Think about it: How secure are the devices your employees use when they access sensitive company data from home, a coffee shop, or even from a co-working space?
A hybrid workforce has become the new normal. Whether it’s balancing remote and on-site work, using cloud applications, or accessing company systems from a variety of devices, the flexibility offered is undeniable.
According to recent studies, 74% of businesses plan to implement permanent hybrid work models post-pandemic, with remote work being a preferred option for 50% of employees[1].
But here’s the catch—while a hybrid workforce has revolutionized how businesses operate, it has also introduced a slew of security risks that are often hidden in plain sight. Identity attacks, such as phishing and credential theft, have emerged as major threats, exploiting vulnerable access points to compromise sensitive data.
What’s at stake in managing a hybrid workforce?
Creating a trusted work environment in a hybrid setting comes with numerous challenges. Let’s take a closer look at the difficulties organizations face when building trust with their remote and hybrid employees.
Lack of direct oversight
One of the most significant hurdles of a hybrid workforce is the inability to oversee employees in person. Without direct supervision, employees may be less motivated to follow security protocols or engage in risky behavior unknowingly. This lack of visibility can create a psychological challenge for organizations: How can they trust remote workers to follow security best practices?
Inconsistent security practices
When employees work from various locations, using a mixture of personal and company devices, maintaining uniform security practices becomes difficult. For example, an employee’s laptop may not have the same level of security as a company-issued device, creating vulnerabilities that could lead to breaches.
Insider threats
Insider threats are a serious risk in the hybrid workforce. Employees working from home may have more access to sensitive information and systems. The risk of intentional or accidental data leaks increases when monitoring is reduced and oversight is limited.
Difficulty in verifying user identity
With remote work, employees are accessing company systems from various devices and locations. This makes it harder for organizations to verify users’ identities. Simple passwords or traditional security methods are no longer sufficient in preventing unauthorized access.
Trusting third-party applications and services
As organizations rely more on third-party applications for collaboration (think Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams), they open themselves to additional risks. Integrating these services into the company’s security protocols becomes more complex, and any vulnerabilities in third-party apps could compromise the entire system.
Organizations must manage these risks effectively, with Identity and Access Management (IAM) serving as the linchpin for securing devices, verifying users, and maintaining trust in a decentralized environment.
The key to securing a hybrid workforce: IAM
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is the solution to these challenges. It acts as the gatekeeper in a hybrid environment ensuring that only trusted users — verified through MFA, SSO, or other mechanisms — can access company resources. You can tailor the context of a user’s actions, providing a flexible and scalable approach to maintaining security across a diverse workforce.
The benefits of IAM systems in hybrid workforce:
- Visibility into user behavior: Offers insights into employee activity, allowing security teams to track and monitor user access and actions.
- Streamlined access control: Ensures that users have access to only the data and applications they need to perform their job, minimizing exposure to sensitive information.
- Reduced vulnerabilities: Minimize the chances of unauthorized access, insider threats, and security breaches.
In a hybrid workforce setup, employees must feel confident that they can access the tools and data they need, without compromising security or productivity.
Achieving this balance requires effective Identity and Access Management (IAM) strategies. IAM provides a framework for securely managing and controlling user access to critical resources, ensuring that employees can work securely from any location while keeping sensitive data protected.
Types of user trust
At the heart of this challenge lies user trust. In a hybrid work environment, organizations need to implement strategies that not only secure their systems but also establish trust with employees. But what exactly is trust in this context?
Static trust
This is trust based on predefined roles and permissions. For example, employees might be trusted to access certain company systems based on their job title or department. However, this doesn’t account for changes in behavior or unexpected access requests.
Dynamic trust
Dynamic trust is built gradually through consistent, secure behavior. For example, if an employee regularly follows security protocols—like using strong passwords and adhering to multi-factor authentication—they demonstrate reliability.
Therefore, over time, the organization can grant them broader access to systems without requiring additional verification each time. This approach reduces friction while maintaining security, as the employee has proven their trustworthiness through their actions.
Risk-based trust
Risk-based trust adjusts access levels based on the evaluation of potential risks associated with a user’s actions or context. Consider an employee attempting to access sensitive data from an unfamiliar location or device, the system. With risk-based trust, the system, like a vigilant security guard, swiftly evaluates the situation.
If the risk is deemed high, it triggers additional authentication—such as a time-based one-time password or biometric scan. This ensures data security while preventing unnecessary barriers for trusted users, all while protecting what matters most without sacrificing efficiency.
Context-aware trust
Context-aware trust considers the specific context in which a user is accessing data, such as the time of day, the device they’re using, or a trusted network. For example, if an employee logs in from a familiar device during work hours, the system may trust that access more than if they log in from a new device late at night. By analyzing these factors, the system can better assess the level of trust and adjust security measures accordingly, ensuring that only legitimate access is allowed without overburdening trusted users.
Context-aware user trust strategies for hybrid
workforce solutions
In hybrid work environments, managing trust effectively requires context-aware strategies that continuously evaluate access and behavior.
Enabling accountability through IAM tools
IAM tools such asOneIdP can track and monitor user actions, making it easier to hold individuals accountable for their behavior. With features like detailed access logs, and activity auditing, IAM systems can provide transparency and help organizations trust that employees are following security protocols.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA strengthens security by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access to company systems. According to Microsoft[2], MFA blocks 99.9% of automated attacks, making it an essential tool for hybrid environments.
Device Management and Endpoint Security
Managing device security ensures that only compliant, secure devices can access corporate resources. It enforces policies that require devices to meet company security standards, such as up-to-date software and encryption.
This reduces the risk of data breaches by blocking access from unsecured or non-compliant devices, ensuring the integrity of corporate systems and data, even when employees use various devices remotely. With solutions like OneIdP, combining unified endpoint management within the IAM framework, securing your devices and data becomes effortless and hassle-free.
Continuous monitoring and risk detection
Continuous monitoring and risk detection are vital components of an effective IAM system. By tracking user activity in real-time, IAM systems can identify unusual behavior, such as unauthorized access attempts or deviations from normal patterns.
This allows the system to quickly respond to potential threats, preventing them from escalating into larger security issues. Proactive monitoring ensures that suspicious actions are detected early, enabling immediate intervention to safeguard sensitive data and systems.
Context-Aware access control
Context-aware access controls are essential for securing access, especially in hybrid work environments. By evaluating factors such as user location, device type, and access time, IAM systems can make real-time decisions on whether to grant or restrict access.
For instance, if a user logs in from an unfamiliar device or location, additional authentication steps may be triggered to verify the request’s legitimacy. OneIdP enhances this process with its robust conditional access capabilities, adjusting security measures based on contextual factors, ensuring both seamless user experience and strong protection.
Building a secure and trusted hybrid workforce
As the hybrid workforce continues to evolve, organizations must prioritize both security and trust. Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems offer the tools and strategies needed to build trust with employees while safeguarding devices and sensitive data. By implementing IAM, businesses can secure their digital environments, maintain compliance, and create a culture of accountability and trust that benefits both employees and employers.
The future of work is hybrid — and with IAM, organizations can ensure it remains safe, secure, and successful.
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