Remote working remains a popular strategy for many UK businesses, over two years after the end of Pandemic social distancing restrictions. According to an Office of National Statistics (ONS) survey conducted in July 2023, 44% of Brits work from home either full-time (a minority of only 16%), or as a hybrid arrangement with some days at home and some in the office (28%, so nearly one third of British workers). This is set to increase this year when new legislation that comes into force in April 2024 allows employees to request flexible working arrangements from day one in a new job.
How secure is remote working?
At the end of the day, remote working is only as secure as the employee’s device and Internet connection, so one of the enduring questions surrounding remote work is that of cyber security. How do businesses ensure the security of their sensitive data, software, and processes when employees are using home Internet connections and, in some cases, personal laptops and phones?
The answer is to invest in firewall software that runs on the devices your employees use to work from home.
What firewall solution do you need for your business?
There are a variety of firewall solutions available, depending on the security needs of your organisation. Firewalls can broadly be divided into two categories:
1) Classic firewalls provide basic protection by monitoring and controlling ingoing and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. The firewall acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and any un-trusted external network, such as a public connection or your employees’ home Internet, filtering traffic to identify and block potentially harmful data packets (malware, phishing emails etc).
2) Next Generation Firewalls are more like multi-tiered threat management systems than traditional firewalls. These solutions incorporate a range of advanced security features such as intrusion detection and prevention systems, application awareness, deep packet inspections, sandboxing, and threat intelligence integration. Put simply, these systems have the capacity to identify and avert sophisticated cyber threats, giving a more comprehensive level of protection for modern business environments.
Risk assessment and appraisal
To find the right solution for your business, you’ll need to evaluate the risks you are likely to face during remote work. Risks come from two levels when working remotely. First, from the devices used by your employees, so any firewall solution should be capable of applying protection at the device level, whether the device is owned by your business or the employee. Devices are at risk from cybercrime when connected to a network, but there is also the risk of loss or theft. A firewall should, therefore, be capable of securing any data stored on the device so that it can’t easily be accessed by unauthorised parties.
The second threat comes from the network being used, so a firewall should provide network security for the connections used by your employees, acting as a first line of defence against hacking attempts, and any problems arising from third-party cloud providers (e.g., if an SaaS provider is hacked, the firewall should prevent malware from infecting the networks and devices of your business users).
Flexible firewall solutions for every business model
At TMB, we swear by Sonicwall network security firewalls, which provide advanced threat protection for remote working small businesses, especially those that use cloud applications and data storage.
There are a wide variety of products available from Sonicwall, which include specialist solutions for SaaS products, Office 365, and secure home Wi-Fi. Get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss your needs and recommend the best platform for your requirements and budget. For an overview, have a look at the Sonic wall TZ Series, which is an entry-level next-generation firewall (NGFW) designed specifically for the needs of small businesses that use hybrid working arrangements.
Contact us today
To find out more about firewalls and how they can strengthen your businesses’ cyber security when working remotely, please contact TMB today by 0333 900 9050.
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