COVID-19: Cybersecurity Challenges Facing Small Business

Employees are suddenly finding themselves working remotely due to the current health crisis of the Coronavirus that is sweeping nations across the globe.

As we protect thousands of businesses from the drastic uptick of phishing emails and ransomware attacks claiming they are from verified sources, we have noticed new tactics that hackers are using to fraud employees working from home.

Here are our top 3 cybersecurity implications of working from home:

1. The lack of authentication and authorization
   
   There is an increased need for two-factor authentication, monitoring access controls and creating strong passwords. Managed Service Providers should encourage their clients and end users to add additional security safeguards.
   
   We recommend changing your password every 90 days, and enabling OTP/2FA to improve your account security.  To manage this for ExchangeDefender, view user guide.
   
   
2. Increased risk to cyber attacks
   
   There’s an increase risk to attacks like phishing and malware, especially since employees will now likely receive an unprecedented amount of emails and online requests.
   
   ExchangeDefender Phishing Firewall (EPF) automatically secures inbound mail by rewriting HTML links so they are forced through our firewall when you click on them in Outlook, Gmail, or any web-enabled email application.
   
   To add a new web site to the Whitelist or Blacklist click on the + Add New button in your ExchangeDefender Admin portal. To learn how to manage this setting, click here!
   
   
3. Unsecured BYOD (Bring your own device)
   
   Remote working can successfully widen an organization’s attack surface. Mainly due to employees who use their own devices for work can introduce new platforms and operating systems that require their own dedicated support and security. As a result of so many devices being used, it’s likely that at least some will fall through the security cracks.
   
   ExchangeDefender Pro offers users a VPN server to connect to in a secure manner no matter where they go. Public Wifi hotspots tend to have questionable security at best and can be used to compromise a device that is connecting blindly across the Internet. Connecting your phone automatically to a VPN can assure that email access (and all the confidential data in the email) can never be snooped on. 

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