Remote Work for Government: Keeping it Secure

For better or worse, the year 2020 will never be forgotten. But maybe it’s not all for the worse.

In a year that has seemed more like something brewed out of science fiction than a time that will receive multiple chapters in a school textbook, a lot has changed. COVID-19 has brought many personal and world-wide tragedies, disrupted the economy and taken away recreational activities that we never thought we’d be without. But, maybe not everything that has been turned on its head during these months will forever be known as a negative.

Whether by choice or force, nearly every business in the world has adapted some work-at-home measures. For some, this has turned into a time of revolutionary thinking. Companies such as Twitter and Facebook have no intentions on returning to an office any time soon -- or possibly ever.

But it goes beyond just businesses traded on Wall Street. Both local and federal governments have had to implement remote working. And that could put some highly classified information at greater risk than it's ever been.

And even when -- eventually -- we have a return to somewhat normalcy, governmental employees won’t be pushed out of their homes immediately. Besides the health and safety issues improved by working from home, there’s some data supporting employees have been more efficient remotely. Whether it’s cutting out commute time, additional sleep, or just the feeling of sweats as opposed to business attire, many employees that are excited about remote working have increased productivity. For example, according to an NPR report, the Social Security Administration has reduced their case backlog by 11 percent during the pandemic.

There’s good reason to think working from home could be the way of the future -- even at the governmental level. If employees are happier and more productive, why not? But there is a major aspect that can’t be ignored.

Security.

Classified information must be protected with the utmost importance. When the COVID-19 pandemic first reached the United States, security and IT teams had to adjust on the fly. There was no time to think long term. There was only time to solve one issue at a time and make sure everything is as protected as possible in the moment. But after spending months working from home and some even creating a routine out of it, there’s now time for building enhanced security measures. This could be the working environment of the future, and security needs to be at the very top of the list of importance.

Then the question becomes, “How do we know if we are secure?” There are many great partnering opportunities with businesses that were creating top-of-the-line protection way before the whole world was working from home.

One option is the Cisco Secure Remote Worker solution. With an integrated solution, Cisco will help accelerate your success with security partnered together, such as Cisco Duo, AnyConnect, Umbrella, and AMP for Endpoints. These services cover everything from multi-factor authenticity, to blocking malicious and unwanted domains, to cloud-delivered next-generation antivirus and endpoint protection.

Another top-tier security option is LMNTRIX. With the slogan of “Be the hunter, not the prey,” there’s no doubt this company is out to keep you safe. LMNTRIX has even partnered with the U.S. Navy on projects, so protection and results are always at the forefront. They also have experience with world-class companies such as Amazon, Apple and Microsoft.

Working from home could easily be the way of the future. But if businesses -- and even governmental entities -- aren’t proactive about constantly improving security measures, that could equal disaster.

And the crucial first step is getting an overview to realize where you have security weaknesses, or maybe even have already been compromised. Schedule an appointment with our experts at Atlas7 to ensure you have the necessary security tools for the future and wherever that future takes us. COVID-19 has changed the world forever. Be sure you are ready -- and secure -- for that change.