Navigating the Challenges of Distributed Workforce Security
As enterprises embrace the remote workplace, security teams face a new host of challenges. Many employees are now connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks for the majority of their working hours. As a result, businesses are seeing a rise in data breaches — in 2021, ransomware attacks increased by 6%, phishing grew by 11%, and companies faced 15x more misrepresentation cases. It’s time for enterprises to put a renewed focus on distributed workforce security; it requires a comprehensive security strategy that accounts for the threat vector of public and home networks but is scalable for employees around the world.
Distributed workforce security broadly refers to the strategies and technologies that protect endpoints from viruses, malware, data breaches, and attacks. It encompasses device security, local area network security, and cloud security for workers accessing applications remotely. Securing the remote workforce is challenging given its distributed nature. Any long-term solution must be able to overcome the following key obstacles:
-
Unsecured Home and Public Networks: With employees working from home or public spaces, their devices are exposed to a greater risk of network-based attacks, such as eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and lateral movement from compromised devices.
-
Expanded Attack Surface: The sudden shift to remote work has dramatically increased the number of endpoints and access points that security teams must monitor and protect, expanding the attack surface for cybercriminals.
-
Limited Visibility and Control: Security administrators have less visibility and control over remote devices, making it difficult to enforce security policies, detect threats, and respond to incidents in a timely manner.
-
User Behavior Challenges: Employees working remotely may be more susceptible to social engineering attacks, such as phishing, and may engage in risky behaviors, such as using unsecured personal devices or sharing sensitive information on public networks.
Evolving Security Strategies for the Distributed Workforce
In the wake of COVID-19 and the growing distributed workforce, 67% of security attacks now target remote employees. Traditional security approaches, which were designed for a centralized, on-premises workforce, are no longer sufficient. Enterprises must adopt a more comprehensive and adaptable security strategy to protect their remote workforce.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Most businesses use a combination of endpoint and cloud security solutions to protect their distributed workforce. EDR technologies protect endpoints using a combination of next-gen antivirus software, threat detection tools, and data loss prevention. They protect devices from the attacks that are caused by user-error: phishing, downloading malware, etc. These platforms are managed by IT security.
However, while EDR can protect endpoint devices, it cannot prevent attacks from reaching them in the first place (i.e., lateral movement). Since EDR technologies are installed on the endpoint, they’re governed by the operating system and thus susceptible to bypass vulnerabilities and other evasion tactics.
Cloud-Based Security (SASE and ZTNA)
Many businesses leverage network or cloud-level security to identify suspicious activity throughout their networks. This technique relies on zero-trust principles, which assume endpoints cannot be trusted. In response, these security platforms make granular security assessments by confirming user identities, verifying device posture, and monitoring app activity. SASE and ZTNA solutions allow for security at Layer 7, performing URL filtering, traffic inspection, and data encryption.
While SASE and ZTNA solutions offer benefits, they cannot protect the device from networking attacks, such as fingerprinting, exploiting, and eavesdropping, since they exist in the cloud.
Introducing High Assurance Network Access (HANA)
For all the benefits of EDR and SASE/ZTNA security, there is still a gap in protection when devices connect to untrusted Wi-Fi networks. As workplace networks continue to expand and diversify, a new approach for securing remote employees is necessary — High Assurance Network Access (HANA).
HANA asserts that critical actions within a network should be managed with the strongest control mechanisms. Each mechanism is measured against both the degree of control administrators need to secure the system and the level of risk for actions performed within network infrastructure. HANA provides high assurance security and management of networking assets and their network connections through microsegmentation, complementing IAM and ZTNA solutions.
Edge microsegmentation is the first example of HANA-based security — protecting against network attacks while allowing administrators to manage and control remote endpoints. The Byos Secure Endpoint Edge uses edge microsegmentation to secure all endpoints within a public network to meet Zero Trust security objectives more effectively.
Benefits of the Byos Secure Endpoint Edge
The Byos Secure Endpoint Edge offers several key benefits for securing a distributed workforce against malware and other network-based threats:
-
Endpoint Network Protection: Byos creates a secure, isolated network for each remote endpoint, protecting it from network-based attacks, such as eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and lateral movement.
-
Comprehensive Visibility and Control: The Byos platform provides IT administrators with granular visibility and control over remote endpoints, enabling them to enforce security policies, detect threats, and respond to incidents quickly.
-
Compatibility with Existing Security Solutions: The Byos Secure Endpoint Edge integrates seamlessly with existing security tools, such as EDR and SASE/ZTNA solutions, to provide a layered, defense-in-depth approach to security.
-
Scalability and Ease of Deployment: The Byos solution is designed to be scalable and easy to deploy, allowing enterprises to quickly secure their distributed workforce without complex on-site installations or extensive IT resources.
-
Secure by Design: Byos uses patented technology and a certified supply chain to ensure the security and integrity of its hardware, providing a high level of assurance for enterprises.
By combining the benefits of HANA-based security with the Byos Secure Endpoint Edge, enterprises can effectively protect their distributed workforce against malware, data breaches, and other network-based threats, enabling them to embrace the remote work revolution with confidence.
Conclusion: Securing the Future of Remote Work
As the distributed workforce continues to grow, the need for comprehensive, scalable security solutions has never been more pressing. Traditional security approaches are no longer sufficient, and enterprises must adapt to the unique challenges posed by remote work.
By leveraging High Assurance Network Access (HANA) principles and solutions like the Byos Secure Endpoint Edge, enterprises can secure their distributed workforce, protect against malware and other network-based threats, and enable their employees to work remotely with confidence.
To learn more about how Byos can help your organization secure its distributed workforce, visit their website or request a demo today.
