Remote Worker Security Becomes Critical

A recent FBI announcement revealed that they expect that “telework software vulnerabilities” will be a major focus of cyber-criminals due to COVID-19 pandemic. (See the companion article in this issue.) With millions of business people now working from home in a hurry, each with potentially different devices, connections, firewalls and VPNs (or perhaps no firewalls or VPNs), now is the time to make sure your business is secure with remote worker security.

And with all the remote workers, the job of making your business more secure has become harder than ever.

It’s as though you previously had one door through which all your business data flowed, and now you have dozens, and potentially hundreds of doors -- some of them wide open --  each of which needs to be secured to prevent intruders, spies, kidnappers, counterfeiters, thieves, and demolition experts. What you need is a way to not only secure all those doors, but to make sure they are placed at strategic locations in order to make remote work as fast and efficient and safe as working in the office.

Say Goodbye To Your Network Perimeter?

In Information Technology, a “Network Perimeter” is the boundary between the Organization’s network and the outside world. Usually there is just one doorway in and out of your network through a router and a security device. But with so many remote workers, some may be connecting to the office through a VPN, while others are connecting via screen-sharing. Some are working on standardized and secured company laptops, but others are using home computers and mobile devices. Some have business-level security, but others may only be relying on their home antivirus software. And when these devices aren’t connected securely to the office, they could be connected to the internet in other less secure ways, compromising the remote worker’s security, and also the entire organization’s security.

So not only is the Network Perimeter a bit more “fuzzy” than it used to be, it’s also less efficient. When everyone is at the office, Manager A can efficiently communicate and share files and resources with Staff Member B right over the LAN. But with everyone at different locations, the old model of remote worker security becomes quite inefficient, as all business communications make a home-run through the Office’s security device into the office network, and then go back out again through the same device on its way to the other employee.

Now imagine a larger business topology with multiple offices, and dozens or hundreds of employees at each office all (or mostly) working remotely. The traditional paths add inefficiency and latency to communications, and the varying security on each workstation opens many more opportunities for breaches.

How A Secure Cloud Solves The Remote Worker Security Problem

These more traditional IT infrastructures with all data passing through the same semi-secure tunnel is as inefficient as all cars driving from Los Angeles to Long Beach being required to travel the same four-lane highway with only one onramp and offramp on each end. So instead of that kind of a traffic jam, imagine a secure cloud, with strict security going in and out, but with those on and off-ramps being closer to each end user, and more secure than a current on-premise VPN.

With the new Digital Uppercut Secure Cloud service (DUSC), remote workers can work with each other in the cloud without ever having to access the fixed Office resources. They can access the Secure Cloud at any one of many thousands of local access points, and access the organization’s resources without ever having to leave the Secure Cloud, and they can communicate with other staff members also without leaving the Secure Cloud.

And the security throughout the cloud is consistent and uniformly strong. Every member of your organization is protected in the same way and includes all of the following:

• Global Firewall
• Web Proxy
• Intrusion Detection
• Intrusion Prevention
• Malware Interception
• Mandatory Encryption
• Secure DNS

Plus, all network activity is monitored by our Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) team, so that all threats to on-premise and remote worker security can be monitored, tracked, and stopped.

Remote access becomes more secure than ever, consistent security throughout your organization. Every device will have access to the Secure Cloud via the same global firewall. Malware will be scanned and blocked, whether it’s being carried by email, websites or fileless attacks. Content will be filtered, malicious URLs will be blocked, and any malicious activity that tries to access any device in your Secure Cloud will be shut down.

And this will all continue to work for you as your users migrate back to the office when the time is right.

Get The Digital Uppercut Secure Cloud

Get the Digital Uppercut Secure Cloud for your business and experience a level of organizational and remote worker security and efficiency that you’ve only imagined before. And implementing our Secure Cloud is quicker than you might expect, too. If you’re concerned about the security of your organization with your staff spread out at remote locations, then you need this level of security. Contact us online or call us at 818-913-1335 for more information.