The traditional office is becoming harder to find these days. Across the world, millions of people have shifted to hybrid or fully remote work lifestyles. In the USA, 53% of workers have adopted hybrid patterns, and 24% work from home full-time. Those numbers are likely to rise with employee expectations drifting towards flexible working. 

But how should companies respond? Enabling remote working can be risky, but it comes with many benefits. In this article, we’ll introduce the best security tools for remote work, making it easier to relocate employees without creating extra cybersecurity risks.

Key takeaways

• Remote working is more popular than ever. Choosing the right software and hardware tools allows off-site workforces to operate safely and productively.

• Efficient video conferencing solutions connect team colleagues, managers, and third parties seamlessly. And they secure communications against eavesdroppers.

• Messaging apps ensure consistent information flows between remote employees. They should allow regular updates, quality assurance checks, and assist with team building.

• Project management systems make it easier to control dispersed teams. Managers can monitor remote workforces and set schedules for project delivery.

• Secure storage solutions keep critical data safe. Access controls and encryption make data available for team members while preventing illegitimate access.

The evolution of remote work

Remote work is not a new phenomenon. And in the past 20 years, remote work has become routine for occupations like IT support.

However, the number of remote employees was relatively small until the Covid pandemic. When it hit, millions of workers were suddenly barred from workplaces. But companies needed to continue operations, which sparked a search for remote solutions.

Apps like Zoom became household names overnight. And organizations suddenly had to adapt their working practices to accommodate working remotely.

Fortunately, Covid-19 coincided with technological developments that made remote working easier. Internet bandwidth is increasing at a rate of around 29% per year. This allowed employees to collaborate via video conferencing without lag issues. And remote security solutions like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and multi-factor authentication enabled companies to create secure remote work connections.

The pandemic and technological change have paved the way for an age of flexible remote working. And this change is mainly driven by employees.

As the Covid pandemic receded, many people didn’t return to their workplaces. Workers became accustomed to spending more time at home. Now, as many as 65% of workers seek full-time remote work, and the employers need to adapt fast.

However, not all sectors have embraced remote work. Healthcare and care professions still generally rely on face-to-face contact. Manual trades like mining or construction may always require employees to be present on site. Despite that, many industries support remote work strategies.

The IT sector has the highest proportion of home workers right now. But jobs as diverse as accounting, non-profit administration, tutoring, and graphic design are also compatible with home working.

Recent years have also seen the emergence of remote workforce technologies that enable productive and secure remote work. Project management tools, VPNs, collaboration and video conferencing apps, and cloud storage platforms make remote work easier than ever. Thus, the future of remote working seems bright.

Evaluating remote work effectiveness

Remote work is already mainstream. But it isn’t necessarily the best solution for all companies and employees.

On the positive side, statistics suggest that working from home boosts productivity and streamlines corporate operations. Additionally, major companies say that remote work is 35-40% more productive than office-based alternatives.

This increase could be due to the absence of distractions. Remote employees put time spent on commutes to better use. Or they might just be happier and energized by controlling their working lives.

On the other hand, remote work isn’t suitable for many occupations. As this list from the New York Times shows, this trend has barely touched plenty of jobs. Education, medicine, and construction are just a few good examples.

The pandemic forced teachers to run classes remotely. Such a method led to frustration and stress for educators and damaged educational outcomes for learners. Therefore, organizations should think long and hard before relocating any jobs involving face-to-face contact.

Companies must be aware of potential problems with remote or hybrid work models. Researchers report that remote work can come with a “promotion penalty.” Employees away from managers and offices may lose out during internal recruitment.

On-site staff also benefit from the assistance of more experienced colleagues. Younger remote workers may be disconnected from sources of knowledge. Isolation hurts productivity and dents the career prospects of remote employees.

Poorly-organized remote working systems can also lead to problems with managing them. As a result, managers may gradually extend surveillance reach to track projects and productivity. Because of that, surveillance can negate the feeling of freedom that makes working remotely so appealing.

To sum up, there are good reasons to embrace remote work. But companies should be careful when designing home working setups as this comes with new risks. Let’s explore some tools to simplify this critical task.

The best remote workforce technologies in 2023

Organizations should employ a suite of technologies for working remotely. These cover critical areas like cloud storage, project management, communication, data security, and secure remote access. Let’s see what are the top options in each category.

Cloud storage tools

Remote work teams should use secure cloud storage to host workloads and communication apps. Secure platforms apply encryption to protect data at rest. Furthermore, firewalls block illegitimate external access, and physical controls protect data centers.

Cloud platforms couple security with ease of use, meaning remote users can share files and databases instantly. Moreover, teams can update work documents, client databases, or code bases in real time. And cloud data protection tools keep the workloads safe from external intruders.

It usually makes sense to build remote work setups around cloud environments. But which cloud services provider should you choose?

Microsoft Azure

This is a popular option for cloud storage. Azure Bastion provides secure shell access for remote connections. It also features the ability to create virtual desktop infrastructure with ease. That way, remote employees can access central resources without storing data locally.

