Cybersecurity for a Remote Workforce

1. Joey Howland
Chief Information Security Officer
The Changing Workplace Environment:
Cybersecurity for a Remote Workforce

2. Why This Matters
Financial
Impact
Customer
Confidence
Employee
Protection
$6 trillion in cyber-
crime costs by 2021
3 billion PII records
stolen last year
Payroll cyber attacks
hit employee wallets
Herjavec Group

3. • Outside organization’s security boundary
• Often working on shared computers
• Increase in attempts by malicious actors during crisis
Why Home is Different

4. • National Institute of Standards and Technology
https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework

5. What you should consider as an organization?

6. How are your employees working? Where are they
accessing organizational data or applications?
• Organization's network (file servers, local
applications)
• Cloud solutions (Office 365 / G-Suite, CRM, Finance
apps, etc.)
Identify Areas of Access

7. What controls are in place to ensure only your employees
can get to your systems?
• Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
• Secure Remote Access Solutions
• Citrix
• Splashtop
MS Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is not secure
• Good remote access solution but be behind another
security boundary
How do employees gain access?

8. Watch all entry points
• Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS)
• Log File Retention – Analyze them!
• Don’t forget Cloud based systems
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
• Capture and analyze all data
• 3rd party monitored
Monitor Points of Entry

9. Setup MFA on all access points to organizational data or
systems. Don’t rely on simple ID / password combinations.
• Security questions are not MFA
• E-mail should be the last MFA option
• SMS (Text messages) / Phone calls – Good
• Mobile Application or Key fobs – Excellent!
Enable Multifactor Authentication

10. Are you allowing connections from unsafe devices?
• Consider only allowing connection from organization
owned devices
• Provide protective software – Endpoint protection
• Access control systems – basic checks before allowing a
connection
Secure Remote Endpoints

11. Consider how data may be moved in and out of your
environment
• How can I ensure data on employee owned devices is
backed up?
• Do I need to put limits on confidential data so it cannot
be moved outside my organization?
• How can I ensure data moving into my systems is safe?
Protect Your Data

12. Phishing Attacks
Personal emails often don’t have the same level of protection as enterprise
email solutions.
Unfamiliar Websites
Reports show cyber attackers taking advantage of the COVID-19
situation to spread malware. You should never need to download
something in order to view an online map.
Train your employees!

13. What can your employees do?

14. Update your computer’s operating system
• Check the version of Windows you have
• Windows 7 is now end-of-life, which means no more security patches!
• Install the latest patches
Update your web browser
• Go to the vendor’s website and find out how
Install or update antivirus software
• Good options include Webroot, BitDefender, Norton, McAfee
• Make certain virus signatures are up to date!
Secure Their Computers

15. Secure WiFi routers or firewalls
• Update the device firmware
• Change default admin password
• Disable remote management
• Instructions on vendor's website
Update Internet-connected devices
• Google Nest, security system, toaster, etc.
Secure Their Networks

16. Copy local documents back into your organization’s
environment.
Common tools include (Organization controlled):
• OneDrive / SharePoint
• Google Drive
• Citrix ShareFile
• Box
• DropBox
• VPN
Backup Your Data

17. If you see a suspicious email, link, or website, share it
through the proper channels.
Communicate Suspicious Activity

18. 1. Secure The Computer
2. Secure The Network
3. Provide quality remote access solutions
4. Enable Multifactor Authentication
5. Backup The Data
6. Communicate Suspicious Activity
7. Be Click Cautious
Review

19. Click cautious > click curious
Thank you and stay safe!
Learn more at VC3.com
joe.howland@vc3.com