Overview of Cybersecurity Risks for Remote & Hybrid Workers

Remote Workers

Overview of Cybersecurity Risks for Remote & Hybrid Workers

The rise of remote work – whether employees working from home full-time or splitting time between home and office – has introduced new security challenges. When away from the office’s secure perimeter, employees may be on home networks, using personal devices, or simply out of the direct oversight of IT. Cybercriminals have taken note: 91% of cybersecurity professionals reported an increase in cyber attacks due to remote working. Home Wi-Fi networks might be poorly secured, and family members sharing devices can accidentally introduce risks. There’s also the problem of devices moving around – laptops taken to coffee shops or co-working spaces could connect to unsafe networks or be stolen. Phishing attacks have ramped up against remote staff, often using lures like “important HR update on COVID policy” or fake videoconference invites, exploiting the fact that remote workers rely heavily on digital comms. We’ve also seen a spike in social engineering calls where attackers call employees at home pretending to be IT support, since they can’t walk over to your desk in person. Additionally, remote workers may use more cloud services and VPNs, which become targets.

Another risk factor: distraction. It turns out remote employees can be more distracted, and 57% of remote workers admit they are more distracted when working from home. Distraction can lead to clicking on something without the usual caution. The data also suggests that security incidents involving remote work can be more costly – one report noted breaches where remote work was a factor cost on average $173k more than otherwise. Lastly, consider that during the pandemic there was a 400% increase in cyber scams in just one month as remote work surged – illustrating how opportunistic attackers have been. In summary, remote workers broaden the attack surface beyond the corporate walls, and attackers are actively probing that extended perimeter.

Importance of Cybersecurity for Remote Employees

Remote work is here to stay for many organizations, and so must be the security measures to support it. When employees are remote, they often become the front line of defense on their own. There’s no IT person walking by to notice a suspicious pop-up on their screen; the responsibility falls even more on the individual. Security awareness is crucial so that remote employees know how to maintain a secure working environment: e.g., securing their home router, using a VPN, being cautious of public Wi-Fi, and keeping work data confidential even in a home setting. A single compromised home device can become a pivot point into the corporate network if that device connects via VPN.

Also, remote staff might not receive security reminders as often as in-office staff, so dedicated remote security training is needed to fill that gap. There’s also compliance and company policy considerations: many companies extended their security policies to cover home offices, requiring things like screen locks, approved devices, etc. Employees must be made aware of these expectations to follow them. For the company, demonstrating that remote workers are trained and following protocol can be important for compliance.

Culturally, remote work can sometimes create a sense of isolation – a remote worker might hesitate to call IT when unsure, or might not hear about a security alert as quickly. Thus, awareness training empowers them to make the right decisions independently. Lastly, remote workers often blend work and personal tech more than office workers – they might use the same home computer for both, or the line between personal email and work email can blur. This makes them vulnerable to attacks that cross over. Educating them on separating work/personal and maintaining good cyber hygiene at home is vital. In essence, cybersecurity awareness is what enables remote employees to do their jobs safely without the physical security net of the office.

How Nexsecure Supports Remote Workforce Security

Nexsecure offers specialized content and features aimed at securing remote and hybrid work environments. We have training modules explicitly for remote work security: for example, short videos on “Secure Home Office Setup” that walk users through steps like changing default router passwords, enabling Wi-Fi encryption, and using privacy screens. We also provide guidance on using company VPNs, recognizing when a VPN phishing attack might happen, and the importance of only using IT-approved collaboration tools. Our phishing simulations for remote workers often mimic scenarios they’d face: perhaps a phony Zoom meeting invite or a fake home delivery notification during work hours. By simulating these, we train users to stay vigilant in their home setting.

Nexsecure also sends monthly tips for remote work as part of our threat updates – quick reads about recent scams targeting WFH employees or best practices, keeping the knowledge fresh. Another key aspect: we adapt our training delivery to remote contexts. Our platform is cloud-based and mobile-friendly, so remote employees can access training from anywhere, even on personal tablets or phones if needed. We also integrate with email and chat platforms: for instance, if your company uses Slack or Teams heavily for remote communication, we can send security briefings or quizzes through those channels to meet employees where they are.

Recognizing that many remote workers have flexible schedules, our training is self-paced and available on-demand – they don’t have to join a webinar at a set time; they can take a module whenever it fits, ensuring higher completion rates. To build a community, Nexsecure can also facilitate something like remote “lunch and learn” security webinars or group challenges that remote teams can do together online, fostering engagement. We emphasize that security is a shared responsibility even if we’re not all in one place. Also, our reporting can filter by remote vs. office employees, if you track that, to identify if remote teams need extra focus. In summary, we modify both content and delivery to ensure remote workers receive effective security awareness education, and we keep them feeling connected to the company’s security mission even from afar.