Microsoft’s cloud platform has other remote security benefits. Learn more by reading our Azure best practices guide.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS is another good cloud storage option and virtual workspace. For instance, it’s ideal for creatives working remotely who need virtual workstations for graphic design or video production.

Users can encrypt data easily and manage data retention policies. And they can track data movements between home and cloud locations.

Finally, cybersecurity is very tight if you follow AWS security best practices.

Google Cloud

Google Cloud offers excellent document storage and editing features. Flexible bucket storage is a core feature of Google’s platform. When cloud services fail in one region, remote workers can access workloads hosted elsewhere.

Google’s storage systems scale smoothly. They are fitted with critical remote security tools like encryption, cloud-native access controls, signed URLs, and data retention locks. By following Google Cloud security best practices, you can design a remote work solution that secures data and serves employee needs.

Project management

Managing projects is a crucial aspect of any remote workplace. Managers need to set targets and monitor employee progress. They need awareness of project achievements. Finally, they require the ability to change plans as projects develop.

Project management tools make these tasks much more manageable. What’s more, they give an overall awareness to their users. Also, some solutions enable detailed worker surveillance via time-tracking tools.

Jira

Atlassian’s Jira platform is a good solution for creating a flexible remote team. Targeted at code developers, Jira enables complete awareness of production status. Managers can track progress with productivity reports and timeline tools. In the meantime, task management hubs allow them to set flexible workflows for each team member.

Jira is a solid option for DevOps teams that depend on distributed remote workers. That’s because it blends flexibility and security. For instance, users can encrypt data at rest and in transit, and they can set permissions for each object. NordLayer’s guide to Jira security best practices offers a comprehensive overview of the product’s remote security features.

Microsoft Teams

Teams is the most popular platform for remote work operations. However, it doesn’t include native project management features.

Instead, users can create integrations with third-party management tools like Monday or Brightworks. These tools link together the video conferencing and messaging functions that make Teams useful. And they let managers schedule events and track progress easily.

Microsoft Teams is part of Office 365. This suite allows easy assimilation of Excel or Word into remote workflows. But this solution might come with security vulnerabilities. Learn more by reading our blog about Office 365 best practices.

Figma

Product designers rely on Figma to collaborate and develop ideas. The platform’s Juncture tool enables in-depth project management for every team and product. Co-creation spaces bring workers together to share prototypes or test apps. And tools like FigJam provide online whiteboards for real-time collaboration.

Figma is an excellent development platform for remote teams. But as with Microsoft Teams, it’s not entirely secure. Therefore, be sure to implement Figma security best practices before teams go online.

Communication and collaboration tools

Communication and collaboration are critical to the success of every remote team. And for that, there are many different tools to choose from.

The most secure options are end-to-end encrypted messaging apps. Troop Messenger and Element are designed to suit business communications. They encrypt messages between remote team members without compromising performance.

Other communication tools bring team members together to discuss ongoing projects. For example, Slack features customizable one-to-one, enterprise-wide, or departmental group chats, including live voice communications. It includes encryption, key management, audit logs, and data loss prevention.

Video collaboration is another must-have for most remote work operations. Zoom is optimized for distributed teams, with collaborative whiteboards, up to 100 meeting attendees, and instant team meetings for spur-of-the-moment contact. Zoom Events is another neat feature that helps build togetherness within a distributed workforce.

Video communication tools improve collaboration, but they can bring remote security risks. During the Covid pandemic, there were many cases of attackers recording Zoom calls. That’s because threat actors can steal credentials or hijack calls over insecure connections.

Companies should couple collaboration tools with a reliable B2B VPN and access management systems. They ensure that calls are private and only legitimate invitees will be present.

Access control and data security tools

Remote work setups should always include filters to exclude unauthorized users from corporate resources. Therefore, authentication and access control solutions are critically important. After all, managers will probably want to give the IT admins more freedom than a trainee.

Authentication

Authentication compares user access credentials to secure credentials databases. The gold standard for remote access is multi-factor authentication (MFA). This demands more than one unique identifier when users access work resources.

MFA can involve passwords and one-time codes sent via SMS or email. But more secure versions deliver encrypted codes to mobile apps. This avoids security issues related to email and SMS. Organizations can also switch from passwords to hardware tokens provided to remote workers.

Access management

Access control portals complement authentication tools. Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems verify users’ identities and connect them to the correct privileges.

Remote workers can access resources needed by their team or project. However, under the Zero Trust model, IAM tools limit access to all other network assets. This strengthens the network perimeter and boosts cybersecurity.

Encryption

Encryption is another critical aspect of secure remote working. Companies should leverage encryption features on apps and cloud platforms to safeguard sensitive information. And they should use encrypted channels to connect remote devices and central resources.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

DLP tools can also help businesses a lot with their remote workforce. They track sensitive data and prevent misuse by remote users. This way, managers can protect the most important databases and documents. As a result. extracting valuable data will be much more difficult.

