The global pandemic took a heavy toll by changing the fundamentals of our basic thought processes and also ushered in new ways of working. Now, remote working will continue for a very long time. In a way, it’s a profitable situation for both employers and employees.
With remote working, employees can have a better work-life balance because now they have more time to attend to their family chores and devote some time to their self-development.
Enhance data security during hybrid work
Learn moreRemote work saves huge costs in the form of office space, with ergonomic seating arrangements, transportation, electricity, and security expenses all of which are saved by remote work.
Even with the many benefits of remote working, some risk factors are still associated. One of the major risks with remote working is remote employee data security. Managing data protection while working from home can be a real task for businesses.
Due to the quick rise of remote or hybrid working, cyber attackers are able to generate different kinds of viruses, which later cause data breaches.
For many businesses, transforming their working mode has been a tough decision mainly because of keeping their data secure.
While one in three organizations has had a cybersecurity episode due to an unsecured remote employee, around 90% of IT workers believe that remote working is not safe and the fact that remote workers are the ones at huge risk compared to those working on-site.
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Security Issues With Remote Working
When it comes to remote employee data security, companies are at a greater risk. Here are a few common security risks organizations face as they shift to remote work.
Phishing
It’s a common threat where hackers target employees by sending them messages and emails. When employees click on them, they accidentally download keylogging software on their PC, which provides their details to hackers who can then easily access business data.
Ransomware
It’s a form of malicious software designed to force the person for money by blocking their access to files until a ransom is paid.
Advanced persistent threats
Hackers use this attack to invade the network by staying undetected for longer. This attack is efficient because it becomes harder to discover the hacker, and they can steal important data without alerting anyone.
Data Breach
It’s a security incident in which unauthorized members are able to access valuable data without authorization.
Solutions Provided By Artificial Intelligence in Data Security
With the rising advancement in science and technology and the world becoming digital at a neck-break speed, there is exponential demand for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning across industries.
With its increased demand, cyberattacks have also increased. The biggest potential of its use lies in AI-based user authentication through a biometric route while logging in to the system either on mobile or computer or for biometric recognition for access to classified areas in work.
These can be done by scanning fingerprints, retina, and with or without a password. For remote employees, such scanning can be done by webcam.
AI can detect potential malware and ransomware, where AI is trained using complex algorithms to identify patterns towards potential cyber threats.
Then, immediately before there is any cyberattack on the main system, it is isolated from any damage. Companies have started using an employee activity monitoring tool, which helps them keep track of their remote employees and hire and train newly hired ones by ensuring data safety and security.
In order to prevent data breaches, such software consists of tools like website whitelisting, which allows the user to only use authorized websites, which halts every possibility of data leakage in a work-from-home setting.
Then there are tools like key combinations where the person in charge can block certain key combinations they think their team members do not necessarily need for checking data leaks.
Cybersecurity experts consider remote employees to be threats because they are away from physical sight, which becomes a challenge for organizations to keep track of their remote employees and monitor them if any suspicious activity is detected.
This is where AI software plays a key role by containing features that help organizations monitor and track their remote employees and take action if any suspicious activity is detected through their side.
These features not only help organizations increase the productivity of their remote employees but also help restrict and take immediate action toward remote employees who seem suspicious.
In case of any unusual behavior detected by its features like user image records, users’ images can be captured from the system’s webcam to look out for impersonators.
Screenshots of the user’s screen and user images through the webcam can be used as proof to identify any unusual user behavior.
There are also features like remote barge-in, web usage & tracking, which allow the person in charge or a supervisor to inquire into a user’s system to catch any malpractice or data leakages during their working hours.
They will be able to monitor all online activities of active remote users and cease any possibility of data leakage in a remote working setup.
Conclusion
With the growing rate of cyber-attacks, organizations are becoming more aware and open to the importance of AI security tools.
The smarter and correct way to protect a company’s data is by deploying artificial intelligence.
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