How We’re Partnering with Palo Alto Networks to Secure Canadian Hybrid Workers
According to new research from Palo Alto Networks, over two-thirds (69%) of Canadian midmarket organizations plan to keep some element of remote work as a workplace arrangement post-COVID, with nearly half (48%) looking to a hybrid model.
In November 2021, CDW Canada expanded its partnership with Palo Alto Networks to help enable organizations to secure their hybrid workforce. Together, we are offering a complete secure access service edge (SASE) solution, an integrated cloud-delivered service with industry-leading network security and next-generation SD-WAN to help secure the hybrid workforce.
But why should businesses consider investing in securing their remote workforces now?
According to new research from Palo Alto Networks conducted by Angus Reid, over two-thirds (69 percent) of Canadian midmarket organizations plan to keep some element of remote work as a workplace arrangement post-COVID, with nearly half (48 percent) looking to a hybrid model.
“Embracing these new work models allowed businesses to remain operational. However, doing so has put businesses at risk by increasing the potential attack surface along with more employees using unsecure personal networks and devices, which could lead to potential vulnerabilities,” said Ivan Orsanic, regional vice president and Canada country manager at Palo Alto Networks.
While the majority of Canadian businesses have invested in improving their security posture, the survey of companies with 100 to 1,000 employees demonstrates that a significant portion of midmarket organizations are still struggling to adapt their technologies, policies and employee training to better protect their networks in the new normal.
Here are some of the key findings from Palo Alto Networks' research:
Vast majority of IT decision makers concerned about increased risks posed by remote work
An overwhelming majority of Canadian IT decision-makers (86 percent) are concerned that the rapid adoption of a hybrid/remote work model over the past few years is making it more difficult for organizations to protect themselves against cyberattacks.
1 in 3 businesses have paused or decreased their cybersecurity spending
Despite the concerns over increased risk posed by the larger attack surface and unsecured personal networks and devices, many organizations have been slow to act. One in three organizations (33 percent) have either paused or decreased their cybersecurity spending over the past 12 months.
Almost 1 in 5 business leaders say their cybersecurity technologies or policies are out of date
Almost a fifth of Canadian business leaders (17 percent) say they haven’t updated their cybersecurity technologies or policies to better secure hybrid and remote workers; with 13 percent claiming they weren’t sure. As with cybersecurity spending, organizations that weren’t impacted by ransomware were far less likely to update their systems or policies for a remote work model.
Remote workers aren’t prioritizing security
The survey found that a quarter of employees (25 percent) say they lack the understanding of cybersecurity best practices to self-manage while working remotely. Employees are also less aware of steps their organizations are taking to improve their security posture compared to leaders:
- 38 percent of employees say their organizations are updating their systems with the latest patches compared to 61 percent of leaders
- 30 percent regularly backing up their data compared to 59 percent of leaders
- 26 percent updating their cybersecurity training compared to 54 percent of leaders
Best practices for securing the new normal
Businesses that have increased cybersecurity spending said they’re taking several approaches to improve their security posture. The top three methods cited are regularly updating systems with the latest security patches (61 percent), regularly backing up data (59 percent) and increasing employee cybersecurity training (54 percent).
CDW is constantly working to help organizations adapt and respond to emerging threats. The pandemic has pushed Canadian organizations of all sizes to speed up digital transformation, creating new risks and security challenges linked to this surge in cloud adoption.