Data Loss Prevention Challenges – No. 3 – Managing DLP Processes with a Remote and Hybrid Workforce

Since the outbreak of COVID the global workforce back in 2019/2020, the way we work has changed, before working from home was an exception, citing challenges in managing a remote workforce, maintaining security and limited remote network connectivity. Then almost overnight businesses instructed their workforce to work from home and the challenges of supporting a remote workforce almost disappeared. Today businesses are indifferent about whether their workforce should return to the office or whether hybrid working is the way forward, through saving on office space and keeping a workforce happy.

The challenges though still remain, as users still maintain business laptops and mobile devices. It’s been interesting how businesses have addressed the challenges of supporting a mobile workforce whilst keeping security under control. Some organisations have taken the virtual desktop for remote access, whilst others have looked to put additional security products on the remote device that prevents data from being exported from the device.

During our client Security and DLP Projects it has been interesting to listen to the clients confidently explain that they have switched off USBs on Laptops but miss the point that a home network still provides access to network attached storage devices, the Internet and ability to migrate data off the laptop, if the device does not have suitable endpoint security to protect the organisations data. Every organisation’s Data Loss Prevention Policy must account for the mobile workforce and as such solutions must account for all occurrences of data movement. Solutions must be identified and implemented that account for users’ hybrid working, that provides a platform to work whilst also protecting data which may be loaded on mobile devices.