Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, companies all over the world are adopting remote working models, encouraging home office culture like we have never seen before. However, although this is a practical approach to save lives, it is important that organizations stay alert to make this process happen in a safe manner, also from a business point of view.
The fact is that many companies are having their first experiences with this work style until now. This undoubtedly represents a unique challenge, of very different and peculiar dimensions. Not by chance, research indicates the lack of computers for home office — including for rent — and that most Brazilian companies do not have practical systems for creating digital security policies, for remote application.
In order to respond to this demand, some measures are vital and should be put as a priority in crisis management. One of them is the use of VPN (Virtual Private Network) systems, which have become fundamental elements for the operations of companies in these new times. According to market studies, in 2019 the use of VPNs applications and systems increased by over 70% in Brazil — and this tends to grow even more now, in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic and its consequences.
The fact is that using VPNs is an essential step in simplifying the new business journey in the digital and globalized age, directly impacting points such as security and secure information availability. So, if your company is starting a remote work plan, the adoption of a private network solution is one of the most important aspects to follow.
On the other hand, in addition to adoption, IT teams also need to work to understand how to ensure the functionality and effectiveness of these systems in organizations. They need to prepare themselves to ensure maximum use of the resources and tools offered by these platforms. This is because the advancement of home office and the pandemic will have reflexes – among them, the fact that the risks associated with digital threats tend to increase.
In this scenario, it is highly advisable for companies to choose up-to-date and state-of-the-art services, ensuring that the operation will have, in fact, aligned and appropriate resources at this time.
IT teams need the support of intelligent systems, prepared to capture and evaluate all network availability points delivered to employees. It is worth noting that VPN is, today, the safest way to access the networks and data resources of companies, being critical to avoid interruptions and failures such as information leaks.
One of the benefits of using VPN, for example, is to combat the risks of phishing by stealing data generated from fake messages and content. The Coronavirus outbreak can cause a jump in the volume of fraud attempts, with emails and theme-related messages — and that need to be avoided by companies.
The prevention against these threats obviously goes through two very distinct poles: the awareness of employees and the quality of the technical infrastructure offered to support network access. From the people’s point of view, it is essential to offer qualification and orientation training on how to avoid attacks. Regarding the technological part, it is appropriate to adopt safer and more stable solutions, with effective support for any situation.
This includes establishing policies with well-defined security rules. Defining a plan with clear actions is important for adopting other technologies that are very important in this scenario, such as Cloud Data Storage, for example. By relying on a modern VPN and specific settings for each type of access profile, companies are able to limit what employees can and can’t access, as well as at what times and devices this access will be allowed.
It is also important to note that the use of VPNs is an ally for the creation of a multidevice network, including smartphones, laptops, desktops, and more. They represent an indispensable filter for organizing the network environment and directing the flow of information.
The implementation of home office in companies can and should leave valuable lessons for the future. Among them, undoubtedly, is the use of technology for a more collaborative, intelligent and productive work environment, without losing sight of the quality and safety of the service delivered. It’s time to learn from what’s going on and apply the most important lessons to evolve quickly. Companies can and should remain active, but always prioritizing the safety of business and, of course, of people.
With more than 5,000 clients, Blockbit is one of the leading manufacturers of cybersecurity solutions, empowering businesses to protect themselves against a wide range of threats, vulnerabilities, and cyberattacks, whether internal or external, generic or specific.