Benefits of Nexsecure Training for Remote Teams

• Safe Home Office Environments: By educating employees on securing their home network and devices, the likelihood of a home-based breach goes down. This means your corporate data is safer even when accessed from home. For example, an employee who learns to secure their Wi-Fi and recognize phishing attempts at home is much less likely to let malware onto their work laptop.
• Maintained Productivity with Security: Remote workers who are well-trained can avoid devastating scenarios like ransomware encrypting their home machine or losing hours to a phishing-induced account lockout. Training helps them avoid incidents that disrupt their ability to do their job. In short, security awareness prevents downtime and keeps remote staff productive.
• Protection of Company Data Everywhere: If an employee is working from a café, do they know to use a VPN and not to discuss sensitive info loudly? Our training instills habits that ensure data is protected beyond the office. That includes using screen privacy filters in public, not leaving laptops unattended, and being cautious with printed documents at home. This reduces leaks or breaches outside the controlled office environment.
• Confidence in Using Remote Tools: Many remote employees had to adopt new tools quickly. Nexsecure’s guidance on securely using these tools not only improves security but also user confidence. They won’t be as susceptible to impersonation or misuse of those tools, which can otherwise be avenues for attack.
• Human Connection and Culture for Security: When you include remote employees in these trainings and campaigns, they feel more connected to the company. Running security challenges or sharing phishing simulation results with the whole remote team builds camaraderie and reinforces responsibility.
• Lower Risk of Costly Mistakes: Remote work blurs lines, and mistakes like using a personal email for work or saving work files on an unsecured home PC can happen. Awareness training consistently reminds and teaches staff to avoid these pitfalls, cultivating remote employees who are just as security-conscious as those in HQ.

Why Nexsecure is Ideal for Remote Workforce Training

Nexsecure not only has content for remote security – we ourselves embrace remote work, meaning we understand the nuances deeply. Our team has fine-tuned the remote training experience. We ensure that our platform performance is great over home internet connections. Many clients appreciate that Nexsecure can unify their security message across both in-office and remote staff seamlessly. We treat remote workers as first-class citizens of security.

We also adapt to emerging trends like the home office IoT explosion – if employees start using smart speakers or other devices, we incorporate advice on those. Our agility in content updates means as remote work evolves, our training keeps pace. Another plus: we provide family security tips as an extra – recognizing remote employees might share devices, we have optional modules that employees can even share with their household, covering online safety for kids or spouses. This holistic approach not only helps protect the employee’s home environment, but employees appreciate the personal value, which boosts their engagement.

With Nexsecure, you’re not getting a generic training that doesn’t fit – you’re getting a solution that’s tailor-made for the remote work reality. Many of our customers saw during COVID-19 that our quick roll-out of remote-specific content significantly reduced incidents compared to peers. In choosing Nexsecure, you’re partnering with a provider that is ahead of the curve in remote security awareness – we make sure out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind when it comes to cybersecurity.

FAQs – Remote Work Security and Nexsecure

Q: Our employees are not very tech-savvy at home. Can they really secure their home networks/devices without IT support?
A: You’d be surprised how a little guidance goes a long way. Nexsecure’s remote security training breaks down the basics in simple, non-technical terms. We include step-by-step visuals for things. The goal is to empower even non-IT folks to take a few key actions. Of course, not everyone will become a home IT guru, but if each employee does the minimum, the risk drops significantly. Many companies also create a checklist for home office security using our content, which employees can follow. Overall, yes – with our user-friendly training, most people can handle basic home security measures. Think of it like personal finance: not everyone is an accountant, but anyone can learn to protect themselves from obvious scams or unsafe practices with some education.

Q: How do you keep remote employees engaged in training when they already suffer from virtual meeting fatigue?
A: We tackle this in a few ways. First, our modules are short and interactive, not long lectures. We aim for “edutainment” – educating while entertaining a bit, which is a nice break from a dull meeting. Second, we often incorporate scenario-based learning where the remote employee can see themselves in the story. We typically schedule brief monthly micro-lessons or one slightly longer module quarterly. By spacing things out and keeping them brief, it doesn’t add to fatigue. Also, we use different media: one time it’s a video, another it’s an interactive quiz game, another time it might be a funny infographic. Variety fights boredom. Finally, we encourage feedback – remote workers can tell us which parts they enjoyed or not via quick surveys, and we adjust. Because of these strategies, many remote employees tell us they actually look forward to our content as a refreshing change of pace.

Q: If an employee works remotely from another country, does Nexsecure cover any special considerations?
A: Yes, we include training about traveling with devices and working securely from anywhere. For instance, we have tips for using public Wi-Fi safely, using VPNs, and being cautious at travel hotspots. For those permanently in other countries, as long as they’re part of your company, they receive the same training. We can also add content specific to a region if there are unique threats. Moreover, if there are legal implications like cross-border data handling rules, those can be emphasized for those relevant employees. Nexsecure’s platform doesn’t restrict access based on location – wherever your team is, they can log in and continue learning. We’ve got a “Working Securely on the Go” module that is practically a must-do for traveling executives and remote folks who move around.

Q: Our company uses a lot of communication tools – can Nexsecure help train employees on spotting scams on those platforms too?
A: Definitely. Phishing isn’t limited to email. We have content on “Business Communication Platform Security” which covers things like Slack/Teams messages, corporate SMS, etc.. Our phishing simulations provide sample screenshots and scenarios to discuss. If you’ve had specific incidents. The key is we encourage a mindset of caution across all digital channels – email, IM, phone. And if needed, we can push reminders or micro-training through those same tools.

Q: Do you offer any resources for the family members of remote employees? Sometimes an employee’s child or spouse might inadvertently affect work security.
A: This is a great point. Yes, we do have some optional resources like a “Home Cyber Safety for Families” guide that we can provide to employees. It covers basics that are beneficial for the whole household: how to create strong passwords, avoiding scams on social media, etc. While our primary training is for the employee, we encourage them to share relevant advice with their families. Ultimately, a cyber secure home is good for everyone. We find that when employees see the personal benefit, they become even more invested in the training.