An Invisible Cyberthreat Lurks In Hybrid Workplace Setups
A recent study reveals that hybrid working continues to redefine corporate networks, with employees increasingly becoming 'branch-offices-of-one,' a phenomenon creating significant cybersecurity challenges. In partnership with market intelligence provider IDC, global cybersecurity firm Fortinet surveyed cybersecurity leaders across nine Asia-Pacific countries, revealing insights into network security in the hybrid work era.
92% of Singapore respondents confirmed they operate within a hybrid or fully remote working model. Over two-thirds of these businesses have at least half of their workforce in a hybrid mode. The ensuing 'branch-office-of-one' trend, where employees work from homes or remote locations, seriously affects IT security. The rise in managed devices is anticipated to surge by more than 100% in the next two years and unmanaged devices by over 50% - a development expected to increase security breaches and pressure IT security teams.
In addition, increasing cloud computing and remote work means more users, devices, and data are found outside enterprise networks. Over 30% of devices connecting to networks in Singapore are unmanaged, posing significant security risks. The survey participants predict this number to increase by 50% by 2025.
"With hybrid work increasing, employees require multiple connections to external systems and cloud applications to remain productive," Jess Ng, Country Manager, Fortinet Singapore, commented. "This increases the risk of security breaches, and over the next two years, we expect this number to double, and potentially triple, exacerbating the risk."
With hybrid work and the growth in managed and unmanaged connections, security incidents have risen significantly, with 70% of Singapore respondents experiencing at least a 2X increase. However, only 49% of organizations across Asia have dedicated security personnel, leaving them more vulnerable to security incidents.
Many organizations are turning to Single-Vendor SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) solutions to enhance their security posture and provide consistency in user experience for remote employees. "Single-Vendor SASE, with its converged networking and security capabilities, is proving to be a game-changer for many organizations seeking a simplified and consistent security posture for users both on and off the network," said Rashish Pandey, vice president of marketing and communications, Asia and ANZ.
66% of respondents prefer a single vendor for networking and security capabilities. They cite benefits such as reduced security gaps, improved network performance, ease of deployment, and addressing integration and scalability challenges.
These findings underscore the urgency for organizations to adopt comprehensive security strategies that address the complexity and risks posed by the growth of remote work. With hybrid work becoming the new norm, the challenge of securing the 'branch-office-of-one' must be confronted head-on, and investment in security solutions is crucial. "Organizations need to address these challenges and invest in security solutions to support their hybrid workforce and reduce security threats," said Simon Piff, research vice president at IDC Asia/Pacific.
Image credit: iStockphoto/twinsterphoto
