Remember to revoke access, adopt Zero Trust: cybersecurity companies share tips for 2022
As the coronavirus pandemic stretches into 2022, we will see more technology, connectivity and innovation in an attempt to improve remote working. But with big opportunities also come big threats
The Coronavirus pandemic has forever altered the workforce, serving as a digitalization catalyst for the majority of businesses and organizations, big and small alike. A recent Gartner survey found that nearly 80% of workers have been using collaborative tools in 2021, a 44% rise since 2019.
As the pandemic appears to be stretching well into 2022, we will undoubtedly see more technology, more connectivity, and greater innovation in an attempt to improve remote workforce possibilities and outcomes. But with big opportunities also come big threats.
“Every time a new worker enters the company or an existing one leaves, it’s another identity lifecycle management challenge for HR and IT to solve,” notes a recent CyberArk publication.
While incomers need new accounts and quick access to multiple critical applications, outgoers need their access privileges revoked. And in today’s high turnover workforce, the potential for mistakes has also risen.
“Every time somebody falls through the cracks, productivity and/or security can take a hit,” note the authors.
“This lax approach to passwords is all too common and reflects a prime target for today’s attackers. 97% percent of security leaders say end-user credentials make up the largest increase in attacks against their organizations.
“Cyber criminals look for dormant application accounts and stale privileges, which are security lapses that high workforce turnover can intensify.
cyber criminals look for dormant application accounts and stale privileges.”
From VPN to Zero Trust
Indeed, 75% of organizations are now reevaluating their security strategies for remote employees, according to a new Menlo Security survey. 79% of those surveyed have a security strategy in place for remote access by third parties and contractors, while 50% plan to limit or restrict that access over the next 12-18 months.
However, 75% of organizations (and 81% of organizations with over 10 thousand employees) continue to rely on VPNs – which come with a myriad of potential security risks – for controlling remote access to applications.
Menlo Security, whose platform is based on the Zero Trust approach, notes that 87% organizations with remote working strategies among those surveyed have made Zero Trust part of their approach.