security vulnerabilities associated with remote access

Here’s a breakdown of the most common vulnerabilities associated with remote access:

1. Lack of established protocols Last year, most IT security teams were forced to rapidly implement ad hoc solutions for...
2. Unsecured networks

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What are the disadvantages of remote access client devices?

Remote Access Vulnerabilities Remote access client devices generally have weaker protection than standard client devices Many devices not managed by the enterprise No enterprise firewalls, antivirus, etc. Lack of physical security controls Remote access client devices may be used in hostile environments but not configured for them

Are there security gaps in the remote workplace?

As the world adjusted to working from home, IT teams worked overtime to enable remote access for millions of employees. This transition went smoothly for most organizations, but many security gaps still remain almost a year later.

Why is remote workforce security so important?

With a remote workforce, this problem becomes exacerbated by employees using personal devices and networks with much lower standards of security than their corporate-controlled alternatives, making it easy for attackers to access company data.

What are the risks of a VPN attack?

1. Weak remote access policies Once attackers get access to a virtual private network (VPN), they can often penetrate the rest of the network like a hot knife through butter. Historically, many companies deployed VPNs primarily for technical people needing access to critical technology assets.

What are potential risks associated with remote access?

Five Remote Access Security Risks And How To Protect Against ThemWeak remote access policies. ... A deluge of new devices to protect. ... Lack of visibility into remote user activity. ... Users mixing home and business passwords. ... Opportunistic phishing attempts.

What are the security risks of remote working?

Top Security Risks of Remote WorkingGDPR and remote working. Remote work means an employer has less control and visibility over employees' data security. ... Phishing Emails. ... Weak Passwords. ... Unsecured Home Devices. ... Unencrypted File Sharing. ... Open Home WiFi Networks.

What are the 4 main types of security vulnerability?

Security Vulnerability TypesNetwork Vulnerabilities. These are issues with a network's hardware or software that expose it to possible intrusion by an outside party. ... Operating System Vulnerabilities. ... Human Vulnerabilities. ... Process Vulnerabilities.

What types of attacks are remote access servers vulnerable to?

Other attacks which hackers can facilitate through remote access include email phishing, third-party vendor compromise, insider threats, social engineering, and the use of vulnerable applications to compromise systems. Hackers use Common remote access tools to penetrate third-party access to merchant information ...

What is the greatest risk that remote access poses to an organization?

Phishing Schemes Your remote employees can be the biggest threat to your network's security. By unknowingly following cyber security worst practices, employees can end up giving hackers and cyber criminals access to your network and your company's sensitive data.

What is the most important security precaution you should take when working remotely?

Here are a few security best practices your remote employees should follow.Run software updates regularly. ... Secure video meetings. ... Watch out for email phishing. ... Create strong passwords. ... Never leave your bag, briefcase or laptop unattended. ... Use caution with wireless networks. ... Keep your work separate.

What is the most common vulnerability?

The Top 10 security vulnerabilities as per OWASP Top 10 are:Insecure Direct Object References.Cross Site Request Forgery.Security Misconfiguration.Insecure Cryptographic Storage.Failure to restrict URL Access.Insufficient Transport Layer Protection.Unvalidated Redirects and Forwards.More items...•

What are some examples of vulnerabilities?

Conclusion: Vulnerability ExamplesDoing something you're not good at.Speaking your truth.Showing that you care.Allowing yourself to feel strong emotions.Breaking the status quo.Talking candidly with others.Being the first one to open up.Trusting someone.More items...•

What are common types of cybersecurity vulnerabilities?

Microsoft recently patched the Windows Print Spooler remote code execution vulnerability, a weakness in its operating system that allowed cybercriminals to execute code with administrator privileges on any computer where the Windows Print Spooler service was active.

What are remote access attacks?

A remote attack is a malicious action that targets one or a network of computers. The remote attack does not affect the computer the attacker is using. Instead, the attacker will find vulnerable points in a computer or network's security software to access the machine or system.

What is remote access security?

Secure remote access refers to any security policy, solution, strategy or process that exists to prevent unauthorized access to your network, its resources, or any confidential or sensitive data. Essentially, secure remote access is a mix of security strategies and not necessarily one specific technology like a VPN.

What are some of the security vulnerabilities with network sharing?