In summary, strong encryption is essential when designing remote work setups. Insecure user devices can become entry points for malware and data thieves. Moreover, weak authentication and authorization systems make access easy for anyone with a functioning user ID and password.

Secure remote access solutions

Remote access workforces expand the threat surface and create new cybersecurity risks. This makes it critical to secure every remote connection. Encrypting cloud platforms and implementing MFA is not enough. Companies must lock down connections between remote devices and network assets.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is one way to do so. It creates centralized servers on the cloud. These servers host workloads and data, meaning nothing is stored locally on employee devices. However, users can run apps hosted on the VDI in their home office.

VDI tools create encrypted connections between local devices and the virtualized environment. This is relatively secure. Unfortunately, attackers can still gain network access if they have legitimate credentials.

Companies can also use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to create encrypted tunnels for remote connections. VPN providers operate servers across the world, which can even improve connection speeds.

They apply cutting-edge encryption that is virtually impossible to crack. Moreover, your IP address will stay hidden, increasing anonymity. This makes it harder for hackers to mount interception and other types of attacks.

VPNs are a flexible security and privacy option for on-site and remote workforces. What’s more, these tools can secure access points in public locations. In the meantime, access company networks or attend client meetings while traveling.

NordLayer’s VPN solutions make creating safe remote work setups easier. Our Remote Access VPN encrypts connections via a simple client interface. Users can protect their devices instantly, whether they are accessing cloud platforms or central offices.

Make remote work secure with NordLayer

Remote work should always be protected. However, companies may struggle to secure data as employees shift away from centralized offices. This blog post has introduced key technologies and tools for keeping remote workers safe and boosting productivity.

Businesses should always choose the most secure project management and communication tools. While Azure or Zoom have their own security features, they alone are not enough. Organizations must be able to create gateways, use MFA authentication, protect remote access, and manage team member privileges.

It’s time to make your remote and on-site work safe. Get in touch with NordLayer, and we’ll help you create a solution that fits your business needs.

What is a third-party risk assessment? 

Third-party risk assessments consider supply chain risks associated with third parties. They cut external risks while onboarding third parties to support business processes.

Any third party can introduce supply chain risks. This makes company assets and systems more vulnerable. Integrating third-party risk assessments into your risk management strategy is essential.

This article will explain why third-party risk assessments matter. And we will provide a simple, practical guide to assessing suppliers.

Key takeaways

• Third-party risk assessment is a critical part of general risk management. Companies should carry out risk assessments for all external partners. Risk assessments protect sensitive data. They cut operational disruption. And they ensure that third-party relationships are compliant.

• Due diligence is essential when assessing third-party risks. Risk assessments should include comprehensive evaluations of external suppliers. Critical areas include data security, geographical location, compliance history, and incident recovery processes.

• Assessors should grade third parties. Assessments should focus on operational importance and the ability to access sensitive data. Concentrate on partners with the capacity to compromise security or damage internal systems.

• Third-party risk management is a continuous process. Companies should update risk assessments and check that they cover relevant risks.

What is a third party?

A third party is an external agent that contracts with another company to supply goods or services. Many companies rely on third parties. External partners support their work and make operational savings. Sometimes, companies rely on thousands of external partners. Common examples include:

• Professional office services.

• Marketing partners.

• Call centers and customer support services.

• Freelancers like coders, secretarial support staff, technicians, writers, videographers, and corporate trainers.

• Financial support. Includes accountants and partners for storing financial and customer data.

• Cloud service providers

• Security vendors

• Travel and employee services

• ISPs.

Importance of third-party risk assessment

Companies should never cut corners when assessing external partners. There are many reasons to implement a comprehensive third-party risk management strategy.

Meeting regulatory requirements

Many data security regulations demand third-party risk assessments. Regulations with third-party requirements include:

• European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• Payment Credit Industry Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS)

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Companies that assess third parties will strengthen compliance. And they will reduce their exposure to regulatory risks.

Certainty about cybersecurity risks

Most third-party vendors introduce cybersecurity risks. Comprehensive third-party risk assessments provide information about the cybersecurity practices of external partners. They allow companies to choose secure partners. Risk assessments also help companies improve general cybersecurity. They can put in place appropriate internal security controls that manage critical risks.

Avoiding reputational damage

Customers trust companies with a commitment to security and transparency. Organizations that lose data or suffer regular downtime due to poor security struggle. A third-party risk assessment filters out partners with poor operational or security records. Screening partners improves the customer experience. It guards against attacks that ruin corporate reputations.

Financial protection

Supply chain attacks are a common source of data breaches and malware infections. And cyber-attacks can have a devastating impact on your corporate bottom line. Data breaches cost money to compensate customers. Companies must pay regulatory fines, and invest in updated security technology. And you can prevent these costs by risk-assessing every third-party relationship.

