Many companies still do not work hybrid (opens in a new tab) safe enough, despite knowing the challenge will only get bigger in the future, new research says.
The HP Wolf Security Report, which surveyed nearly 1,500 security leaders worldwide, found that 82% of people using a hybrid work model have gaps in their organization’s security posture.
Furthermore, nearly two-thirds (61%) said protecting hybrid workers will be even more difficult in the coming year, and three-quarters (70%) said hybrid work increases the risk of devices being lost or stolen.
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“IT teams need a better way to deal with the increase in lost or stolen devices,” said Dr. Ian Pratt, global director of personal systems security at HP. “This is especially important in industries where devices may contain personal information (Personal Data) or intellectual property.”
Researchers continue that the growing number (and variety) of endpoint targets only makes life harder for IT teams. Various endpoints are considered “ground zero” for attacks on hybrid workers. In fact, 84% of security leaders surveyed see endpoints as the source of most security threats and where most corporate security threats occur.
For two-thirds (66%), the biggest cybersecurity weakness is the potential for hybrid workers to be vulnerable. These include phishing, ransomware, and attacks on unsecured home networks. They also claim that updating their threat detection measures to reflect the behavior of hybrid workers is difficult. As a result, they have difficulty detecting potential attacks.
Finally, 76% agree that application isolation is the best way to protect hybrid worker endpoints. Despite this, only a quarter (23%) use it now, and an additional 32% plan to implement the solution in the next 12 months.