7 Most Common Network Vulnerabilities for BusinessesThere are several types of malware, including: ... Outdated or Unpatched Software Applications. ... Weak Passwords. ... Single Factor Authentication. ... Poor Firewall Configuration. ... Mobile Device Vulnerabilities. ... Lack of Data Backup. ... Unsecure Email.

What are some of the cyber threats to companies and the employee working from home?

As working from home becomes a gateway to new forms of data theft, companies face increased cyber risk. However, cyber criminals attempting to access corporate data, customer information and intellectual property are not the only threat to businesses - employees can also be a weak link in corporate IT security systems.

What percentage of remote workers do not act security according to IT professionals?

According to research conducted by OpenVPN, 90% of IT experts believe that remote workers do not act securely, which leaves them vulnerable to cybercriminals. Most than 70% of these respondents also believe that remote employees pose greater cybersecurity risks compared to onsite workers.

What percentage of surveyed Organisations have been hacked as a result of a remote worker?

20%Remote workers have caused a security breach in 20% of organizations. Email phishing attacks were the most common source of data breaches while working from home.

How many employees did hackers give out login details?

In one notable attack, staff members accidentally gave out login details for five employees. The end result: the exposure of sensitive data for 80 million customers. Ironically, hackers used the media attention to send more rounds of phishing emails.

Why do we need VPN?

VPNs are employed by a wide range of organizations to help bridge the gap between centralized networks and remote workers, allowing users to securely access business networks in an encrypted channel. However, consumer-grade VPN services can still be vulnerable to savvy hackers.

What are opportunistic hackers?

Opportunistic hackers typically aim for well-known vulnerabilities. They’re particularly interested in known exploits for older, out of-date-devices. An organization which allows remote workers to use outdated personal devices puts their critical business information at great risk to cyber criminals.

What are flash vulnerabilities?

These vulnerabilities include personal mobile devices that are used for business communications. According to a Duo report, approximately 60 percent of enterprise devices were found to be running on older, vulnerable versions of flash. These exploits allow hackers to download software that assesses a device’s flash version and installs malware, should the right version (s) be identified. From there, attackers have full access to each infected machine.

Why are unprotected remote organizations more susceptible to email scams?

Unprotected remote organizations are more susceptible due to the increased complexity of the network environment because many organizations still don’t use multi-factor authentication. In total, Americans lose $3.1 billion to email scams each year.

Can hackers hack remote workers?

Without the proper protections on personal devices, remote workers can face greater threats from phishing attacks. Cyber criminals don’t care if personnel are working from home or in the office. Either way, they can trick workers into giving up login credentials—or completing a financial transaction—by posing as a message from a reputable company.

Is remote work the future?

Remote employment is clearly the future of work. It’s especially apparent now given the organizational challenges of working during COVID-19, but there’s no doubt that demand will only grow in the foreseeable future. All that’s needed to keep hackers at bay is a diligent focus on training, and device and network security.

How does a VPN work?

A VPN establishes an encrypted tunnel between the system running the VPN client and a VPN server that then proxies traffic through the tunnel to the rest of the enterprise network. The system running the VPN client becomes, effectively, an extension of the enterprise network, existing inside that network's perimeter with access to resources generally equivalent to any other system on the enterprise network.

What is a VPN client?

The system running the VPN client becomes, effectively, an extension of the enterprise network, existing inside that network's perimeter with access to resources generally equivalent to any other system on the enterprise network. VPNs defend against attack via authenticated access control and isolation.

What is a UEM solution?

However, an ecosystem of endpoint-management solutions has emerged to meet this need. This ecosystem is often referred to as unified endpoint management (UEM) solutions as they grew to include laptops and other devices beyond phones and tablets. One component of a UEM solution is an application on the end-user device that monitors information of interest to the enterprise, such as installed software and versions. UEM software may also enforce some configuration options, such as the configuration of a strong firewall or the use of an enterprise proxy for web browsing. The end-user device applications usually communicate with server-side processes that verify that device configurations are appropriate for enterprise access and push out configuration or software updates.

Why is it important to use a BYOD device?

BYOD can represent substantial cost savings to the enterprise over issuing enterprise-owned devices, and users are often happier because they can use familiar devices to get work done. Moreover, a device the user already has can be used immediately, without having to procure and ship the device to the user.

What is persistence on an enterprise network?

To persist on an enterprise network, an attacker who has exploited a system must avoid detection and resist remediation. Here too, the home network is friendlier to the attacker; threat detection is typically nearly absent, and remediation incidental, such as when a PC is reinstalled or retired because it is running slowly.