Strategic efficiency

Robust vendor management allows companies to move forward. With dependable long-term partners in place, organizations can plan their mid-range goals. There should be no need to swap partners every six months.

Solid risk assessment processes lead to long-term relationships. And these relationships are the basis for an effective corporate strategy.

Third-party risk types

Dividing risk allows assessors to generate more precise outcomes. It also gives managers a fuller picture of risks that each third party poses. Critical types of third-party risk include:

Cybersecurity risks

Third-party vendors often have access to internal networks and customer data. Partners with network access could expose your company to cybersecurity risks. A supplier risk assessment must establish which cybersecurity risks apply. It must also suggest appropriate action.

For example, you might use a third-party Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. This supplier could pose an information security risk. The third party could expose customer data through poor cybersecurity controls.

Operational risks

Operational risks threaten everyday company operations. This category includes business continuity threats to network infrastructure and applications. But operational risks also cover the physical integrity of office spaces. And they include the ability of remote workers to connect. Third parties can also pose operational risks when their systems or products fail.

Compliance risks

Third parties pose a compliance or regulatory risk. This happens when their products or services breach regulatory rules. For example, HIPAA demands tight information security and privacy for patient records. But an email filtering service with poor security controls could put this data at risk. Risk assessors should consider every relevant regulation when analyzing potential suppliers.

Financial risks

Financial risk or organizational risk affects revenues and profits. Third-party relationships often help companies become more efficient. But the failure of vendor-supplied solutions can harm your finances. Vendor failure may immobilize payment portals. Or it could leave employees without access to critical resources. Vendors can also go out of business, leaving partners in limbo.

Strategic risks

Strategic risks refer to long-term effects on how a company operates. Third-party relationships should be durable. But supplier quality can decrease. Security practices can lapse, or partners may stop operations. Companies must consider business strategy 2 or 3 years into the future. Will third parties still be reliable partners?

Consequences of neglecting third-party risk assessment

What happens if you fail to assess third-party risks properly? In reality, the consequences can be damaging. Common results include:

• Regulatory breaches and penalties

• Lost customer trust and market share

• Increased downtime and network integrity

• Escalating cyber-attacks and security costs

• Loss of strategic control with constant changes in supplier arrangements

• Poor relationships with third parties as disagreements mount

• Inflexible supplier management if risk assessments are not updated

Steps to conduct a third-party risk assessment

Assessments must be comprehensive. And they should focus on risks that matter. Vendor risk assessments that consider outdated or irrelevant issues are useless. So how can you carry out effective supplier assessments?

1. Decide the scope of the risk assessment

Start by creating a risk assessment team. Bring in expertise from different areas of the company. Broader expertise will help identify relevant risks that compliance teams might miss. Executive support is also critical to managing third-party risk across the enterprise.

Determine what forms an acceptable level of risk. Some third-party risk is unavoidable. Assessment teams should be clear about identifying risks that need action and monitoring.

2. Document third parties and identify critical risks

The second step in the assessment process is inventorying current third parties. Document all partners and create separate vendor risk assessments for each one.

Next, decide which risks apply to each supplier. The following questions are helpful when understanding vendor risk levels:

• Does the supplier have access to internal networks and company data?

• Are there specific regulatory risks associated with the supplier? For example, HIPAA compliance.

• What security controls against cybersecurity threats does the third party operate?

• Does the supplier have an incident response plan and a risk management program?

• What certifications does the supplier have?

• What is the security record of the third party? Have they been subject to regulatory intervention?

• Where is the third party located? Does location matter?

• Are business partners likely to subcontract operations to other vendors?

At this stage, you may need to request information from third parties. Create a risk assessment form for suppliers that covers relevant areas. Or request information about security certifications if this is available.

3. Classify risks on a third-party risk matrix

The next stage involves assessing the severity of each vendor risk. The best way to do this is by using a matrix to generate risk scores.

A risk matrix generally includes two axes with five entries on each axis:

• The X-axis grades the “impact” of an event and runs from “negligible” to “catastrophic”. Scores double from left to right.

• The Y-axis assesses the likelihood of the event occurring. It runs from “extremely unlikely” to “extremely likely.” Again, scores double from bottom to top.

Scores rise as events become more likely and severe. For example, a CRM provider might steal customer data to sell on the Dark Web. We would classs this risk as “unlikely”. But the consequences would be “severe” giving it a score of eight.

In another scenario a supplier fails to meet GDPR privacy standards. This would have a different score. In that case, the likelihood might be “likely” and the impact “major.” This results in a score of 12.

This system makes it easy to focus on the most urgent risks. And it also makes it easier to revisit risk assessments during risk audits.

4. Select third-party suppliers

Use risk classifications to grade potential or existing suppliers. Choose third parties that provide services according to your company strategy. But only pick partners with solid risk management practices.

With a robust risk assessment in place, you should be able to choose reliable and secure partners. Security teams will also know how to put in place controls to mitigate third-party risks.

