Putting in place stringent security measures on endpoints is becoming as important as ever. With the rise in the number of remote workers, coupled with devices being under threat from internal and external attacks, companies need to be more vigilant. To secure your sensitive company data, it is recommended to install an EDR client in your system.
Remote Work in the New Normal
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed companies to implement remote work like we’ve never seen before. According to data, by the end of 2021, 25% to 30% of employees will still be working from home multiple days a week. For many organizations, work from home policies has become the new norm as businesses get head-to-head with the reality of adaptation.
We’re all trying to figure out how to keep our businesses afloat in this new work setup while also ensuring that we have the resources to fulfill our goals. Unfortunately, remote working exposes many enterprises to a security risk that they may not have completely comprehended or addressed previously.
The growing trend of remote work means that there are a lot of employee workstations located outside of the office. Staff and contractors alike are now connecting to company systems without even a firewall protecting them.
The boom of remote work means there are many workstations located outside the corporate network. There are millions of workers and contractors now connecting to the enterprise via home networks without any firewall protecting them. At the same time, security professionals are expected to monitor and maintain visibility 24 hours a day, seven days a week while working remotely.
Unfortunately, threat actors are exploiting this condition. Social engineering attacks are being used to trick users into releasing corporate passwords or downloading malware and ransomware.
And just because you’re a small company doesn’t mean you’re already exempted from cyber-attackers. Ransomware is motivated by monetary gain, so any organization could be a target. Threat actors will most likely control any unprotected devices – particularly personal devices – and wait until they are reconnected to the business network before launching a ransomware attack.
To prevent this from happening, you need to deploy an EDR client for remote workers. Let’s delve further and discuss some tips that can be implemented to secure your organization’s essential data.
1. Antivirus shouldn’t be the only security solution to use
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems are designed to work outside of a company’s network. These tools keep malware at bay while also allowing for threat detection. They also allow you to take rapid action, such as blocking new malware or deleting malware from systems.
If you’re thinking of getting an upgrade, now’s the time to consider installing a next-gen EDR client to get a complete visibility of your endpoint devices – whether they are on or off the network.
2. Put in place multi-factor authentication (MFA) or Two Factor Authentication (2FA) on all applications
Have you activated multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA) on your internal applications and your enterprise virtual private network (VPN)?
Multifactor authentication is a security mechanism that verifies a user’s identity before permitting them to login or proceed with a transaction. Individuals will be asked to provide multiple credentials to ensure that only authorized people can access a private network.
MFA may be required to determine the legitimacy of users accessing external applications like Microsoft Office 365, cloud enterprise resource planning, CRM platforms, corporate social media accounts, and others.
3. Use a VPN
Employees who are travelling for mission-critical business may be using their mobile devices to work from a coffee shop or hotel. Requiring them to use a VPN will keep data private and prevent the company system from prying eyes.
4. Regularly install patches
You need to have a proactive patch management program. Failure to patch systems, especially those accessible to the Internet, can leave you vulnerable to attacks. It’ll only be a matter of time before something disastrous occurs. Avoid downtime and loss of data by providing up-to-date patches.
5. Ensure you have round-the-clock security monitoring
You need to keep your focus on IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and endpoints 24/7. With many employees working off-site beyond normal business hours, you need to add security controls that will protect your organization’s assets.
Comodo: Providing Additional Layer of Defense For Your Network
Next-generation EDR client solutions like Comodo can notify security teams of malicious activities, enable rapid investigation, filter out false positives, and contain attacks on endpoints before they wreak havoc to your network. Contact us now to keep up with the current security challenges.
