Cloud cybersecurity challenges will only become more prominent in the year ahead as employees move more to remote and hybrid work setups. This explosion in access points and portals will inevitably, according to some experts, create a cybersecurity skills gap sure to heighten new and existing threats.
In this article, we look at five challenges, in particular, that the cloud will place before business owners and their employees.
1. Remote And Hybrid Work Cyberthreats Will Increase
Remote and hybrid work jobs have surged in the last two years with the onset of COVID-19 and the subsequent workplace restrictions that businesses have enacted. Data shows that the number of remote workers in 2019 was around 9 percent. By the end of next year, that figure was estimated to include a quarter of the workforce.
Inevitably, hackers will be looking for new ways to target SMBs that have decided to make this transition for all or some of their staff. Employees not being as closely monitored leaves many vulnerabilities through lackluster cyberattack training and the use of personal devices to conduct company business.
2. Scammers Are Upping Their Phishing Game
One of the easiest ways for scammers to access private networks is phishing. This particular cyberattack is generally associated with email. Employees can be tricked into thinking an email is legitimate if it appears to have been sent by a familiar source. This sneaky tactic coerces employees into clicking on links embedded internally and sharing sensitive information (like passwords).
The FBI has noticed a sharp increase in email phishing since 2019. Last year, they noted that more than 240,000 victims had reported around $50 million in losses through this one type of attack. Unfortunately, just because you run a small, local business in the northern suburbs of Fort Worth doesn’t mean you’re immune to these problems. Hackers don’t care about the size of your business as long as they can steal sensitive information that they can leverage to make a profit or gain control over you.
3. Web Browsers Offer Bigger Targets
Let’s say there are different viruses targeting Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Mozilla. You’re not sure which browsers your employees are using to access the virtual network. That gives your IT department a lot more to worry about than if you channeled all your employees to one browser.
Attackers know this, and they see big opportunities in malware attacks on browsers of all kinds. All it takes is one compromised user account to find a way in. Controlling the threat as much as you can gives you the upper hand.
4. Business Devices Become Personal Devices
As a business, you create vulnerabilities when you turn employees loose to do company business on personal computers. You can’t monitor the existing threats on those computers, and certain malware and viruses can serve as a backdoor into your business network and proprietary information.
Without proper hardware and software restrictions, you are leaving many vulnerable areas in your infrastructure. You’re also increasing the likelihood of over-taxing your in-house IT staff.
5. Cybercriminals See Opportunities In The IoT
One other critical cybersecurity threat that most businesses overlook is the Internet of Things. Your IT team may be used to dealing with the usual threats, but what happens when you add virtual reality hardware, robotics, and other applications outside of the norm?
As with working on personal computers and different web browsers, the IoT creates many more “back doors.” And those back doors will be exploited within your organization if left open.
What Can Businesses Do To Eliminate Cloud Cybersecurity Threats?
By now, you may be terrified to put any part of your business on the Internet, but that’s certainly not our intention. You’re not powerless against bad actors. You have options, and in this section, we explore the three best.
Tighten Restrictions
First off, you need to start locking down sensitive information and vulnerable access points. That means setting restrictions on the strength and reuse of passwords. It also means exercising control over the hardware your employees use to access your virtual networks. Last but not least, you should enact two-factor authentication for logging in and consider channeling those login points to a single browser.
Educate Staff About Cybersafety
Your employees are your biggest vulnerabilities to cyberattacks. They’re also your greatest assets. It all depends on how well you are educating them about existing threats and correct cybersafety protocols.
Consider implementing regular outreach and training concerning cyber threats. Ensure employees are paying attention to those materials and not clicking on any link or visiting websites they aren’t familiar with.
Invest In Third-Party Cloud Cybersecurity Services and Monitoring
Finally, reevaluate the resources and energy that you’re expending toward cybersecurity. If you’re not a cybersecurity firm, then it’s likely that guarding against cyber attacks is not your strong suit.
Consider working with a professional or team of professionals that make it their core competency. Doing so will free you up to focus on your own. If you’re located in Southlake, Fort Worth, Keller, Flower Mound, North Richland Hills, or the surrounding area– call Computer CPR for more information about fortifying your company against cyber threats.
Computer CPR Southlake | New Cloud Cybersecurity Challenges
Cybersecurity challenges can be exacerbated by working in the cloud because you have less control over access points and methods.
But being aware of the challenges gives you a great deal of power in how you approach them. Working with Computer CPR will ensure that you and your employees stay equipped to meet these cloud cybersecurity threats head-on. Let us know how we can help you!