One thing that COVID-19 has taught us is that most jobs can be done from home. The trick is to not only keep your employees productive but to also keep your information secure. A recent study conducted by Barracuda found that 46% of businesses have had at least one cybersecurity scare since the world went on lockdown earlier this year. Almost half of the business owners actually expect to see a data breach or cybersecurity incident within the next month due to the increased number of employees working from home. 

Other key findings included: 

• 51% of respondents have already seen an increase in email phishing attacks since shifting to a remote working model 
• 51% of respondents said their workforce is not proficient or properly trained in the cyber risks associated with remote working 
• 46% are not confident their web applications are secure 
• 50% have allowed employees to use their personal email address and personal devices to conduct company work 
• 40% of respondents have cut their cybersecurity budgets as a cost-saving measure to help tackle the COVID-19 crisis 

The rapid onset of COVID-19 unplanned shutdown of the global economy forced many companies, some of which had never considered a work from home policy, to instantly implement a remote working system to protect the health and safety of employees. The unfortunate by-product of this rapid transition was a myriad of security challenges, particularly with many employees using personal devices to exchange and share data. 

Here are a few more numbers to ponder: 

• 51% of business decision-makers agreed that their workforce is not proficient or properly trained in the cyber risks associated with long- term remote working
• 46% claimed they are not confident that their web applications are completely secure
• 50% have allowed employees to use personal email addresses and personal devices to conduct company work.  
• 46% of respondents have already had at least one cybersecurity scare since shifting to a remote working model 
• 49% fully expect to see a data breach or cybersecurity incident in the next month due to remote working 
• 50% would consider making workforce reductions if it meant company data protection and security could be properly funded 
• 55% say they would not have implemented remote working within the next 5 years, had it not been for the COVID-19 crisis 
• 56% plan to continue widespread remote working even after the crisis is over 
• 53% report that the COVID-19 crisis had made them accelerate plans for moving all their data to 100% cloud-based model 

For more information on protecting your company during the COVID-19 crisis, click here to download the most recent report. 

For more information on how Barracuda can help protect your data, contact SYGNVS Integrated Solutions today.