Why Remote Teams Are Harder to Protect (And What Hackers Already Know)

Since the COVID-19 pandemic sent workforces home in their droves, remote and hybrid work models have become the norm. While this has some significant benefits, it also brings increased pressure on IT ecosystems to keep up with cyberthreats. These days, cybercriminals are harnessing the power of AI to launch ever more sophisticated threats by quickly identifying and attacking system vulnerabilities. Because of this, many businesses find that their existing security simply isn’t up to the job - in fact, recent reports have revealed that over 60% of organizations have reported AI based incidents.



So what’s the damage? Reports show that the worldwide cost of cybercrime has reached a dizzying $10.5 trillion, partly due to the use of artificial intelligence. And it’s rising steeply!  AI has the power to identify and exploit weaknesses at speed in order to infiltrate cloud services, remote access protocols, individual devices and more.  In this ZandaX article, we look at the reasons remote teams are increasingly harder to protect - and suggest some key strategies to mitigate the problems you face.

For organizations, new and more complex threats signal an urgent need to reevaluate security strategies - and to fight fire with fire by employing AI tools to protect remote teams.

To effectively navigate these complexities, many companies are choosing to discuss with PCS, so they get expert guidance to tailor strategies that exactly match their needs.

Understanding the Remote Workforce IT Ecosystem

When employees are working remotely, they have the freedom to make the world their office which means they’re logging on from home, coffee shops and public transport. For IT teams, this means that a more complex ecosystem is needed which includes different devices, apps, cloud services and communication channels in order to keep the wheels turning. Unfortunately, when you broaden systems and networks, you also offer up a bigger target for an attack. This is particularly dangerous at the point of employee devices which are often an open door for AI powered malware and phishing campaigns.

Although most businesses have increased security to an extent, many overlook the gaps that are presented by AI when it comes to remote tools such as cloud collaboration and VPNs (Virtual Private networks). This can lead to some pretty serious consequences including theft of intellectual property and financial and reputational damage.

What’s the solution? As well as updating cybersecurity strategies and best practices, it’s essential that businesses roll this out to their employees by encouraging them to take ownership of security. By sharing responsibility for device management, strict access controls and visibility, you create a company culture of protection.

In the same way, engaging with technology firms like Power Consulting provides the option of original solutions and better understanding of how to integrate AI-aware security frameworks. This often brings access to advanced technologies, like AI-powered threat intelligence and automated response tools.

Strategic Partnerships for Robust Cybersecurity

Getting your head around AI can be a little overwhelming at first, so it’s a really good idea to put some rock-solid partnerships in place. This starts with an experienced IT consulting company with a focus on AI-driven cyberthreats as they bring with them specialist knowledge of monitoring, detection and response to attacks. Such partnerships have a number of benefits including:

• Access to the latest technology
• Professional and comprehensive risk assessments
• Adaptive security controls
• Compliance with regulatory data and security requirements

In a nutshell, partnerships like these allow your business to continuously respond to threats without the need for extra costly resources which require constant updating.

Effective Mitigation Strategies for AI-Driven Threats

There are four main strategies that should be adopted if you want to mitigate threats from AI “bad actors”:

1. Enhanced Threat Detection and Response Capabilities

It just makes good sense that businesses need to match the cybercriminals in terms of the use of advanced technology. With the baddies using AI to identify weak spots and vulnerabilities, it’s imperative that organizations use the same tech to monitor, prevent and identify possible breaches and anomalies.

As well as being able to analyse massive datasets at the speed of light, AI is able to streamline IT services by automating tasks like log analysis and vulnerability scanning. This leaves your tech team free to focus on more complicated and creative investigations and strategies.  All this comes at a time when the global reservoir of skilled cybersecurity personnel is at an all time low with around 3.5 million roles left unfilled.

In addition to plugging these dangerous gaps, studies show that companies using AI-enhanced security are able to reduce their incident response time by 50%. Needless to say, this can make all the difference when it comes to damage control.

2. Zero Trust Architecture Implementation

While “trust no-one” may sound like a line from a spy thriller, this is really important when it comes to your security. This approach, based on “never trust, always verify” is all about upping the ante when it comes to identification and authentication for every access point. By doing this, you can close the door on cybercriminals who are using AI to move laterally within your network to find your weak spots. How’s it done? Multi-factor authentication at every access point, micro-segmentation and improved monitoring are all tools which form a solid defence against attacks when staff are working remotely.

3. Continuous Employee Education and Awareness

When it comes to protecting your assets, your biggest line of defence is your people and, in fact, research shows that properly training your staff can reduce your risk by 70%. Many AI powered attacks involve phishing - the sending of convincing and compelling emails designed to trick employees into clicking onto a link. Through regular training, staff can be taught to identify and report suspicious emails and activities to reduce attacks and foster a security-first culture.

4. Regular Security Audits and Penetration Testing

Unfortunately, the rapid advance of technology means that threats are forever evolving and so defences need to be constantly tested. Putting in place regular security assessments is a great way of evaluating and addressing new vulnerabilities for remote teams. Specialised companies are able to carry out audits to analyse and rate your security. These firms use AI testing tools to carry out simulated attacks to see just where your weaknesses are - and how to fix them. These audits can also ensure that you remain compliant with industry laws and standards such as GDPR, HIPAA and CCPA. As well as keeping your resources safe, this can also build trust with clients and shareholders.

The Role of Cloud Security in Remote Work

It’s a fact that cloud services are an integral part of IT ecosystems for remote teams however it’s not all good news. While the cloud offers great accessibility and scalability, it can pose a threat to your security if not configured properly. It’s vital to protect cloud services through a number of defences such as:

• Encryption
• Access management
• Identification and authentication measures
• Continuous monitoring

The use of CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management) tools add an extra layer of protection by helping to monitor and spot misconfigurations and ensure compliance over a multi-cloud environment. This allows IT teams to keep on top of risks without the need for constant manual monitoring. Finally,  integrating DevSecOps practices threads security into the DNA of the software development lifecycle to safeguard vulnerabilities during rapid deployment cycles.

Preparing for the Future: AI and Cybersecurity Co-evolution

As the use of AI accelerates, being able to react to threats is simply not enough. Today, businesses need to be able to look two or three steps ahead through research, collaboration and flexible security infrastructures. Technology and human innovation needs to work together for optimum vigilance - and the sharing of intel and best practices helps businesses to help one another in the fight against cybercrime.



Training employees and getting on board with ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers) all play a part in making your organisation secure and ready for the future in terms of evolving threats and changes to compliance regulations - and it all starts and ends with AI.

Conclusion

Remote working offers flexibility, cost savings and a better work life balance - as long as your IT ecosystem and cybersecurity are able to keep pace. In today’s world, this means end to end protection through AI technology, education, evaluation and strategic partnerships to combat ever more sophisticated threats. By adopting a security-first culture, your entire remote workforce can help to defend against everything the cybercriminals can throw at you!