IS YOUR BUSINESS SECURITY AT RISK BY HIRING A VIRTUAL EA?
All precautions in regard to cybersecurity should be taken the same way as with the staff you have on site. When we think about cyber security risk we immediately feel vulnerable and we’ll feel that shiver run down our spine although we might have taken all the measures available, is it really something that should stop you from getting the help you and your business is needing?
“Cyber-Security is much more than a matter of IT”.
Stephane Nappo.
Table of contents
- How does remote working impact our business?
- Is security a real risk in remote work?
- 7 cyber security training for your business.
When we think about cyber security risk we immediately feel vulnerable and we’ll feel that shiver run down our spine although we might have taken all the measures available.
Is it really something you can’t fix? Is it stopping you from making the decision to hire a Virtual Assistant who can really give you the help you need?
How does remote working impact our business?
In a study documented through Squaretalk, we found that during 2021 90% of employees claimed to be as productive as they are in the office while serving remotely, and 84% admitted to feeling happier while working remotely during the pandemic.
But would you say that those employers were as happy as their employees thinking about the security of their company? Well, we know there were no options during COVID, so action had to be taken. Over time, those leaders discovered that productivity and safety are not unaddressed risks when it comes to remote work. In fact, this same study shows that 74% of US companies currently have a full-time remote workforce or hybrid way of working.
Self-employment also increased. The increase was most noticeable in Europe back in 2020, according to statistics shared by Zoe
Here is the view in North America
There are a number of benefits for your business by hiring virtual assistants that made me decide to think we will have to create a single post for this topic as well. But just to mention one that impacts me the most is the positive effect it has on an organization’s costs, as it reduces the cost derived by office space and increases the income to the employees as they won’t need to spend money on transportation. In accordance with Zoe the average employee can cost 18k per year in office space!
But we might understand that maintaining privacy and security is a top concern for business owners around the world; this concern remains the same whether they have employees working on-site or remotely but we know the security issues with remote work may seem more difficult to overcome. So let’s talk about it!
Is security a real risk in remote work?
Yes, it’s a real concern, I mean, it’s actually something that represents an obstacle for entrepreneurs when making the decision to hire a virtual assistant, but it doesn’t represent a risk that we can’t handle or address at all, you can have the help you need for you, your clients and your business and have the performance, high-quality service and security as well, that’s a reality!
The GWA Global Workplace Analytics affirms “Almost 93% of managers involved in IRS pilot telework program believe there is no problem with data security” and “Security issues are easy to solve but must be addressed”.
Virtual assistants deal with sensitive information therefore counting with a clear IT Security Privacy Policy in place is in the best interest of both the VA and the employer to have.
So Privacy and security do not have to be obstacles to counting the benefits of working with virtual assistants that give you a lot of benefits for you and your business.
“Cyber-Security is much more than a matter of IT”.
Stephane Nappo.
With a proper understanding of cyber security risks along with the implementation of constant training creating a sense of security awareness you will reduce the 90% of security breaches, just as Mimecast shares, as the studies confirm that human errors are involved almost all cases reported.
Through the years having a noticeable increasement in remote work, companies started to train their employees more constantly about Security Awareness. I am pretty sure that you have received more than once this type of training, but just in case you haven’t you can take a look at this free content shared by CompTIA
There are several ways to train your team now to create awareness of what they need to take care of and be careful with data so that all your information is kept secure whether your staff is onsite or working remotely.
So, now we will do a review of cybersecurity actions that we should have in the loop to share with you all, I will continue to work for you and do some more research….
5 cyber security actions for your business.
1. Preventing data breaches and phishing attacks.
It is important to mention that many data breaches are not caused by sophisticated cyber threats. In fact, many cases are caused by simple human error, this human mistakes might be related to poor configuration, weak encryption, or third and fourth-party vendor breaches.
There are some common sources for security breaches: Data leaks, phishing, lost/stolen/cracked passwords, ransomware, spyware, and plug-and-play protocols.
To prevent data breaches in this new year 2023 you can follow these recommendations shared by UpGuard
How to Prevent Data breaches in 2023
2. Building a culture of security.
Starting by recognizing that creating a culture requires not only effort and a clear objective, but also perseverance, we will understand that building a safety-related organizational culture can be an important level in the priorities to start working on.
We have said that up to 90% of security breaches are caused by human error, which means we must work directly with our virtual assistants and other staff to make them aware of software vulnerabilities and data security and train them to mitigate internal risks.
To create a culture of security you can follow these steps:
- Create a simple but transparent information security policy.
- Provide constant security awareness training to your organization.
- Create different types of training and reinforcement for different types of learning from your staff. (Short videos, emails with info awareness, forms with informative check questions, etc).
3. Strengthening technological defenses against cyber threats.
Many organizations, whether they are big or small, sometimes use digital cybersecurity analysts to save time. This is an automated process that is usually cloud-based.
Fully automated security virtual assistants will identify, scan and block suspicious URLs, IP addresses, and data transfers taking place on the system. The semi-automated mode can provide an organization’s security teams with current findings to take optimal action.
4. Secure Remotely Working and Travelling.
Wi-Fi networks are more accessible during business travel. While it may make your job easier at the time, it ultimately compromises your and your organization’s cybersecurity if you are not aware of the precautionary measures you can take.
It’s important to train your staff about the risks they might face and their consequences.
Training plans and ongoing educational modules in these important areas are truly effective precautions.
Also, using VPNs and installing anti-malware programs is a best practice as well.
5. Constant backup of all the data.
This is one of the most important best practices that help and represent a lifesaver. Keep in mind that make sure the backup information -including the one you have in the cloud- is fully protected, encrypted, and constantly updated.
Remember,
Having the help you need from a talented Virtual Assistant or Remote Executive Assistant is secure. All precautions in regard to cybersecurity should be taken the same way as with the staff you have on site. So do not get stressed for no reason, just focus on evaluating the type of actions you need to take to make sure you and your organization’s data are safe by following the recommendations we shared in this post or contact an IT specialist to make sure you have everything set.
The Freelancing way of work had come to stay and to help us all live in a better world where a work-life balance is possible.
So don’t hold back from having that dream come true as an entrepreneur or business owner, you can have the time you need to grow your business, spend with your family, and become that effective leader that is essential but not required for your business to function effectively.
Join our family at Mya Assistant and book a call now…
