Virtually every company needs a comprehensive strategy for hybrid work security in 2024. Currently, business leaders are attempting to push employees back into the office with ever-evolving “return to office” mandates. However, most agree that the future of work is still hybrid.
Flexible work is still a priority for today’s employees, and many business leaders agree a hybrid model helps to reduce operational costs, employee turnover, and productivity losses. However, a distributed workforce presents its own set of challenges, primarily in the security landscape.
As employees continue to connect with colleagues and share data from various environments, using countless different tools and resources, security threats are growing. Here are the core reasons why business leaders need to make hybrid work security a priority in 2024.
1. Flexible Work Isn’t Going Anywhere
Companies in countless industries have begun doubling down on return-to-work mandates in recent years, hoping to encourage employees to spend more time in the office. However, few believe that they’ll ever be able to bring teams back to the office full-time. One KMPG study found only a third of the CEOs in high-value companies expect a full return to the office to happen in the next three years.
While trying to force team members back into the office may seem like a good way to eliminate common hybrid work security threats, the strategy simply doesn’t work. Business leaders end up losing crucial staff members unwilling to compromise on flexibility. Even if you manage to get most team members back into the office full-time, there’s a good chance they’ll end up using their own preferred devices, software, and tools to maintain a level of flexibility.
BYOD, BYOM, and similar strategies are becoming increasingly common among companies that want to retain team members. However, each new method of implementing “flexibility” in the workplace comes with its own security challenges to consider. A comprehensive hybrid work security strategy is the only way to mitigate evolving risks.
2. Hybrid Work Security and Compliance Standards Evolve
The continued popularity of hybrid work and flexible working strategies is directly impacting the security mandates and guidelines imposed by industry regulators. Data is widely regarded as the world’s most valuable asset, and virtually every industry has specific rules for collecting, storing, and using data.
In the last couple of years, major regulators have imposed billions of dollars in fines against organizations failing to implement holistic governance strategies. As the way we collaborate evolves, thanks to the rise of mobile devices and different messaging apps, companies are under increasing pressure to ensure they’re collecting and protecting the right data across multiple channels.
A holistic hybrid work security strategy ensures businesses can carefully consider their entire workplace and digital communications strategies and implement comprehensive strategies in line with new “digital communication governance” initiatives.
3. Hybrid Work Security Attacks are Evolving
Cybercriminals have always been resourceful and inventive. As companies continue to embrace the hybrid working model, criminal entities have begun launching ever-more sophisticated attacks against employees and teams. We’ve seen an astronomical rise in phishing emails and fake websites used to collect crucial login details and data from team members.
At the same time, artificial intelligence is emerging as a major resource for cyber criminals. Bad actors have begun using AI “deepfakes” and voice simulators to trick contact center leaders, and bypass standard authentication strategies. AI tools are even helping criminals create and automate larger-scale data attacks on businesses of all sizes.
As threats grow more sophisticated, a comprehensive hybrid work security strategy will be crucial to ensuring businesses are protecting all of their key assets, data, and consumers. Organizations will need to take a comprehensive approach to everything from endpoint protection to call and meeting security and even network security.
4. Built-in Security Features aren’t Always Enough
Leading vendors creating crucial tools for internal collaboration, customer service, and productivity are aware of the risks emerging in the hybrid work landscape.
Many of the top platforms companies rely on today, from systems like Microsoft Teams, to CCaaS platforms have their own built-in security solutions. They may feature tools for multi-factor authentication, data governance and recording. However, not every platform will be automatically optimized for the security needs of every company.
Each organization embracing hybrid work will have its own challenges to consider, from securing “Bring your own device” meeting rooms to staying compliant with regulatory guidelines like HIPAA and PCI DSS. Investing in advanced hybrid work security solutions will help businesses determine when they need to invest in more than just the built-in security features in their chosen platforms.
5. New Technologies Present New Threats
The hybrid workplace is evolving at an incredible rate. Not only are employees communicating in more ways than ever before, driving the need for holistic digital communications governance strategies, but they’re also experimenting with innovative tools and resources.
Immersive collaboration platforms, XR hardware, and applications are excellent at bringing hybrid and distributed workers together in a virtual environment. But implementing these technologies requires companies to address new threats, like how they’ll defend data in the metaverse.
Artificial intelligence is transforming how we collaborate and share information with the rise of tools like Microsoft Copilot and Zoom AI Companion. However, since these tools rely on extensive access to data, they also present new challenges when it comes to managing data governance.
If companies want to fully take advantage of solutions that enhance and optimize hybrid work, they’ll also need to ensure they have the right governance strategies and processes in place to protect their data and team members.
6. Hybrid Work Security is Crucial to Continuity
Investing in hybrid work security is essential for businesses that want to avoid fines and legal repercussions. However, the right strategy is also critical to ongoing business continuity. Implementing a comprehensive range of solutions to defend workers and data ensures companies can continue to empower employees with the working styles and tools they prefer.
It paves the way for consistent, flexible working opportunities that enhance employee satisfaction and help attract new talent. What’s more, it ensures companies can preserve their reputations with consumers by showing a continued commitment to protecting their information.
Implementing a complete strategy for hybrid work security also leads to more robust disaster recovery strategies. When companies fully assess all of the threats their hybrid employees might face and build comprehensive strategies for overcoming them, they’re less likely to experience the negative side effects of constant disruption and unexpected downtime.
Invest in Comprehensive Hybrid Work Security
Countless business leaders and analysts agree that the future of work is hybrid. Flexibility in the workplace is crucial to attracting and retaining the right talent and enabling agility. However, hybrid work isn’t without its risks. As companies continue to adapt their office environments to empower and enable hybrid workers, they need to prioritize security and compliance.
Redesigning your workflows and processes, focusing on adhering to regulations and protecting both teams and customers, will ensure you can thrive in a complex landscape. Don’t underestimate the importance of security in your hybrid work strategy.
