IT execs fear data security risk from remote workers

The firm points out that IT departments are under pressure to make corporate networks more accessible to remote workers and other external users – leading to the fears. It surveyed 381 UK and North American IT executives, 91% of which said there is now a bigger risk of sensitive data being exposed to unauthorised eyes. 89% also highlighted the greater threat of malicious content, such as viruses, because of wider network accessibility, while 85% noted the increased possibility of hacking. Says Reginald Best, chief operating officer of AEP Networks: “On the one hand, IT is rightly under pressure to open the network door to partners, suppliers and customers to improve efficiency and enhance business processes. On the flip-side, they’re sweating over how to prevent unauthorised access, protect company information and deflect malicious attacks.” As for protection technologies, those most mentioned include: secure remote access, mentioned by 48% of the survey, network access control (NAC) (41%), identity-based network security solutions (37%) and encryption (35%). Many will help, but what’s also needed is a clear, underpinning strategy says Best. He suggests that manufacturers first determine which systems specific types of remote workers should be allowed to access. “What should you do about visitors who don’t have the required antivirus on their machines but need to work on your network? And what about providing a safe level of access to users who want to log in from third party locations such as Internet cafés,” he asks? “How does the organisation track and audit access? These are the types of issues for which organisations need to develop policies.”