5. Put in place continuous risk assessment

Risk assessment does not end when controls and smooth relationships are in place. Third-party risk assessment is a continuous process.

Revisit each third-party assessment on at least an annual basis. Check that the initial process identified critical risks. And make adjustments to reflect changes in the risk environment. For example, a supplier may have suffered a data breach. Or they may have started subcontracting services. Both changes could affect the supplier’s risk score.

Best practices for third-party risk assessment

1. Standardize risk assessments with a consistent template

Third-party risk assessments should be comparable. Companies must assess many suppliers. And they need the ability to pick a partner that meets their risk requirements.

Create standard risk assessment and questionnaire templates for each supplier. Document risk assessments. Create a risk framework that enables informed decision-making when onboarding external partners.

2. Understand the core risks your business faces

Not all risks are equal. Focus on critical risks. These risks can damage your company’s operational, compliance, and security posture.

Risks vary between sectors. Healthcare companies must follow HIPAA guidelines. Merchants need a robust PCI-DSS compliance framework. Select the risks that suit your business profile.

3. Classify vendors according to their importance

Vendors carry different amounts of risk. For instance, food delivery services are less critical than partners hosting financial data. Clarify the most important external relationships. Make them a priority when carrying out third-party risk management.

4. Assign resources for third-party research

Third-party risk assessments should identify the strengths and weaknesses of suppliers. Research vendor security processes, compliance histories, and client support services.

5. Build risk into watertight vendor contracts

Risk assessments should feed into third-party contracts or Business Associate agreements. Make sure contracts include core compliance requirements. State areas of responsibility for external partners. Track contracts as part of ongoing vendor risk assessment.

6. Schedule risk audits for all suppliers

Risk assessments should be dynamic. Revisit each supplier assessment annually and check that previous risk classifications remain relevant. Assess data security issues, including any data breaches. Ensure suppliers are compliant with any new regulations. And assess new risks that arise as regulations change.

7. Focus on disaster recovery

When assessing third parties, always request information about their incident recovery processes. Find partners that cut downtime and restore services without compromising security.

8. Always have a vendor exit strategy

Onboarding vendors is only half the challenge. Companies should always change suppliers that fail to meet risk-based requirements. Set a minimum service level and include this in vendor contracts. And enforce this policy to avoid using non-compliant partners.

How can NordLayer help?

NordLayer’s security products will help you manage supply chain risk. IP allowlisting enables access for legitimate partners but blocks unknown identities. Users can apply multi-factor authentication (MFA). This ensures that internal employees and third parties verify their identities.

Network segmentation also allows organizations to protect confidential data and critical applications. Attackers targeting your supply chain may manage to gain network access. But NordLayer’s micro-segmentation tools restrict their ability to move between assets. As a result, the scope to extract data and damage systems is much lower.

Create a risk management program that minimizes external risks. Contact us today. Explore how NordLayer’s solutions can supplement your vendor risk management strategy.

A stable internet connection is imperative in a digital world setup. More important is to keep those connections secure.

In a proactive move towards fortifying cybersecurity, NordLayer’s Always On VPN helps achieve this goal easily. This security feature ensures a VPN-only connection to company resources connection to company resources, online browsing, IP masking, and traffic encryption. 

The purpose of Always On VPN is straightforward: to guarantee continuous, secure internet access by disallowing unencrypted user connections.

Always On VPN reassures IT managers that the company’s cybersecurity tools are consistently and effectively utilized. When centrally activated via the Control Panel, end users can no longer disable it.

The functionality enables effective security policy enforcement that is critical to ensuring adherence to internal company procedures. It helps maximize the efficiency of the deployed cybersecurity strategy.

How does Always On VPN work on NordLayer?

Designed with user convenience in mind, Always On VPN automates the VPN connection, liberating users from the task of manually connecting to the VPN.

The feature is activated as soon as a user signs into their endpoint using the NordLayer Application with the Always On VPN feature enforced.

Always On VPN guarantees that any disruption to the VPN connection will automatically disconnect from the internet until the VPN connectivity is reestablished. Without any exceptions, every employee can only access the internet via a VPN connection, regardless of their global location.

Always on VPN is easily implemented and configured on NordLayer via the Control Panel to enforce this to all employees or specific users.

How does NordLayer’s Always On VPN feature work?

Always On VPN interweaves with other NordLayer features to offer a comprehensive security package.

• The feature ensures the effective operation of DNS Filtering and Deep Packet Inspection features per their respective settings.

• It complements the ThreatBlock feature, which filters potentially harmful websites that users may access while connected to the company gateway.

The NordLayer application settings allow employees to toggle the Always On VPN feature on or off, given that the administrator hasn’t centrally activated it.

If the IT administrator wishes to implement the Always On VPN feature across the organization, the end users won’t be able to deactivate it once it has been centrally configured through NordLayer’s Control Panel.

How is NordLayer’s Always On VPN different?

Suppose an organization needs to meet strict security requirements imposed by stakeholders or internal policies and wants to ensure that remote users always maintain an encrypted connection. In this case, the Always On VPN feature is turned on for all users.

