May 28, 2020 | By Greg Dougherty
Many corporations struggle with the sudden changes stemming from COVID-19 shutdowns. Employees and company data rapidly moved from the office to remote and home offices. Are these systems secure? Maybe, maybe not. To secure data, businesses need to protect information at the network and application level. Solutions are available from public cloud vendors, like Amazon Web Services, and opti9 is available to fit the right service to your business.
Cybercriminals are quite busy and quite effective. Worldwide damage from cybercriminal activities will cost $6 trillion annually by 2021, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. So, your corporate information is constantly under attack.
Home Networks Lack Security
Many home networks have only basic security checks in place. So, it is not surprising that a recent study found that more than one in three organizations (36%) had a security breach due to an unsecured remote worker. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and remote desktop solutions extend security – and functionality – of in-office systems to home and remote users.
A VPN establishes a secure connection from an end-user device to cloud services. Information is encrypted as it moves from the source to the destination, so it is not open to intrusion. These tools are commonly used in public cloud services, like Amazon Web Services. They are also very popular: worldwide revenue from VPN sales is expected to increase from $15.3 billion in 2016 to $18.2 in 2022, according to Market Research Future.
Gain Access to Corporate Applications
Employees also need access to corporate applications. In the office, everyone works with the same end device, often a desktop or laptop. At home, they rely on a wide variety of systems, in some cases their smartphones, to get work done.
Personal devices must pass the same checks that company-owned computers do whenever they are turned on. So corporations need a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) plan, a set of standards and security tools that enable employees to work with corporate applications with any device.
Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) solutions offer such functionality. They securely provision either Windows or Linux desktops (operating systems, applications, data access, and security) with just a few keystrokes. Because they are cloud-based, they scale quickly and easily. With AWS WorkSpaces, employees only need an Internet connection to access business applications. The service supports a range of devices, including PCs, Macs, iPads, Kindle Fire, Android tablets, Chromebooks, and web browsers, such as Firefox, and Chrome.
AWS Features Inherent Security
Security is a key element in these solutions. They feature access management and user authentication systems that safeguard sensitive information. These solutions encrypt information, store it in the AWS Cloud, and integrate with AWS Key Management Service (KMS). With public cloud, no user data is stored on local devices, customers’ risks are lowered.
Adopting such an approach offers many benefits. You pay either monthly or hour, just for each WorkSpaces you launch, so you spend less than traditional desktops and on-premises solutions. Organizations eliminate the complexity evident when managing their own hardware inventory; Operating System releases and patches; and desktop infrastructure. You focus more on your core business and less on keeping the computer systems running.
The recent, rapid growth in remote workers placed significant pressure on companies to provide employees with fast, easy access to corporate applications from any device that they choose. A VPN coupled with a DaaS service delivers secure, responsive desktops to your employees.
This option is enticing, but many companies need help finding and deploying solutions that work with their remote workforces. opti9 is an expert Business Technology Solution Provider. We have helped many corporations pick the right remote office system, so let us help you find yours.