In response to Covid-19 and advice from the government, many UK organisations are now implementing remote working schemes to ensure continued business productivity while users self isolate from home. The speed of these developments has left many IT leaders with limited time to make sure these new remote working schemes are not only efficient for accessibility and connectivity, but also security.

To help guide both our customers and the IT community in general on how to uphold cyber security best practices during this time, Altinet are ensuring to stay up to date with government advice, as well as suggestions from overseas businesses who have already experienced periods of forced isolation and overcame the technological challenges involved, to provide the most beneficial content and support possible. 

 

Key Cyber Security Changes to Implement Immediately as Remote Working Begins:

  • Identify your weaknesses early

To understand and combat any weaknesses, try Barracuda's Email Threat Scanner; the complimentary service designed to identify any threats sitting within your Office 365 environment with no disturbance to your emails. Following the scan, we'll provide you with a detailed report of any malicious content, identifying any high risk individuals. We'll then set up a session with our in house technicians in which they'll discuss the results with you, advising on how to reduce any risk posed.

 

  • Multi factor authentication

Adopting multi factor authentication schemes provide your network with an extra layer of security in reducing risks. With weak or stolen credentials being used by hackers for 95% of web application attacks, this additional step in reducing risk is advised.

 

  • Introduce User Education

Given the social engineering aspect of many attacks being targeted towards remote workers at the moment, it is vital that any staff members who will be working without regular supervision are given regular training on identifying and responding to advanced threats like Phishing and Account Takeover attempts. Find out more about Barracuda PhishLine here.

 

  • Understand Shared Responsibility & Backup Data

With the adoption of Office 365 applications heavily increasing as businesses turn to remote working schemes, companies must inform themselves of the shared responsibility model followed by most cloud service providers, which outlines data protection as full responsibility of the user themselves.
With this in mind, businesses should look to implement a backup solution that supports their SaaS data, such as Barracuda Cloud-to-Cloud Backup.


 

Remote Access is a Growing Requirement

Remote access is becoming progressively popular across organisations, with high speed internet and bring your own device (BYOD) schemes being commonly introduced, remote access is a widespread approach to work - in fact, around 62% of employees now regularly use remote access approaches to conduct their daily work.

Indeed, this approach to work allows room for flexibility, meaning employees can work from home or on the go. Of course, to reap the benefits of increased productivity without introducing new risks to the business, satisfactory security measures must be in place.

 

Get the White PaperWhite Paper: Secure Access for Remote & Mobile Workers

 

Securing Your Approach

Since remote access is becoming more and more prevalent, secure access to IT services, apps and data - for example online file sharing systems and email services such as Office 365 - is extremely important. Should disaster strike, businesses need a strategy in place to combat any threats which may creep in through unsecured access to a network, which is why a firewall is necessary for creating a secure environment for your employees to work in when they are away from their usual workplace.

 

How Barracuda's Cloud Gen Firewall Can Protect Your Mobile Workforce

Remote access and using applications securely requires a next generation firewall that incorporates security, control of applications, always on connectivity and ease of use. Barracuda's NG firewall family combines purpose built hardware and virtual appliances to provide your organisation with a protected network, particularly important when accessing your network remotely, whether it be site-to-site or client-to-site access. VPN capabilities ensure remote users of either nature can easily and securely access network resources without complex client configuration and management.

The Cloud Generation Firewall is able to filter data by assessing the contents of data packets passing through the network, compared to a more traditional firewall which may just inspect the port, source and IP address. In doing this, the nature of web traffic is easily deciphered.

This user friendly solution is managed via an easy to use web interface by intelligent deployment wizards, with no need for IT staff or additional training and the benefit of all inclusive pricing makes this an affordable necessity for network protection and reduce risk of data breach.

 

Get the White Paper

White Paper: Comprehensive Security for the Network Perimeter and Beyond