What is remote work?

Remote Work: Vulnerabilities and Threats to the Enterprise. For many organizations, COVID-19 dramatically changed the risk calculation for remote work. In January 2020, many enterprises viewed remote work with skepticism; by March, the choice for many was to become a remote-first enterprise or to shut down.

What is enterprise network?

Enterprise networks were traditionally accessed only on enterprise-provided equipment. This arrangement has permitted enterprises unrestricted access to monitor and configure the device precisely according to their risk profiles and mitigation strategies. It also has required the enterprise to purchase and maintain equipment. This has sometimes frustrated end users when the enterprise was unwilling to buy newer equipment, a problem that became particularly pronounced when smartphones and tablet devices entered the market.

What is Wildfire malware analysis?

Resources: Learn how the cloud-delivered WildFire® malware analysis service – which is built into Cortex XDR and many other Palo Alto Networks products – aggregates data and threat intelligence from the industry’s largest global community to automatically identify and stop threats. Additionally, URL Filtering blocks access to malicious sites to help prevent phishing attacks.

What should security teams do if on-premises network and email security mechanisms are no longer available?

Recommendation: If some on-premises network and email security mechanisms are no longer available, security teams should double down on educating users to identify phishing attempts and to choose strong, unique passwords, encouraging the use of a password manager. They should also implement client certificates and multi-factor authentication in order to prevent attackers from gaining access through unsecured devices.

What is XDR in security?

Recommendation: Rather than invest in point solutions, consider security platforms that maximize integration between systems, limiting the amount of switching between tools and providing visibility into all data – including remote user activity. Extended detection and response (XDR) not only protects endpoints, but also applies analytics across all your data to find threats like unusual access or lateral movement, and simplifies investigations by stitching together data and identifying the root cause.

Why do companies use VPNs?

Historically, many companies deployed VPNs primarily for technical people needing access to critical technology assets. Not so much the case anymore – VPNs are often encouraged for all users as a more secure connection than home or public networks.

What are the risks of using a VPN?

Here are five top security risks that teams must deal with, as well as technology and user education best practices to keep users and data safe: 1. Weak remote access policies. Once attackers get access to a virtual private network (VPN), they can often penetrate the rest of the network like a hot knife through butter.

Why is it important to enforce access based on user identity?

Recommendation: It’s critical that companies enforce access based on user identity, allowing specific groups access to only what they need to get their jobs done, and expanding access from there on an as-needed basis.

What information could be used by attackers to target other organizations and their industrial systems?

This information, which may include data regarding assets, processes, and other sensitive items, could be used by attackers to target other organizations and their industrial systems.

Can an attacker see sensitive information?

Researchers noted that by exploiting the B&R flaws, an attacker who has gained authorized access to the B&R solution (for example, by simply acquiring a legitimate general license, available to anyone) can view sensitive information about other users whose information resides on the same server.

Who makes mbConnect24?

Researchers at Otorio discovered the vulnerabilities in remote access systems made by Austrian automation and process control technology company B&R Automation and in mbConnect24 software made by German company mbConnect Line .

What are the most pervasive things that admins fail to do?

Administrator Vulnerabilities. One of the most pervasive things that admins fail to do is educate themselves about known vulnerabilities and fixes. They might also fail to keep up to date with patches.

What is the most common mode of attack?

One fairly typical mode of attack is for a hacker to sniff on a public network, such a the Internet. The hacker looks for packets that come from a source that is able to get through, is trusted by, a particular firewall. Once the hacker discovers such a transmission source they might be able to construct their own packets and send them through this same firewall.

What is an IP header?

IP packet headers store information about transmission senders and receivers. Because of this it is not too difficult to construct packets so that they look like they came from a different sender. One fairly typical mode of attack is for a hacker to sniff on a public network, such a the Internet.

What does hardening an OS mean?

Hardening an OS means that all unrequired applications, services and protocols are disabled or maybe even completely removed.

What are user vulnerabilities?

User Vulnerabilities. Users sometimes write their login information on sticky notes and leave them places such as their monitors. Other users are sometimes too careless when they allow others to watch them log onto a system. Obviously their are other sorts of user vulnerabilities such as those gained through social engineering.

Do all vendors have their own website?

Almost all vendors, particularly well known ones, have their own websites where they post information, updates and patches for their products. Some firms also provide email notifications. Others also supply automatic updates. Though, I have some experience with automatic updates actually causing new problems.