Bad Cyber Security Behavior At Home Risks Being Taken Back To Work

Millions of workers, employees and managers who have worked remotely because of Coronavirus are beginning to return to the office,  possibly bringing the very bad cyber security habits of home working back into the office with them, putting companies at greater risk of serious cyber security incidents. 

As numerous organisations  plan for the “great return”, their decision makers need to ask some tough questions:

• Will employees need a refresh on safe cyber security behaviors in the workplace? 

• How will the threat landscape change? 

• What role will the CISO play in the new hybrid workforce?

Tessian found some equally tough answers in their survey results: 

• More than half (56%) of IT leaders believe employees have picked up bad cyber security behaviors since working remotely.

• The majority (69%) of IT professionals predict a spike in ransomware attacks and targeted phishing scams in the transition back to the office.

• Over a quarter of employees are scared to admit they’ve made mistakes that compromise security at work.

• Six in every ten IT leaders said the return to business travel will pose greater cybersecurity challenges and risks for their company.

“The shift to an all-remote workforce was a huge challenge for IT leaders, but the next transition to a hybrid work model is set to be even more challenging - particularly when it comes to employees’ behaviors,” said Tim Sadler, co-founder and CEO of Tessian. The risks Tessian have identified could result a rise in phishing attacks whereby threat actors impersonate airlines, booking operators, hotels, or even senior executives supposedly on a business trip. There is also the risk that employees accidentally leave devices on public transport or expose company data in public places.

“Employees are the gatekeepers to data and systems but expecting them to be security experts and scaring them into compliance won’t work. IT leaders need to prioritise building a security culture that empowers people to work securely and productively, and understand how to encourage long-lasting behavioral change overtime, if they’re going to thrive in this new way of working.” Sadler said.