Since last year, everyone is now experiencing radical shifts in the workplace and personal routines due to the advent of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In just some hours, people had to start working from home without access to their office to eradicate the coronavirus’s spread. This was a major collective effort of people across the globe; however, the switch from office to home also emphasized the need to focus on cybersecurity in ways that one had never seen or even experienced in the past.
For some years, some companies of the remote workplace for employees; however, the priorities with respect to speed and adaption were different. It is not unusual to witness that this adaption towards database security systems was the last step that companies took.
In recent months, technicians, IT managers, and COPs have been struggling to accommodate their tools and networks so that employees can work from home remotely. Simultaneously, the security of corporate data needs to be maintained. In the quick rush towards the remote workforce, most enterprises have left out this an important aspect of database administration and management.
Is the sensitive data of corporate enterprises safe with a remote workforce?
Now, the real question arises- is information safe with the corporate workforce? Businesses should note that the organization’s productivity is crucial, but at the same time, cybersecurity must not be overlooked and, worse, neglected. It is mandatory for the business and its workers to have safe communication channels. Many companies, in a bid to meet the urgency, have resorted to executing measures for teleworkers. However, they do not realize that in the process, they have established communication channels that are unsafe right from the homes of their employees to the database systems of the office.
From the above, one thing is crystal clear. Sensitive information from companies is going to be dispersed and more widespread than in the past. Companies and database managers and administrators need to take innovative security measures that organizations must improvise to ensure that remote workers do not compromise the company’s sensitive business data.
The 3- phase plan for database security for remote workers
Experienced professionals in database management and administration state businesses should integrate a three-phase plan for boosting data security for remote workers. When you plan a safe and remote workforce structure in an organization, you address three key phases. The first phase entails embracing a Virtual Private Network or VPN and standard tools for communication. The second phase entails the complete migration of security and data tools onto the cloud, and the third or the final phase is the authentication processes for remote employees.
It has been observed that ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, companies have been concerned with VPN solutions, i.e., the first phase of planning for database security to boost the success of data security for remote employees. This has indeed created problems as the security of the data is still vulnerable to hackers and cybercriminals.
Experts from esteemed remote database management and Administration Company, RemoteDBAfurther states that VPN actually in practice is similar to a tunnel that connects the user to the company’s data network. Once the user is in this tunnel, he/she has access to all the data. If this access is not controlled properly, it becomes a gateway for the leakage of information and fraud, especially when workers are employed remotely from their homes.
Network administrators must work on both fronts, the VPN as well as the Cloud. This is known as split tunneling. Here, the VPN provides access to data of the company, including the very sensitive data, and giving controlled Cloud access. This means that an accurately authenticated employee can gain access to sensitive data, along with tools for collaboration that is stored correctly on the Cloud. This means that the migration of data and services on the Cloud should be completed with success in its second phase.
Now comes the third phase, where the authentication of the user should be executed quickly. The World Health Organization has recommended social distancing, which means people share both their computers and time at home with members of their families and friends. They need to create user authentication that is secure to guarantee the integrity of the data. Solutions like double authentication, where one needs to log in twice, are essential, and this is mandatory for all organizations today with a remote workforce.
Avoiding risks in data security in teleworking
Organizations should take adequate steps to avoid security risks in the field of teleworking. They should establish a policy for data security where workers should be both trained and informed. The perfect way for organizations to implement data security is to make their remote workers read and carefully review the policy. They should sign it for acceptance, and all workers should strictly adhere to it irrespective of whether they are working in the office or remotely from their homes. This document for database security must have the primary data about the company’s security protocols that employees should abide by.
All the Internet connections that are used by the remote workers must be secured with a VPN. They should use VPNs to access the Internet from public networks and their homes. The VPN will help in encrypting the Internet connection and curb security breaches when accessing business data. There are multiple VPN providers offering services in database security while working remotely from home. Businesses should educate workers on creating and maintaining strong passwords, especially when they need to log into data servers with sensitive business information.
Last but not least, skilled DBAs in database management state businesses need to ensure their remote workers enable the two-factor authentication as an integral part of their management for data security. This helps users of the system confirm identities by using their usernames and passwords and additional information like the answer to a secret question or a code that is sent over mobile or email to log in to the system.
Author’s Bio: Walter Moore is a writer and notable management and digital marketing expert at RemoteDBA. He is an experienced digital marketer and has helped e-commerce businesses in all niches gain with his effective marketing strategies and guidance
