30% of workers feel vulnerable to cyber attack working from home
By Maurice Garvey
UP TO 30 per cent of workers feel more vulnerable to attack while working at home.
According to a survey conducted by IT security solutions distributor DataSolutions, one in ten respondents revealed that they had been targeted by cybercriminals since working from home.
David Keating, Group Security Director, DataSolutions
The survey of 500 office workers was carried out by Censuswide on behalf of Clondalkin based DataSolutions.
It revealed 57 per cent said their company didn’t provide additional security training to prepare them for working from home, with 56 per cent using their own personal devices to work remotely.
Furthermore, a fifth said they have shared or stored work documents on personal devices – presenting a multitude of issues, including GDPR compliance and cybersecurity.
Among respondents, the younger generation (under the age of 25) felt most at risk – 42 per cent.
David Keating, Group Security Sales Director, DataSolutions, said the only decision businesses can make with any confidence is that homeworking will be a part of their strategy for the foreseeable future. “Therefore, they need to have the right infrastructure and technologies in place to enable employees to work from home effectively and, more importantly, securely.
“This is going to be a long-term need and while Irish organisations have certainly managed their response well so far, more work is needed to support and safeguard the new normal.
Not only are systems and data at risk, but there are also potentially huge implications in terms of cost and reputation for companies who become exposed to cyberattacks – which are much greater at the moment as hackers are well aware that people are working by themselves, potentially using unprotected devices and possibly not as alert as they would be in the office.
“As well as security, the current situation is also putting GDPR compliance at risk with workers using more personal devices.
It is extremely worrying that just half of organisations changed their security strategy in light of what has happened and considering that entire workforces are accessing systems across locations, potentially on unprotected devices and networks.
Furthermore, even those that did adapt early would now need to review, evolve and ensure that their approach remains fit for emerging more sophisticated and targeted home worker attacks.”
By subscribing to The Echo you are supporting your local newspaper Click Here: Echo Online.
TAGS Business
