The remote working model has been successful for many businesses worldwide. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic ended years ago, many employees still sign in from their homes. However, the remote work era has brought forth new network security challenges.
As if cybersecurity wasn’t a pain with workers accessing data in a closed, private network, having them work remotely has added a new layer of threat. For instance, in 2020, when businesses first went remote, almost half reported at least one cybersecurity incident in the first month of going remote or hybrid.
Does that mean workers should go back to the office? Not necessarily. The convenience and efficiency of remote work offer enough merit to keep at least part of the workforce remotely. This work model also gives businesses the ability to tap talent from anywhere. That all said, companies with remote workers need to up the ante with their network security. And that’s what we’ll cover in this article.
Remote work has been a hot debate in business circles and news in the past couple of years. There has been a mix of opinions and feelings. Workers, for the most part, prefer to work from home, especially if the nature of their job doesn’t require office presence. On the other hand, many companies have been pushing for workers to return to the office for various reasons.
The gist is that remote work isn’t going away anytime soon. Businesses have also adopted a ‘structured hybrid’ model with a fixed number of days in-office and at home, Others are sticking by the fully remote model, particularly those that rely on workers beyond borders and freelancers.
Here’s where remote work stands as of 2025, according to statistics:
As remote work becomes the norm, businesses face increasing challenges securing their networks. Unlike controlled office environments, remote setups introduce a range of security risks, from unprotected home networks to human error. Here are some key security threats associated with remote workers:
Unlike corporate networks with strong firewalls and security protocols, home Wifi networks are often less secure. Many remote employees use routers with default settings, outdated firmware, or weak passwords. Those home WiFi networks with poor security protocols can become easy targets for cybercriminals.
Then, there’s the risk of using public Wifi. Remote workers may not necessarily be working from home all the time. If they log in to the company network or applications with a network at coffee shops or coworking spaces, there’s an even greater risk, as hackers can intercept sensitive company data through man-in-the-middle attacks.
Organizations must enforce Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and educate employees on securing their home networks (more on this later).
Although this threat isn’t unique to work from home model, remote workers are generally more vulnerable to social engineering attacks because they operate outside the structured security awareness of an office environment.
Phishing emails may exploit the isolation of remote employees, tricking them into revealing login credentials or downloading malware. Also, workers may also be using personal email accounts and applications with their devices, which adds to the social engineering attacks. If an attacker were to gain access to their device, they’d also gain access to the applications they use for work.
With employees working remotely, companies struggle to enforce strict access controls. Sharing work devices with family members, using weak passwords, or failing to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) can result in unauthorized access. Also, lost or stolen devices without proper security can expose sensitive data.
An often overlooked challenge in remote work security is delayed incident reporting. Employees can quickly alert IT teams to suspicious activity in an office setting. Remote workers, however, may hesitate to report security issues because they are unaware of the problem or fear the consequences. This delay can give attackers more time to exploit vulnerabilities.
In some cases, incidents may go unnoticed altogether, which is even more concerning. Their devices may not have the security or monitoring software that a computer or server in the office may have to detect threats automatically.
It’s clear that hybrid and fully remote work models work and are preferred by employees. If companies take the right measures for security, establish strict policies, and provide some training, remote work can be made much more secure.
Work from home has been a major win for traditional desk employees who have struggled with the work-life balance and have had lower job satisfaction. Businesses also have something to gain, as remote work reduces costs and even helps lower carbon footprint. But security is a big concern.
Invest in quality security solutions for remote employees, such as monitoring tools. Establish strong policies and educate those workers. That’s all it takes to extend that solid security in the office to the worker’s home.
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Many jobs involving primarily computer work, communication, and information processing can be performed remotely. These roles include software development, writing, graphic design, research, customer service, management, and education.
The key is that the job's core functions don't require physical presence or specialized on-site equipment.
Three common types of remote access are VPN (Virtual Private Network), remote desktop software, and cloud-based services.
VPNs create a secure connection to a private network. Remote desktop software allows control of a computer from a different location. Cloud-based services provide access to applications and data stored on remote servers.
Remote jobs don’t seem to be ending as businesses have embraced hybrid or fully remote models. While some companies are shifting their policies, remote work remains a growing trend. Many organizations recognize the benefits of remote work, including increased flexibility, access to a wider talent pool, and potential cost savings.
Network administrators can work remotely, at least partially. Many network management tasks can be performed remotely using various tools and technologies. However, in some cases, network admins may be needed on-site. This is usually when physical hardware maintenance or troubleshooting is required.
Using a VPN can sometimes impact the performance of remote work. In some cases, the impact can be the opposite; VPN may improve speeds by optimizing the data transfer route.
The encryption process and routing of traffic through a VPN server can introduce some latency, potentially slowing down internet speeds. However, in most cases, the difference is insignificant.