On NordLayer, Always On VPN can be disabled for 3 minutes. It’s useful for those needing temporary internet access to log in to the NordLayer app, handle captive portals when connecting to Wi-Fi in places like hotels and airports, and troubleshoot. Although, when the given timelapse is over, the feature restores the VPN connection for the end user.

A team that travels extensively and frequently uses public Wi-Fi would benefit from enabling the Always On VPN. This reduces risks associated with insecure network connections in an airport or while working on a train.

Organizations that deal with highly sensitive information, such as e-commerce service providers, security agencies, or certain governmental bodies, may require stringent measures to prevent data leaks. Enforcing the use of the Always On VPN ensures that internet access only occurs via a secure VPN connection.

Benefits of Always On VPN

The feature has a positive impact on different stakeholders of the organization. From streamlined internet performance for staff wherever the location they work to a larger picture of implementing organizational cybersecurity strategy.

End users (employees)

NordLayer’s Always On VPN ensures that the application connects to the VPN automatically, eliminating the need for users to verify their VPN connection status. This offers peace of mind, as working without a VPN could significantly breach a company’s security policy, resulting in a data leak.

Organizations

Implementing the Always On VPN feature allows companies to bolster their security levels. Moreover, it could potentially lower cyber insurance payments due to heightened security measures.

IT administrators

Ensuring users fully utilize their organization’s cybersecurity tools can be a significant challenge for system admins. With NordLayer’s Always On VPN, admins can enforce feature usage policies and configurations, streamlining compliance and reducing risks with one button click.

Importantly, the Always On VPN feature can be enabled or disabled by admins in a few seconds using the Control Panel. This adds another layer of convenience and control to the system admin’s role.

Should you use NordLayer’s Always On VPN?

The Always On VPN feature perfectly aligns with NordLayer’s vision, providing a significant internet access security upgrade. It’s perfect for organizations with a hybrid work model and whose employees frequently travel to other countries. Manual switching of the VPN may introduce security risks, and this feature mitigates such vulnerabilities.

Without Always On VPN, ensuring a secure internet connection can become challenging. This feature enhances security and helps achieve compliance with the organization’s regulatory requirements.

FAQ

What is an Always On VPN?

An Always On VPN keeps your connection secure all the time. Once enabled, it automatically connects to the best server, ensuring continuous encryption and protection without manual intervention.

Is Always On VPN a good idea?

Absolutely! Always On VPN ensures constant security, privacy, and protection. It’s like a vigilant guardian for your internet connection, always working in the background to keep your data safe.

What is the difference between a VPN and Always On VPN?

A standard VPN requires a manual connection and may sometimes disconnect, while an always-on VPN maintains a constant secure connection. Think of it as the next level of convenience and protection – with Always On VPN, your security never takes a break.

For more information on secure and seamless connectivity, visit NordLayer.

The traditional office is becoming harder to find these days. Across the world, millions of people have shifted to hybrid or fully remote work lifestyles. In the USA, 53% of workers have adopted hybrid patterns, and 24% work from home full-time. Those numbers are likely to rise with employee expectations drifting towards flexible working. 

But how should companies respond? Enabling remote working can be risky, but it comes with many benefits. In this article, we’ll introduce the best security tools for remote work, making it easier to relocate employees without creating extra cybersecurity risks.

Key takeaways

• Remote working is more popular than ever. Choosing the right software and hardware tools allows off-site workforces to operate safely and productively.

• Efficient video conferencing solutions connect team colleagues, managers, and third parties seamlessly. And they secure communications against eavesdroppers.

• Messaging apps ensure consistent information flows between remote employees. They should allow regular updates, quality assurance checks, and assist with team building.

• Project management systems make it easier to control dispersed teams. Managers can monitor remote workforces and set schedules for project delivery.

• Secure storage solutions keep critical data safe. Access controls and encryption make data available for team members while preventing illegitimate access.

The evolution of remote work

Remote work is not a new phenomenon. And in the past 20 years, remote work has become routine for occupations like IT support.

However, the number of remote employees was relatively small until the Covid pandemic. When it hit, millions of workers were suddenly barred from workplaces. But companies needed to continue operations, which sparked a search for remote solutions.

Apps like Zoom became household names overnight. And organizations suddenly had to adapt their working practices to accommodate working remotely.

Fortunately, Covid-19 coincided with technological developments that made remote working easier. Internet bandwidth is increasing at a rate of around 29% per year. This allowed employees to collaborate via video conferencing without lag issues. And remote security solutions like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and multi-factor authentication enabled companies to create secure remote work connections.

The pandemic and technological change have paved the way for an age of flexible remote working. And this change is mainly driven by employees.

As the Covid pandemic receded, many people didn’t return to their workplaces. Workers became accustomed to spending more time at home. Now, as many as 65% of workers seek full-time remote work, and the employers need to adapt fast.

