The pandemic had a significant impact on IT processes, transforming the security dynamic unlike ever before. With companies shifting to remote working, relying on cloud services and e-commerce, cyberattacks have become increasingly reoccurring.
Nearly overnight, employees were forced to use their own devices and home networks to get their work done, and IT departments had to quickly navigate how to protect their data.
As we turn the corner on the pandemic and make way for a more hybrid workplace, there are many lessons learned that can apply to the future of work moving forward.
For starters, companies have realized they need to expand their security infrastructures to enhance the protections of remote workers.
“Moving into a remote work environment has meant a change in focus from macro-level security to micro-level extensions of platforms and adoption of new ways of extending a secure environment to remote workers,” said Mark Liggett, CEO of Liggett Consulting.
Cloud-based security has also become essential as companies embrace cloud technology.
According to Andrew Hewitt, an analyst at Forrester Research, cloud-based security like zero-trust network access and cloud desktops will become a more permanent solution moving forward.
Collaboration apps will also need to be revamped. Heavy reliance on video conferencing tools such as Zoom in the past year revealed that these companies did not have a totally secure infrastructure.
“The market demand for security forced change to these systems to [become] a safe and secure way to communicate,” said Liggett.