Working from home used to be a rare occasion, perhaps even a luxury. But having been unexpectedly thrust upon most of us two years ago, remote working is now commonplace.
There have certainly been benefits to this change. In fact, 71% of office management were pleasantly surprised by team productivity during lockdown[1]. But unfortunately, as with most things, it comes with its downsides.
As people tend to have a much weaker security network at home than in the office, cyber criminals have been thriving off these vulnerabilities. So much so that 68% of business owners have reported a rise in cybersecurity risks[2]. And 82% of IT security decision makers have re-evaluated their security policies[3].
Your business is only as secure as its weakest link
It all comes down to one main factor: endpoint devices. 76% of IT security decision makers say their organisation’s use of endpoint devices increased since the beginning of the pandemic, due to everyone working remotely.3
And because these desktops, laptops, and mobile devices are entry points for threats and malware, they’re a favourite target for cyber criminals.
With a weaker network at home, surely this is one occasion where a workman (or woman) can actually blame their tools and get away with it. Or can they?
So what’s the solution?
Your employees are arguably your best asset. But they can also be the biggest security risk. Especially when 48% of security breaches in small businesses are caused by innocent human error[4].
According to Cybersecurity Insiders, 60% of organisations are aware of fewer than 75% of the devices on their network[5]. This means that businesses aren’t choosing not to secure their people’s tech - they’re not even aware of all the devices in the first place.
Luckily, endpoint security has advanced astronomically over the years, evolving from traditional antivirus software to comprehensive protection. And with up to 71% of data breaches in small to medium-sized businesses never even discovered[6], this software is essential for any business.
Today, in-built endpoint protection systems can detect and contain attacks. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is software which collects and analyses data to see how a threat infects an endpoint. This gives administrators visibility into advanced threats and stops them before they can wreak any real damage.
Where do I go from here?
To protect your people and your business, you need to provide them with the relevant training to help them understand what they need to do to keep themselves, and the business, secure.
And crucially, you need to give them in-built security on their endpoint devices. All Lenovo ThinkBooks include Lenovo ThinkShield Smarter Security solutions to give your workers the comprehensive protection they need without slowing them down.
The future of work as we know it has never been more exciting. To find out more about the bigger picture Lenovo has in store, click the link below.
[4] Kaspersky: “Small Business IT Security Practical Guide”
[5] https://www.cybersecurity-insiders.com/portfolio/2020-state-of-enterprise-security-posture-report/
[6] Work better together: Build a digital fortress for a flexible workforce, Lenovo security solution guide
