The COVID-19 pandemic brought about sudden and significant changes to how businesses are conducted. Employees found a new level of flexibility through the remote or hybrid work model, which brought about many advantages and challenges. The need for secure networks has become the most paramount factor of attention for organizations.

The new remote/hybrid work model was the only way most IT businesses could continue their functional operations since they had no other option after offices were shut. As this form of work becomes an industry standard, organizations must look for new security measures beyond the office to keep their operations safe from cyber-attacks.

Today’s blog will show the top security approaches that will benefit small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Top Strategic Security Approaches

#1 – Zero Trust

Mixing home access with corporate access poses a significant security risk to the enterprise’s IT network. Adopting a zero-trust model is one of the best ways to prevent security lapses.

A zero-trust security model means all users get access to the business network only after thoroughly verifying the user’s identity. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the simplest approaches used in a zero-trust network.

#2 – Cloud Migration

The pandemic compelled companies to go remote, and cloud services like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud emerged as the top options. As the perimeter of a business’s workforce expanded to a global level, on-premise infrastructure became insufficient. Organizations moved to the cloud to provide agility and security to their business operations.

Cloud-based solutions also offered a higher uptime, exceptional disaster recovery methods, and the ability to scale as per demand, making them a favorite choice for SMBs.

#3 – Modern VPN

After the pandemic struck, traditional VPN services started failing due to latency issues or denial of access outside the on-premise network. Therefore, a need arose to have advanced VPN services implemented to cater to the new dynamic.

Organizations moved from legacy VPNs to cutting-edge VPN solutions to provide an even more secure network for their remote employees while not impacting the user experience. The latest VPN technologies offer businesses even greater visibility of the travel routes of data being transferred over the network.

#4 – Workforce Training

All the secure IT protocols are of little use if your employees are unaware of how to use them. According to market research by a Stanford University professor and security firm, Tessian, 85% of data breaches happen due to human errors.

The remote and hybrid working environment has exposed businesses to newfound threats that cannot be dealt with using old tools and techniques. Hence, the new normal necessitates employee education and training on the latest cybersecurity tools and techniques to ensure that your business’s sensitive data remains that way.

A Helping Hand

The new work dynamic is challenging for most SMBs that need to spend more time on security but can only spare a little. For them, managed IT service providers can act as specialized consultants, guiding them in implementing the most effective security practices for their remote/hybrid workforce.

One82 is a Managed IT Service Provider that helps small businesses realize their objectives by providing 360-degree IT support. Our team of experts becomes part of your organization to manage your daily IT activities effectively. With mature and reliable cybersecurity and cloud solutions, we take our client’s IT architecture to the next level.

We have only one objective in mind – to make seamless organizational workflow possible for our clients. Contact us today to upgrade your business.