April 19, 2023
As we’ve written in earlier blogs, more and more businesses are adopting digital workspaces to enable their employees to work remotely and collaboratively. A hybrid working model has many benefits, including increased flexibility, an expanded talent pool, and enhanced productivity. Despite the advantages, digital workspaces also come with their own set of threats. Businesses should take proactive steps to mitigate these threats and maximize the benefits of digital workspaces.
Cybersecurity is one of the biggest threats to digital workspaces. Cybercriminals are always hunting for vulnerabilities to exploit, steal valuable information, or hold it for ransom. Adopting a strong cybersecurity strategy is critical to mitigating the threat cyber criminals pose. It includes adopting a robust password policy, multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, and security audits. Organizations may choose to adopt a Zero Trust strategy to control access further and reduce the possibility of threats. Educating employees on cybersecurity best practices and how to spot potential threats is also essential.
Security threats aren’t only external – they can also come from inside an organization; the human factor is critical to IT security. It could be a disgruntled employee who leaks sensitive information to embarrass the organization or a well-meaning employee inadvertently clicking a link that causes a breach. Organizations should limit employee access to sensitive information to mitigate this threat, monitor employee activity, and provide regular cybersecurity training.
Shadow IT refers to using unauthorized software or applications within a business. It can include employees using personal email accounts or cloud storage services to share sensitive information. Shadow IT can increase the risk of data breaches and complicate maintaining a secure and compliant environment. Organizations can alleviate this threat by providing employees with the necessary tools and applications to perform their jobs. Network monitoring and regular audits of the organization’s digital workspace are also advised.
Cloud-based applications and storage can be vulnerable to security breaches. Fortunately, there are steps organizations can take to minimize this threat. Selecting the right cloud providers is also essential. Cloud providers should have robust security measures in place, such as encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection. Organizations should also limit sensitive data access and monitor cloud activity for suspicious behavior.
Another critical threat is data loss. Data loss can result from incidents like hardware failure, human error, or cyber-attacks. Organizations should implement a robust backup and disaster recovery plan to ensure business continuity should data loss occur. It includes regular backups to an offsite location, testing backups, and documenting a response plan for a data loss event.
Whether you’re starting your digital workspace journey or want to ensure you’re protected against threats – Dewpoint’s experts are here to guide you. We can help you baseline your security posture with an assessment, evaluate cloud options based on your business needs, or develop a disaster recovery plan to protect your organization from data loss. Chat with one of our experts today.