Information security. Why is it important now in the post-COVID-19 world?
Let’s find out.
Overview
The global pandemic created a great challenge for businesses all over the world. And that’s to continue to operate despite lockdowns.
Information security is something that companies have depended on for a long time. Now, remote employees need these systems even more. In fact, the demands on these infrastructures skyrocketed at the start of the pandemic.
But, it also became a lucrative target for cybercriminals. If anything, they love the effects of the ongoing crisis now.
That’s why cybersecurity efforts need to be upgraded. So, companies can prevent a second crisis from emerging.
An Explosion of Information Security Risks in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Businesses were forced to shift online in order to continue operating. At the same time, it increased their risk of cyberattacks. Now, they have to be always on surveillance.
So, security and risk management are imperative for businesses. Leaders also have to safeguard their companies quickly. They also have to make their digital platforms resilient against threats.
Moreover, IT experts are under pressure. In fact, most IT professionals have to extend their remote work capacity.
For one thing, data is now in less secure remote workplaces. Employees are also less protected by the security measures in their offices.
As a result, the software they use has more risks of hacking sensitive data. Unfortunately, most employees are also not equipped with the latest tools.
No doubt, very few organizations were prepared. While some are ready for this, many are still to follow suit.
For that reason, cybercriminals are loving this crisis. They are well aware that the pandemic opened the door wide to hacking.
Now, most of them launch COVID-19-themed attacks. They can be in form of phishing emails or malware. And if dropped in networks, it can steal information and credentials.
Fake websites also solicit donations through email links. Others make fake vaccine alerts and lure them to input their private data. More so, remote working tools like Zoom have been hacked.
Why A Robust IT Information Security Response Is Important
In the new normal, cybersecurity professionals must aggressively confront the risks. For starters, they need to make their remote workforce aware of scams.
IT experts believe that employees are the weakest link of security. But by empowering them with awareness, they can be the company’s first line of defense.
Now that health protocols are still in place, web-based training platforms are valuable here.
But, that’s just only the beginning. More needs to be done. In fact, it doesn’t just end in the pandemic.
Information security professionals need to keep an eye on the medium and long term. For one, remote work is here to stay.
The key here for companies is that they should be quick to adopt technologies and solutions. For instance, they can apply cloud-based security and platform services. They can also increase the depth of security protection rapidly.
Inarguably, the pandemic paved the way for a new era of cyber and information security. As discussed, cybercriminals will be crucial players in the economic turnaround.
