Security in the online workplace
In today’s workplace, the threat of a cyberattack is ever-present.
The rise of the “internet of things” means that clever cybercriminals can find weak points to gain access to your networks. And the sudden switch to remote working during the pandemic has also led to vulnerabilities that criminals can exploit.
At DMG, we partner with Ricoh to provide full-service print solutions that put security at the top of the agenda. Let’s explore the issue of cybersecurity, and how we can protect the digital workplace.
What is the threat?
Cybercriminals can hack into your systems to access finances or data. And an attack can be very costly indeed.
According to IBM’s annual global survey into data breaches, the average total cost of a data breach in a UK business in 2021 was $4.67 million. This sum is made up of several factors, including lost business, and the costs of remedying the issue and notifying customers.
Attacks can happen in numerous ways. The IBM survey identifies the most frequent methods as compromising credentials (eg stealing passwords); phishing (inviting people to click on dodgy website links); cloud misconfiguration; and vulnerabilities in third-party software.
Fortunately, there is much that your company can do to protect itself.
Defending your digital workplace
Our partner Ricoh recently published an advisory report entitled Devising your Digital Workplace Strategy as part of its Leading Change at Work series. It draws on a roundtable discussion with IT leaders, moderated by journalist Paul Mason.
He writes: “The Covid-19 pandemic, whilst harrowing, has provided technology suppliers with the opportunity to bring a new set of technologies to the attention of business operations. For all of us, regardless of our tech maturity and literacy, there has been a mindset change.
“But this new world of work intensifies a big, existing challenge, highlighted not only in my discussion with these IT leaders but by headlines across the world: cybersecurity. Robust in-office networks and security systems designed to protect staff have been replaced by home WIFI and inexperienced ‘users’ of complex remote technology.”
So what are the solutions?
Employee training
First of all, we need to move away from the outdated idea that cybersecurity is the job solely of a company’s IT department.
Every team leader needs to take responsibility for rolling out better practices across an organisation. And every worker needs to be involved: they’re often the easiest entry point into a company’s network, for example, through lax use of passwords, or ignoring automatic software updates on laptops, printers and so on.
That means investing in people. Regular, ongoing training can bring people up to speed on the latest tech and threats, and remind them of their responsibilities to protect company finances and customer data.
Investment in hardware and technology
Secondly, companies should invest in IT security systems, covering employees’ home networks as well as the cloud.
Such tech helps protect against all sorts of attacks, from phishing to ransomware to denial of service (DoS). And it helps protect your organisation’s work for the long term.
So now that the pandemic is easing, it’s time to revisit your digital strategy and make sure your hardware, software and IT security systems are fit for the future. The world of work has changed for good – and cybersecurity is more important than ever.
Contact DMG Online today
At DMG, our managed print service uses the very latest secure printer technology from Ricoh. We’re delighted to partner with them to deliver the best print solutions to help future-proof your workplace, wherever that may be.
We use PaperCut MF print management software to ensure security is solid. This system protects sensitive data across multiple networks and devices throughout the print process. Security measures to protect against potentially costly breaches include validating users, requiring authorisation for all print jobs, keeping jobs traceable, and watermarking documents.
Contact the team today to find out more about what we offer, and how we protect the data you entrust to us.
