Alternative IT Security Measures to Ensure Cybersecurity for Remote Workspaces

1
Alternative IT Security Measures to Ensure
Cybersecurity for Remote Workspaces
COVID-19 has changed the modus operandi in every
industry and sector. Organizations are quickly
adapting themselves to new working protocols and
realities. Since many organizations operating in
the service-based sector have completely or
partially moved to remote working, the security
professionals taking care of their network
security have to adopt alternative IT security
measures. IT professionals who have had to manage
in-office digital work environments now have to
take care of loosely bound remote workspaces.
This drastic change in the nature of the work
environment has posed new challenges to security
professionals. Many of the remote working
security challenges cant be taken care of
through conventional security measures used when
an organization operates from a physical
location. This post will try to cover all
alternative IT security measures that
professionals need to fortify remote workspaces
cyber security.
microsysinc.ca
2
Alternative IT Security Measures for Remote
Workspace Review the List of Software
Applications Used by Remote Workers There is a
list of software and applications that workers
would need to operate from a remote location.
From video conferencing apps to remote desktop
software and online office suites to cloud
platforms, various tools and applications make
the software division of remote working
regimen. It is the job of IT experts and security
specialists to ensure there exists a synergy
among the entire remote workforce with the use
of these software solutions. First of all, IT
experts need to vet all the new software
applications connected and synced with the
organization network. Whether it is a team chat
app or a remote project management software,
in-house IT experts have to assess every
software and application for its security
features. Once experts vet all these
applications, they have to ensure that every
remote user has installed it on their
devices. This software homogeneity in a remote
workspace can help security experts guarantee
that no weak link exists across the
network. Make an Endpoint Protection Policy and
Implement It IT specialists and security experts
in any organization are in complete control of
all the workstations at the physical offices of
the organization. However, this control wears
down when workers start using the organizational
network from different endpoints. To make sure
you dont lose grip on the network security,
even if it has moved to a remote workspace, you
need to devise a robust endpoint security
regimen. Regular antivirus programs and
anti-malware software on remote workers devices
are not enough to ensure endpoint security. You
need to extend it beyond this conventional
setting and reinforce it with many new features.
Lets take a quick look at the elements that make
an effective endpoint protection
regimen. Endpoint Detection and Response
System For starters, you need to work with the
Endpoint Detection and Response system. Some
experts also refer to it as Advanced Threat
Protection (ATP). It is more proactive and
advanced than regular anti-malware solutions in
scanning, detecting, and investigating the
infiltration of malicious codes or any other
suspicious activity on hosts or network
endpoints. Data Loss Prevention Besides EDR
systems, you can use Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
modules to ensure no data breach happens at the
remote endpoints. Data loss prevention
establishes a strict file tagging
microsysinc.ca
3

• system to track data usage on endpoints and
  detect and prevent the exfiltration of sensitive
  data.
• Improved DNS Security
• Another way to ensure foolproof endpoint security
  is that you enhance DNS security. It is easier
  to execute and implement than DLP modules because
  you can use third-party software solutions that
  leverage machine learning and artificial
  intelligence. With these state-of-the-art
  features, these advanced DNS security
  applications provide a layer of security not
  present in basic DNS services.
• These are some of the features that enhanced DNS
  security can provide at endpoints.
• Blocks connections to blacklisted and known
  malicious sites even before an endpoint
  connection establishes.
• Provides a more detailed inspection of activities
  across all devices and ports that is not
  available otherwise.
• Aborts reach-backs to malicious sites executed by
  malware lingering within the network.
• Double-Check If Remote Access to Network Does not
  Open Floodgates to New Threats
• While setting up a remote working space, you need
  to reassess if it doesnt make the
  organizational network more vulnerable to cyber
  threats. For instance, when establishing a
  remote desktop protocol, make sure you carefully
  choose the connection port. For instance, IT
  security reports suggest that cybercriminals try
  to target open RDP servers established through
  Port 3389.
• First of all, avoid establishing open remote
  access. But if you have to set up one, make sure
  that the firewall is configured to allow only
  those static IP addresses used by your team.
• Establish Privilege for Network Security
• Security professionals need to establish network
  security privileges to keep digital
  infrastructure remote access remains in check.
  If you have established a remote working space
  through virtual machines, putting this measure
  in place is all more important.

microsysinc.ca
4

• Standard Users They are called the least
  privileged accounts and mostly give access to a
  particular set of applications. For instance, a
  designer gets access to illustrator software and
  Outlook. Similarly, an accountant gets access to
  MS Office. A good practice is to have the entire
  workforce works as Standard Users.
• Guest User status is mainly used for third-party
  contractors. The privilege for a guest user
  depends on their nature of work.
• By offering these alternative IT security
  measures, IT experts and security professionals
  can ensure their services remain valuable to
  organizations and help them keep their remote
  working environments safe and secure.
• If you are looking for cyber security services in
  Greater Toronto area including Markham that can
  help your remote workspace security, contact
  Microsys. We offer our expertise in conventional
  as well as alternative IT security measures for
  SMEs all across the industrial spectrum.

Microsys. Permission required to use any
content from this article.
microsysinc.ca