Posted by Mumbai: At least one data breach hit 66% Indian organisation since shifting to a remote working model revealed Barracuda Networks commissioned study.
Remote working presents multilateral security challenges
The study indicated that 66% Indian organisations have already had at least one data breach or cybersecurity incident since shifting to a remote working model. And 67% of them reporting that their employees had experienced an increase in email phishing attacks.
While, 64% organisations expect an incident to occur in the next month and 70% are concerned about unknown threats that will cause business disruption in the next 6 months.
Alarmingly, 53% Indian organisations do have an old cybersecurity strategy and solutions in place that cover all the vulnerabilities posed by full-time remote working.
With 79% organisations allowing employees to use personal email addresses and personal devices to conduct company work – this has made the situation more difficult.
While the shift to remote working is having positive impact, many Indian organisations are facing multilateral security challenges while some are not even aware of the risks involved in connecting remotely.
“Maintaining safe security practices is essential, but a step easily overlooked in the frantic rush to get everything set up to support remote working. More employees working from home means that more devices are connecting remotely, outside of the secured corporate network,” said Murali Urs, Country Manager India, Barracuda Networks.
“It’s critical to understand what remote workers are doing with data that is rapidly going out of control, which indicates that organisations will have to rework the ‘new normal’ to make it more effective and more secure,” added Urs.
COVID-19 has pushed the introduction of remote working by at least five years for 59% of organisations in India. Yet, they must address relevant security challenges, as per the study.
Research agency Censuswide conducted the commissioned study across the Asia Pacific. It interviewed 1,055 business decision makers in India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong. It also included 247 business leaders in India working across sectors and departments.
Business leaders’ mindset in the region has now shifted to optimism as per the study. As 92% are planning to keep remote working in place for employee productivity and business continuity post the pandemic end for a more flexible and hybrid workplace.
COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation and cloud adoption
This is a significant shift in thinking among business leaders in the country. As 76% business leaders realised the positive impact a remote working model has had on their overall business productivity.
With 78% agree with the fact that overall business productivity has increased since the shift to a remote workforce. Amid the COVID crisis, 89% leaders feel the necessity to push their digital transformation in the next six months to ease the burdens placed on the traditional business model by remote working.
A key component of this transformation is cloud computing. 83% leaders have fast-tracked their plans to move their data to a 100% cloud-based model to create a new future for their business. On average, 89% agree that this shift will help reduce overall IT costs to support business growth.