Reducing the IT Security Risks of Remote Work

In a report conducted by OpenVPN, surveying over 250 IT leaders, more than 1 in 3 organisations (36%) claim they have experienced a security incident because of a remote workers actions. Despite the survey respondents acknowledging the risk, 92 percent of respondents said they believe the benefits of remote work outweigh the risks.

Why are companies taking this remote work risk?

Why are companies risking remote working? Productivity, productivity, productivity. Companies are continuously looking to get the most out of their employees, and in the 2018 Mobile Workforce Report released by Avast Business, 1 in 5 workers said that they are more productive in a public location such as a café or a library. However, employers will need to exercise caution when implementing such remote working benefits, as 18% of workers said they were concerned with the security risk that accompanies remote working.

Working on the go - a major benefit of Remote Work credit:skillcrush

Over half of employees surveyed would rather work remotely than get a pay rise

Employers are now looking at ways to combat such risks, and have even been known to offer pay rises to employees if they return to being office-based.

Highlighting the difficulty that businesses face, Avast’s report revealed that with over half (52%) of all employees would rather take a pay cut than be restricted to an office. A further 12% would opt for home working and flexibility over a pay rise, even if the pay rise was as much as 25%.

Combatting the issue: build your own personnel firewall

Before seeking external help, there are internal steps that employers can take to tackle the growing issue of IT security.

Kevin Riley, IT Business Manager at First Recruitment Group suggests employers try using methods of positive reinforcement to make employees the first line of defence against IT security threats.

“It is commonplace to punish those that regularly breach security guidelines or show poor security practice, but I have found through my experience at First Recruitment Group, and other organisations, that there is a real benefit in rewarding employees who adopt good cyber security practice.

“Employees are less likely to shy away from security training when they are sent encouraging messages about their internet security, and often have suggestions of their own. An engaged workforce is often a safe workforce.”

The IT Security Solution according to industry specialist Raj Samani

Beyond the improvements that can be made internally, the wide exposure to risk has led to a necessity for professional IT security in the workplace. In an attempt to mitigate the risks, companies are now seeking external support from IT security specialists.

Raj Samani, Chief Scientist and Fellow at McAfee recently said, “To ensure that data is protected in a 5G-connected world, security must be embedded at every touchpoint – from the cloud, to the network, to the router in people’s home and all connected devices.

“As the user experience becomes quicker and more seamless, people will be tempted to connect to the internet on-the-go even more, across multiple devices. The level of data being transmitted across networks and stored within the cloud will increase with these faster speeds. In turn, the number of devices being connected will grow at an exponential rate expanding the threat surface significantly.”

Sooner rather than later: Acknowledging the IT security skills gap

As companies operating remote-working continue to grow, so do the costly risks associated with their IT security.

Businesses should address the rising threat to their cyber security and IT infrastructure sooner rather than later, as those that wait are likely to pay higher rates for IT security professionals in the coming years.

Demand for IT security talent reached a new peak in Q4 2018, with cyber security roles accounting for 3.4% of roles across the UK IT industry – a sharp increase from the 1.8% reported two years earlier.

Rising salaries for UK IT security roles

This rise in demand comes with increased rates. As of April 2019, the median salary for UK cyber security roles has risen to £52,500, increasing by more than 10.5% since April 2017.

With demand for cyber security skills set to skyrocket over the next few years, businesses should act fast by evaluating their approach to IT security and remote work operations. Breaches could become damaging not only financially, but in the public’s perception of the company.

Avoid the GDPR data breach fines

First Recruitment Group’s IT Business Manager, Kevin Riley, commented, “In light of GDPR regulations introduced in 2018, a data security breach could have crippling financial consequences. One major communication network was fined a record £400,000 for the manner in which they stored data. The reputation of a company could be permanently tarnished should news of a breach become public.

“My experience in the IT industry has made me more than familiar with the difficulties in hiring much in-demand IT security experts. We combat this through our fantastic network of IT talent.”

Contact us

If you have concerns over the IT security of your company and remote work, have a chat with our team today by calling 01925 907000 or email Kevin Riley directly on kevin.riley@firstrg.com

Find out more about our full IT capability by viewing our brochure here.