The coronavirus pandemic has had an enormous impact on the way in which businesses run today. One major consequence of COVID-19 and its subsequent lockdowns is the increase in cyber attacks that have been caused by low security and stretched-thin IT systems.
During April, when the impact of the coronavirus was at an all-time high,Google reported seeing more than 18 million malware attacks and phishing emails every single day, along with 240 million daily spam emails.
The rate of cyber attacks was rising even before the pandemic, but hackers took advantage of public panic, overburdened healthcare systems, and the lax security of remote workers to prey on the public’s technology. And businesses continue to face cyber attacks even now that the dust has largely settled.
Whether your business was able to cope with the shift in security or you’re preempting a future attack, it’s important for all businesses to adapt the way in which they operate in order to protect themselves in the face of new threats. From prompting businesses to secure remote networks to see managers seeking cybersecurity IT services, COVID-19 has certainly had a huge impact on the business world of cybersecurity as we once knew it.
Here are some of the ways the coronavirus cyber crime spike has affected businesses and the biggest lessons organizations have learned as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Businesses Need Multi-Level Cybersecurity Safeguards
Cyber attacks are by no means a new concept, but with a reduction in security during the COVID-19 pandemic due to overburdened businesses and spread-out systems, businesses have definitely become more of a target to threats.
Perhaps the biggest change and challenge during the past months of the pandemic has been the mass transition to remote work and the ensuing issues that came with it. The security of on-location servers and the ease of sharing within an enclosed system were gone, and instead, many businesses continued sending unencrypted information and working on unsecured networks.
This change has made clear the need for multi-level cybersecurity safeguards. Multi-factor authentication can guard against password attacks, VPNs can encrypt communications, and standard antimalware, firewalls, and email filters can act as preliminary defenses against attacks. Now that 100% in-office teams are rare, it is more important than ever to have a cybersecurity strategy that protects your data from every possible type of threat.
Policies Need to Be Reworked for Remote Users
For many businesses, a key struggle in going remote has been the need to operate from a hybrid workspace, with some employees in the office and some working from home.
Policies such as BYOD (bring your own device) vs. work-provided device rules, acceptable working hours, how and when meetings are conducted, how co-workers communicate, and more need to be adjusted for remote workers, and all of this needs to be completed in a way that keeps cybersecurity at the forefront.
Businesses Need Dedicated Managed IT Services
If a business was not already working with a dedicated IT team, the pandemic has done a great job of showing people that working with true professionals is incredibly beneficial. With the digital needs of businesses changing, having constant support is the best way to ensure you can keep up.
From security measures to managed IT services, the value a dedicated IT company can provide to your business during this time is unmatched, especially if you’re experiencing issues with the remote work transition and maintaining long-term remote security and productivity.