Cybersecurity strategies for hybrid work arrangements

Restrictions on staff capacity in the office may be lifting, but employees will still find themselves dividing time between the office and home. This means cybersecurity, particularly for devices and business data, must remain top of mind for SMBs.

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Cybersecurity strategies to consider for hybrid work arrangements

Cybersecurity strategies to consider for hybrid work arrangements

30 April 2021 | SMB, Digitalisation, Cybersecurity | 5 min read

Key takeaways

  • SMBs must take steps to ensure updated cybersecurity measures are in place as employees return to the office.
  • Quarantine devices that have been used from home and scan them for vulnerabilities.
  • Re-educate returning employees on the importance of cybersecurity.
  • Create or update your cybersecurity plan for a mix of working at home and in the office.

Generally, workplaces will shift from remote work as the default, to more flexible working arrangements. SMB owners need to rethink their cybersecurity approach as they welcome employees back to the office. Here are four cybersecurity strategies small businesses can adopt as employees transition to hybrid work arrangements.

Scan and quarantine

Treat all devices that have been used from home as high-risk. Then, follow these steps before connecting the devices to your trusted office network:

  • Quarantine the devices, separating them from your office network. Consider a separate internet connection  to segregate critical business traffic from general internet traffic.
  • Scan the devices and fix any vulnerabilities to ensure they don’t spread.
  • Make sure antivirus software is updated, and that the latest updates have been installed for the operating system and all other software and apps.
  • Verify that the security controls you put in earlier (such as strong passwords or multi-factor authentication, among others) are still in place.

Re-educate employees on cybersecurity

As they return to the workplace, your employees’ knowledge of cybersecurity might be a bit rusty — and that’s understandable.

Be proactive and re-educate them on your cybersecurity practices. This can take the form of security awareness training, so they know the old and new threats to watch out for, the protocols to follow, and the actions to take. This helps employees stay on guard and re-establish good cybersecurity habits.

Develop a cybersecurity plan for hybrid work

Not all businesses will be transitioning back to a fully in-office setup. Some might consider a permanent shift to working from home. Meanwhile, others may opt for a hybrid approach, with the flexibility to switch between working in the office and working remotely.

Create a cybersecurity plan for this hybrid working arrangement.

  1. To start, conduct a risk assessment for this scenario.
  2. Look into what worked for you in the past when employees were in the office and what worked for you while they were working remotely.
  3. Plan to combine them all for a more flexible way of working.

Adjust your plan as you go, conducting frequent risk assessments and doing regular monitoring to ensure that your cybersecurity plan fits your needs and work setup.

Update your cybersecurity plan

As your employees resume working in the office, it’s the best time to update and document your cybersecurity plan. Consider adding more protection, using advanced tools, or adopting a stronger solution.

Singtel can help with a range of Cybersecurity solutions for SMBs

  • Basic: Essential security to keep cyber threats at bay. Protect your desktops, mobile devices, and broadband network.
  • Intermediate: This might be for you if your business requires more comprehensive data security and a boost in protection with cybersecurity training.
  • Advanced: A holistic option that offers visibility and insights into your infrastructure, simplifies security management across your platforms, and enhances your IT security posture.

All options offer solutions ranging from endpoint security and data protection to network security and asset and data security. The Advanced option has additional solutions, including preventive security and managed security.

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