Not only that, but remote workers also consistently report better job satisfaction and company loyalty than their colleagues tied to a central office.
Still, the remote model represents some significant challenges that companies must address to operate in a remote environment successfully. In particular, safeguarding corporate data outside the physical office and corporate network is a primary issue. Confidentiality risks and concerns include data escaping through endpoints, data integrity, data availability, loss of user visibility, and protecting regulatory compliance requirements. Logically, as the number of remote end-users accessing a network increases, the attack surface will also increase. If this situation is exacerbated by workers’ poor cybersecurity awareness, successful cyberattacks become more likely.
However, this is where the research takes an unexpected turn. According to a peer-reviewed study, the growing army of remote workers tends to be more aware of cybersecurity risks and threats than those who spend most of their time in a physical office. Remote workers also appear more likely to proactively take measures to prevent cyber threats from prospering.
The study followed 203 participants who recently shifted to a full-time remote working arrangement and 147 in-office workers across multiple U.S. companies. These participants were asked the same questions covering their understanding of cybersecurity threats and the actions they’ve taken to protect themselves and the company against them.
The findings revealed that remote workers were more aware and alert to cybersecurity threats on average and could more readily recognize cybersecurity protection measures compared with their office-based colleagues. The data also showed that remote workers were more likely to take precautionary measures to protect data. The study suggests that when individuals work from the office, they expect that the company will employ the necessary security countermeasures to address cyber threats and risks. Therefore, in-office workers may become less vigilant about cybersecurity awareness and take fewer personal steps to fortify their cybersecurity practices.
Conversely, remote workers are aware of the lack of an organizational cybersecurity framework and are, therefore, more mindful of exposing themselves to risk.
The Impact of Remote Workers’ Awareness
As uncomfortable as it may be for the IT department to admit, employees are typically the first line of defense against cybersecurity attacks. According to intelligence from Check Point Research, global cyberattacks increased by 38% in 2022 – with the primary access into corporate computer networks being through employees, often utilizing phishing emails.
The lockdowns of 2020 forced many companies to reestablish their operations in a remote environment quickly, increasing the potential “attack surface” and elevating the angst levels of security-minded organizations. Would employees working remotely take cybersecurity seriously? Four years later, the research suggests they did just that, and the risk of the remote model was not as elevated as once feared. Still, it remains to be seen if this heightened cybersecurity awareness and proactive behavior among remote workers will diminish over time. Studies indicate that cybersecurity awareness acquired through training tends to fade, so organizations with remote workers would be well-served to establish a regular training routine and awareness for their entire workforce.
As remote working arrangements become the rule rather than the exception, businesses must ensure that security complacency doesn’t set in.
Are you responsible for the data security of a Sarasota area SMB with remote employees? Alliance IT can help you implement a strategy of security protocols and employee training to protect your networks. Call us today to learn more about how our consulting and services can help your business to thrive.