However, not all sectors have embraced remote work. Healthcare and care professions still generally rely on face-to-face contact. Manual trades like mining or construction may always require employees to be present on site. Despite that, many industries support remote work strategies.

The IT sector has the highest proportion of home workers right now. But jobs as diverse as accounting, non-profit administration, tutoring, and graphic design are also compatible with home working.

Recent years have also seen the emergence of remote workforce technologies that enable productive and secure remote work. Project management tools, VPNs, collaboration and video conferencing apps, and cloud storage platforms make remote work easier than ever. Thus, the future of remote working seems bright.

Evaluating remote work effectiveness

Remote work is already mainstream. But it isn’t necessarily the best solution for all companies and employees.

On the positive side, statistics suggest that working from home boosts productivity and streamlines corporate operations. Additionally, major companies say that remote work is 35-40% more productive than office-based alternatives.

This increase could be due to the absence of distractions. Remote employees put time spent on commutes to better use. Or they might just be happier and energized by controlling their working lives.

On the other hand, remote work isn’t suitable for many occupations. As this list from the New York Times shows, this trend has barely touched plenty of jobs. Education, medicine, and construction are just a few good examples.

The pandemic forced teachers to run classes remotely. Such a method led to frustration and stress for educators and damaged educational outcomes for learners. Therefore, organizations should think long and hard before relocating any jobs involving face-to-face contact.

Companies must be aware of potential problems with remote or hybrid work models. Researchers report that remote work can come with a “promotion penalty.” Employees away from managers and offices may lose out during internal recruitment.

On-site staff also benefit from the assistance of more experienced colleagues. Younger remote workers may be disconnected from sources of knowledge. Isolation hurts productivity and dents the career prospects of remote employees.

Poorly-organized remote working systems can also lead to problems with managing them. As a result, managers may gradually extend surveillance reach to track projects and productivity. Because of that, surveillance can negate the feeling of freedom that makes working remotely so appealing.

To sum up, there are good reasons to embrace remote work. But companies should be careful when designing home working setups as this comes with new risks. Let’s explore some tools to simplify this critical task.

The best remote workforce technologies in 2023

Organizations should employ a suite of technologies for working remotely. These cover critical areas like cloud storage, project management, communication, data security, and secure remote access. Let’s see what are the top options in each category.

Cloud storage tools

Remote work teams should use secure cloud storage to host workloads and communication apps. Secure platforms apply encryption to protect data at rest. Furthermore, firewalls block illegitimate external access, and physical controls protect data centers.

Cloud platforms couple security with ease of use, meaning remote users can share files and databases instantly. Moreover, teams can update work documents, client databases, or code bases in real time. And cloud data protection tools keep the workloads safe from external intruders.

It usually makes sense to build remote work setups around cloud environments. But which cloud services provider should you choose?

Microsoft Azure

This is a popular option for cloud storage. Azure Bastion provides secure shell access for remote connections. It also features the ability to create virtual desktop infrastructure with ease. That way, remote employees can access central resources without storing data locally.

Microsoft’s cloud platform has other remote security benefits. Learn more by reading our Azure best practices guide.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS is another good cloud storage option and virtual workspace. For instance, it’s ideal for creatives working remotely who need virtual workstations for graphic design or video production.

Users can encrypt data easily and manage data retention policies. And they can track data movements between home and cloud locations.

Finally, cybersecurity is very tight if you follow AWS security best practices.

Google Cloud

Google Cloud offers excellent document storage and editing features. Flexible bucket storage is a core feature of Google’s platform. When cloud services fail in one region, remote workers can access workloads hosted elsewhere.

Google’s storage systems scale smoothly. They are fitted with critical remote security tools like encryption, cloud-native access controls, signed URLs, and data retention locks. By following Google Cloud security best practices, you can design a remote work solution that secures data and serves employee needs.

Project management

Managing projects is a crucial aspect of any remote workplace. Managers need to set targets and monitor employee progress. They need awareness of project achievements. Finally, they require the ability to change plans as projects develop.

Project management tools make these tasks much more manageable. What’s more, they give an overall awareness to their users. Also, some solutions enable detailed worker surveillance via time-tracking tools.

Jira

Atlassian’s Jira platform is a good solution for creating a flexible remote team. Targeted at code developers, Jira enables complete awareness of production status. Managers can track progress with productivity reports and timeline tools. In the meantime, task management hubs allow them to set flexible workflows for each team member.

Jira is a solid option for DevOps teams that depend on distributed remote workers. That’s because it blends flexibility and security. For instance, users can encrypt data at rest and in transit, and they can set permissions for each object. NordLayer’s guide to Jira security best practices offers a comprehensive overview of the product’s remote security features.

Microsoft Teams

Teams is the most popular platform for remote work operations. However, it doesn’t include native project management features.

Instead, users can create integrations with third-party management tools like Monday or Brightworks. These tools link together the video conferencing and messaging functions that make Teams useful. And they let managers schedule events and track progress easily.

