Many companies have started issuing return to office (RTO) mandates for remote workers. This comes at a time when attracting top talent requires offering as much flexibility in the workplace as possible and cyber threats are growing at an exponential pace. For many employees, return-to-office mandates are unwelcome, and these requirements have resulted in some friction between employers and remote workers. There are even legal ramifications that must be considered that could result in financial losses. Whether your organization’s office policy requires all employees to work from the office, continues to offer work-from-home options to attract talent, or provides hybrid work solutions, we explore key considerations for a safe return, including minimizing the risk of cybersecurity threats, that will equip your organization with IT strategies you’ll need to remain cyber secure.
Remote Work Trends
Approximately 36% of Canadian employees are working in the office full time. Those working remotely have experienced significant cost savings with regard to childcare and commuting costs, and many people who work from home insist they are more productive – and the statistics support that. But a remote workforce can increase security risks. It’s a balancing act, but a significant portion of the workforce now prefers remote or hybrid work arrangements over traditional office settings. Even as more managers begin requiring a return to the office, the remote work trend that accelerated during the pandemic is expected to have an enduring influence on the workplace landscape.
Establishing an RTO Plan
Before requiring your remote workers to return to the workplace en masse, your organization should develop a plan for bringing people back that reduces the risk of cyber threats and financial losses. Consider a rolling return so that you aren’t overwhelmed with the number of people coming back at once and their associated IT needs. Assess your IT requirements: Did employees working from home take loaner equipment with them? Will they be able to return to the workplace and plug in or will their equipment need to be reconnected to the network?
The Challenge of RTO Mandates
While return-to-office mandates present opportunities for team building and collaboration, they also pose a unique set of challenges. Organizations must not only navigate the expectations and concerns of employees who have become accustomed to remote work, but they must also be prepared for the technological ramifications of securely adding more onsite workers. Immediately mandating the full return of all employees to the workplace will require an assessment of your network infrastructure. Your managed service provider (MSP) can be invaluable during this transition.
Work with Your Managed IT Provider to Make Your RTO Successful
Cybersecurity and IT infrastructure needs will shift significantly for Calgary companies requiring employees to return to the office. Your managed IT firm should proactively assess risks, update policies, and implement security solutions to ensure a smooth, secure return to the workplace. Your MSP can help you with the following measures to ensure your data is protected:
Network Security Adjustments
Your MSP can assist you in adjusting your network security by:
- Reevaluating perimeter security: If your teams have been working remotely, your organization may have shifted to a cloud-first or hybrid structure, but with staff coming back to the office, ensuring that your on-premises security is up to date is paramount.
- Segmenting networks: With more devices connecting to the corporate network, segmenting business-critical systems from general employee access can reduce risks.
- Updating MDR and VPNs: Ensure MDR, VPNs, and intrusion detection and prevention systems are optimized for a higher volume of in-office traffic.
Endpoint Security and Device Management
Your remote workers have probably become accustomed to working from anywhere. As a result, it may be wise to consider revising mobile device policies. Update endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools and develop strict device access policies. Any dormant or underused office devices should receive software updates and security patches before reconnection.
Access Control and Identity Management
When enacting a return to office mandate, in order to fully protect your private network and ensure data privacy, it’s important to adopt a zero-trust ecosystem. Your MSP can help you implement least-privilege access, to ensure that employees have access only to those systems necessary for their roles. Your organization should require password managers and elminiate the use of weak passwords. Additionally, multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be required for all logins, particularly for critical systems and privileged accounts. MFA can stop almost every cyber attack. Limit access to server rooms, networking equipment, and sensitive areas with biometric or badge-based entry systems.
Security Steps
Your employees may have regularly used unauthorized applications while working remotely. They may also have become lax with security awareness or reporting cyber incidents. Returning employees should be put through phishing and social engineering awareness training. Your MSP can support your IT department in auditing compliance with the use of only approved software, as well as in providing essential cybersecurity training to prevent a social engineering attack or cyber attack from interfering in your RTO plans. Phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and can trick even savvy users. Employee training is crucial.
Infrastructure Readiness
Bringing a large number of people back to the office will require you to revise your capacity planning. Offices may need Wi-Fi upgrades or additional network capacity to support employees. It is also a suitable time to ensure that you have redundant power and backup solutions.
Compliance and Legal Considerations
In addition to refreshing your staff’s awareness of phishing and social engineering tactics, ensure, as well, that returning employees are also aware of the latest security standards with which your organization must comply to avoid fines. Review your incident response and disaster recovery plan, especially if you will be implementing hybrid work policies.
Open Communication
Your MSP certainly needs to know your return-to-office plans, so that they can better support you with help desk support. But you should also ensure that your employees, HR staff, and managers are aware of your plans and revised policies. Whether you are requiring everyone to return to the office full time or intend to introduce a hybrid work model, your cybersecurity, infrastructure, office environments, and HR policies will be impacted.
Give Employees Incentive
Many employees are resisting RTO because of the often-exorbitant costs of commuting and childcare. Above and beyond offering a pay increase, consider offering flexibility regarding when they are required to work onsite. Allowing this flexibility may make it easier for them to embrace the idea but be sure to consider the potential threat of ransomware incidents to hybrid workers. Also, make sure your office technology is up to date for a safe return. More than a third – 34% – of employees consider slow or outdated technology as a deal breaker for returning to the office. Your MSP’s cyber security professionals can help you assess your infrastructure, WiFi, and other resources to ensure you provide your returning workers the best experience.
Consider Return-to-Office Hybrid Work Models
Hybrid work, where an employee reports to the office but has the flexibility to work from home part of the time, is one of the best solutions for organizations navigating the complexities of the post-pandemic workplace. Meta, Amazon, Apple, and other large companies used this approach to transition back to the office without losing top talent.
Implementing a successful hybrid model requires careful planning and consideration of several factors, including managing cyber incidents with a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. Organizations must work with cyber security professionals to develop clear guidelines that outline expectations for remote and office workers, ensuring that employees understand their roles and responsibilities. Additionally, companies should invest in technology that facilitates seamless communication and collaboration, enabling teams to work effectively, regardless of their location. This may include tools for video conferencing, project management, and file sharing.
For more information on securing your organization’s data and managing cybersecurity risks, or to explore how the cyber security professionals at your managed IT services firm can support your business as you introduce RTO policies, contact us today.