{"id":2851,"date":"2022-03-11T11:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T11:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sectigostore.com\/blog\/?p=2851"},"modified":"2022-03-03T19:37:03","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T19:37:03","slug":"top-5-key-considerations-for-secure-remote-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sectigostore.com\/blog\/top-5-key-considerations-for-secure-remote-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 Key Considerations for Secure Remote Access"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Remote work has increased substantially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Ponemon Institute<\/a>\u2019s data shows that the move to remote working has negatively affected organizations\u2019 IT security \u2014 only 44% of respondents believe in the effectiveness of their organizations\u2019 security measures. But what do you need to know to implement secure remote access? Let\u2019s break it down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As COVID-19 made its way to every corner of the world, more and more organizations encouraged their employees to work from home. In fact, Owl Labs<\/a> report that 70% of full-time employees are working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. But with remote work comes a greater risk from cyber threats. This is why businesses and organizations of all sizes should make secure remote access a priority<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the NTT Threat Intelligence Report<\/a>, 88% of surveyed cybersecurity professionals agree that cyber threats have increased due to the pandemic. <\/a>Combine this with the increase in remote work and you have a recipe for disaster if appropriate security measures aren\u2019t in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we\u2019ll look at the top five considerations for implementing and maintaining secure remote access within organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top 5 Considerations for Secure Remote Access Control<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Secure remote access means using robust security solutions and strategies to establish a network that only authorized personnel can access from wherever they are. This means it should be impenetrable by non-authorized people. To achieve the most secure remote access, organizations must work on two fronts \u2014 both at the employee and enterprise levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.     Use the Zero-Trust Model<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A zero-trust model limits the access of information to employees on a need-to-know basis. So, if an employee doesn\u2019t need access to a particular piece of information, they don\u2019t get authorization to access it. With a zero-trust model, even the most trusted employees don\u2019t have access to information they don\u2019t need for their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its core, zero trust is about minimizing your attack surface to mitigate risks to your systems and the sensitive data they contain. There are five areas that can be controlled in a zero-trust environment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Users: <\/strong>Management decides what information should be shared with each employee, and users are verified before access to the network is granted. Additionally, the internet protocol (IP) address of the network location is hidden to increase security. Through their IT staff, management has centralized control over the entire network and the information shared thereon.<\/li>
  2. Devices:<\/strong> The organization defines the devices that employees can use to access sensitive data. For instance, management can make it so an organization\u2019s sensitive data can only be accessed via company-issued devices. If an employee tries to access this data from any other device, they won\u2019t be able to do so.<\/li>
  3. Location:<\/strong> The organization can make sensitive data available in certain locations only. For example, you could make some sensitive information accessible only in the company headquarters. If they are not on premises, access to the information or resources can be restricted. This restriction protects the data from theft or compromise via man-in-the-middle attacks. When sensitive information doesn\u2019t travel over insecure channels, threat actors have limited opportunities to gain unauthorized access.<\/li>
  4. Content: <\/strong>As well as limiting access to data, a zero-trust model can also restrict users from accessing specific websites, like non-HTTPS sites or sites likely to invite phishing<\/a> activity<\/a>, like gambling or adult websites. Often, such websites are infested with malware<\/a>, so restricting access to them ensures the safety of company data.<\/li>
  5. Network<\/strong>: An organization can require employees working remotely to use a company virtual private network (VPN) or other secure networks. Using an insecure network can leave the organization vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    With a zero-trust model, management can be certain that no unauthorized person is accessing sensitive data. It\u2019s important to conduct audits from time to time to determine if the strategy is working efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Secure<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    2.     Protect All Endpoints (Including Servers and Other Critical IT Infrastructure)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    When setting up secure remote access, it\u2019s vital to ensure that both endpoints are as protected as possible. Often, companies secure the devices on their end but fail to do the same for their employees\u2019 devices that connect to their network. Allowing employees to introduce their insecure or potentially infected devices to your network can be a liability for the company \u2014 if their devices aren\u2019t secure, then the network isn\u2019t secure, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Endpoint security used to be as simple as installing antivirus software on endpoint devices. However, with the rise in malware threats, your organization\u2019s overall defenses have to be upgraded, too (i.e., using an antivirus alone isn\u2019t enough). Defense systems need to be comprehensive and multi layered, ranging from powerful anti-malware software and regularly systems patches and updates to the use of network security measures like firewalls and secure authentication measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Secure<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Let\u2019s explore several critical components of endpoint security:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Server Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The server is connected to all remote employees, and stores most of the data within an organization. Therefore, the server must be secured with firewalls and anti-malware software. Server hardware should also be updated regularly to mitigate the vulnerabilities that patches aim to fix. Access to the server should be granted only to those people who need it to do their jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Data Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Company data, in motion and at rest, should be protected. The use of secure protocols like TLS<\/a>, HTTPS<\/a>, FTPS<\/a>, SFTP etc., can help you protect data in motion. Data at rest can be protected by using encrypted drives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cloud Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Access to data stored in the cloud should be based on the zero-trust model, with access granted only after proper (and continuous) verification of all users and devices. When you opt for third-party cloud providers, it\u2019s crucial to vet their security features before you make a contract with them. Many cloud service providers have add-on security features, including penetration testing, perimeter firewalls, intrusion detection system, and encryption for data-at-rest. These security procedures protect your data against cyber attackers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Threat Detection<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Continuous threat detection exercises should be carried out in your network systems to identify and eliminate threats as quickly as possible. These can be conducted by in-house teams or external security experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Website Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Every organization\u2019s website should have a valid TLS certificate to protect its sensitive company and customer data. If you accept online payments or collect customer data, it\u2019s your legal obligation to protect this data. Regulations like GDPR, CCPA, HIPPA<\/a>, and PCI DSS<\/a> are designed to maintain citizens’ privacy. If your organization suffers a data breach as the result of noncompliance, you\u2019ll likely face fines, lawsuits, reputational harm, and other damages as a result.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Device Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All devices used by employees, including IoT devices, must have adequate malware protection, firewalls, and endpoint security solutions<\/a>. One way to help make your devices more secure is to whitelist (allowlist) applications that can be used on company devices and block other apps from being installed. Plus, restrict the use of secure remote desktop applications to admin users only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most people are not as conscious about securing their mobile devices as they are about securing their laptops and desktops. This makes mobiles a huge potential target for cybercriminals. Often, mobiles are used as the second factor of authentication for MFA. If mobile is lost or stolen, care should be taken to secure the accounts before the criminals hack them. Make sure your employees use their mobile in a secure and safe way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Secure Authentication<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Secure authentication is the first line of defense against a cyber attack. Despite having every other safeguard in place, your network and systems might still be vulnerable to cyber attacks if your authentication measures are insufficient. Follow certain rules to have a stronger authentication for your networks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n