Digital Intelligence Tools Can Keep Remote Work Security Risks in Check

While telecommuting offers employees greater flexibility in their daily lives, it ultimately leaves company data vulnerable. Ben Charnota, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at BlackBag explains how companies need to invest in digital intelligence tools to reduce the risk created by a remote workforce.

As remote work Opens a new window has become the new normal, companies like Facebook and Twitter have gone one step further by allowing some employees to work from home permanently. This decision reflects a desire to minimize overhead costs, as employees have successfully demonstrated that they can be just as productive at home as they are in the office. A recent Gallup PanelOpens a new window reveals that three in five U.S. employees who have been working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic would prefer to continue doing so, even after public health restrictions are lifted. 

Telecommuting offers employees greater flexibility in their daily lives, but it leaves devices, and ultimately, the company’s data, vulnerable. As long as employees work from homeOpens a new window , companies across all industries, from startups to Fortune 100s, are at greater risk of IP theft, data breaches, and illegal access through unsecured devices.

Technology makes remote work possible, but companies must have the ability to control the data constantly moving across their enterprise ecosystems, on an ever-expanding number of devices. Smartphones, laptops, tablets, and wearable devices can all house sensitive employee and company data. Devices on unsecured WiFi networks, or those infected with viruses, can be disastrous for companies. Moreover, rogue employees with access to company IP or data also pose a massive threat to any business. 

As more employees work from home, it will become increasingly challenging for enterprises to ensure that their systems and information are secure. In order to reduce the risk posed by a remote workforce, businesses can utilize digital intelligence toolsOpens a new window to access, analyze, and manage data at all times, from anywhere in the world.

Learn More: 7 Do’s and Don’ts for Driving Successful Remote Work: Expert Advice

Digital Intelligence’s Key Role for Risk-Free Remote Work

Digital intelligence consists of two components. The first is the actual data that is extracted from a wide variety of sources including smartphones, drones, computers, CCTV, apps, and the Cloud. Law enforcement defines this data as “evidence,” which, when gathered in a manner that follows the law and is forensically sound, can be used in a court of law. The second component is the process by which agencies (or businesses) can access, manage, and leverage data to more efficiently run their operations and maintain data security.

When harnessed for the business environment, digital intelligence can lead to actionable insights to protect corporate assets and strengthen cases in the event of an enterprise investigation involving remote employees. While digital intelligence can be used in many ways, it is a vital tool for investigating IP theft, data breaches, employee-filed complaints, and more. 

Leading digital intelligence companies are offering complete business and enterprise solutions with a full suite of corporate investigation, eDiscovery, and incident response technologies to keep companies secure and mitigate the risks of corporate crimes. Of particular interest to enterprises currently utilizing large numbers of work-from-home employees are technologies that allow investigative teams to analyze Windows and Mac-based computers and tools for handling complex extractions of all iOS and high-end Android devices.

Historically, businesses have not paid much attention to the increased risk caused by the adoption of new technology. Technology is often seen simply as a saving grace, simplifying business practices and freeing employee time for important tasks. As a result, few proactive resources for risk mitigation have been readily available. However, GartnerOpens a new window estimates that by 2023, more than 70% of enterprise IT leaders will upgrade to end-to-end e-discovery software to reduce time and legal spending, up from a mere 10% in 2019. E-discovery, the act of uncovering digital evidence, is a key pillar of digital intelligence and something all companies, large and small, should plan to invest in. 

Learn More: 3 Ways Tech Can Make Remote Work a Success

Bridging the Talent Gap By Implementing Tech

Unfortunately, the skilled talent required to monitor and manage this sensitive data is not easy to find. GartnerOpens a new window reports that the number of unfilled cybersecurity roles globally is expected to reach 1.5 million by the end of 2020. This is one reason that digital intelligence technology is becoming increasingly relevant to the business sector. The talent gap is broadening and companies need digital intelligence more than ever to bridge this gap and fill in the areas of vulnerability. It is the best medium for autonomously providing comprehensive views of data stored across multiple sources and the most convenient pathway to sift through mountains of data.  

There are currently more than 4.78 billionOpens a new window mobile phone users worldwide, and, according to DeloitteOpens a new window , 70% of today’s workers do not sit behind a desk every day. A remote and mobile workforce heightens risk to a new level. With corporate investigations becoming increasingly expensive, complex, and non-negotiable, digital intelligence is a crucial tool that enables corporate teams to leverage full data and end-point resources, while still meeting regulatory and legal obligations, even if their teams’ ranks are thin.

Learn More: Working Through COVID-19: Best Practices for Remote WorkOpens a new window

Proactive Measures Make The Difference For Expanding Data Footprints

Usually, just one proactive finding is the tip of the iceberg. More ominous are the dangers lurking behind the initial incident. Yet, due to limited resources and a high volume of work, thorough analysis and investigations are often not completed in corporate cases. Often, cases will be closed after a single artifact has been located, leaving other participants or violations undiscovered. This could leave active threats within the enterprise that can create disruptions and other harm at a later date. 

Utilizing digital intelligence allows organizations to triage data and gather all relevant evidence legally available in a forensically sound manner that is defensible in court. By completing a thorough and efficient analysis, companies can identify all involved parties and take appropriate action. Traditional tools simply do not provide the comprehensive, collaborative approach offered by a complete, end-to-end digital intelligence solution, which can access, analyze, and manage data from a wide variety of sources.

As the new work-from-home era continues, organizations of all sizes must reevaluate their end-point security protocols and onboard the necessary digital intelligence solutions to increase their oversight capabilities and allow them to conduct thorough investigations by accessing, analyzing, and managing all relevant evidence in the event that wrongdoings are discovered. Harnessing the power of digital intelligence is the logical solution.

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