Microsoft Teams is part of Office 365. This suite allows easy assimilation of Excel or Word into remote workflows. But this solution might come with security vulnerabilities. Learn more by reading our blog about Office 365 best practices.

Figma

Product designers rely on Figma to collaborate and develop ideas. The platform’s Juncture tool enables in-depth project management for every team and product. Co-creation spaces bring workers together to share prototypes or test apps. And tools like FigJam provide online whiteboards for real-time collaboration.

Figma is an excellent development platform for remote teams. But as with Microsoft Teams, it’s not entirely secure. Therefore, be sure to implement Figma security best practices before teams go online.

Communication and collaboration tools

Communication and collaboration are critical to the success of every remote team. And for that, there are many different tools to choose from.

The most secure options are end-to-end encrypted messaging apps. Troop Messenger and Element are designed to suit business communications. They encrypt messages between remote team members without compromising performance.

Other communication tools bring team members together to discuss ongoing projects. For example, Slack features customizable one-to-one, enterprise-wide, or departmental group chats, including live voice communications. It includes encryption, key management, audit logs, and data loss prevention.

Video collaboration is another must-have for most remote work operations. Zoom is optimized for distributed teams, with collaborative whiteboards, up to 100 meeting attendees, and instant team meetings for spur-of-the-moment contact. Zoom Events is another neat feature that helps build togetherness within a distributed workforce.

Video communication tools improve collaboration, but they can bring remote security risks. During the Covid pandemic, there were many cases of attackers recording Zoom calls. That’s because threat actors can steal credentials or hijack calls over insecure connections.

Companies should couple collaboration tools with a reliable B2B VPN and access management systems. They ensure that calls are private and only legitimate invitees will be present.

Access control and data security tools

Remote work setups should always include filters to exclude unauthorized users from corporate resources. Therefore, authentication and access control solutions are critically important. After all, managers will probably want to give the IT admins more freedom than a trainee.

Authentication

Authentication compares user access credentials to secure credentials databases. The gold standard for remote access is multi-factor authentication (MFA). This demands more than one unique identifier when users access work resources.

MFA can involve passwords and one-time codes sent via SMS or email. But more secure versions deliver encrypted codes to mobile apps. This avoids security issues related to email and SMS. Organizations can also switch from passwords to hardware tokens provided to remote workers.

Access management

Access control portals complement authentication tools. Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems verify users’ identities and connect them to the correct privileges.

Remote workers can access resources needed by their team or project. However, under the Zero Trust model, IAM tools limit access to all other network assets. This strengthens the network perimeter and boosts cybersecurity.

Encryption

Encryption is another critical aspect of secure remote working. Companies should leverage encryption features on apps and cloud platforms to safeguard sensitive information. And they should use encrypted channels to connect remote devices and central resources.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

DLP tools can also help businesses a lot with their remote workforce. They track sensitive data and prevent misuse by remote users. This way, managers can protect the most important databases and documents. As a result. extracting valuable data will be much more difficult.

In summary, strong encryption is essential when designing remote work setups. Insecure user devices can become entry points for malware and data thieves. Moreover, weak authentication and authorization systems make access easy for anyone with a functioning user ID and password.

Secure remote access solutions

Remote access workforces expand the threat surface and create new cybersecurity risks. This makes it critical to secure every remote connection. Encrypting cloud platforms and implementing MFA is not enough. Companies must lock down connections between remote devices and network assets.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is one way to do so. It creates centralized servers on the cloud. These servers host workloads and data, meaning nothing is stored locally on employee devices. However, users can run apps hosted on the VDI in their home office.

VDI tools create encrypted connections between local devices and the virtualized environment. This is relatively secure. Unfortunately, attackers can still gain network access if they have legitimate credentials.

Companies can also use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to create encrypted tunnels for remote connections. VPN providers operate servers across the world, which can even improve connection speeds.

They apply cutting-edge encryption that is virtually impossible to crack. Moreover, your IP address will stay hidden, increasing anonymity. This makes it harder for hackers to mount interception and other types of attacks.

VPNs are a flexible security and privacy option for on-site and remote workforces. What’s more, these tools can secure access points in public locations. In the meantime, access company networks or attend client meetings while traveling.

NordLayer’s VPN solutions make creating safe remote work setups easier. Our Remote Access VPN encrypts connections via a simple client interface. Users can protect their devices instantly, whether they are accessing cloud platforms or central offices.

Make remote work secure with NordLayer

Remote work should always be protected. However, companies may struggle to secure data as employees shift away from centralized offices. This blog post has introduced key technologies and tools for keeping remote workers safe and boosting productivity.

Businesses should always choose the most secure project management and communication tools. While Azure or Zoom have their own security features, they alone are not enough. Organizations must be able to create gateways, use MFA authentication, protect remote access, and manage team member privileges.

It’s time to make your remote and on-site work safe. Get in touch with NordLayer, and we’ll help you create a solution that fits your business needs.