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Remote Work Security Revisited: How to Protect Your Businesses in 2025

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We're beyond firewalls, antivirus, and basic VPNs to advanced authentication and remote access protections

The way we work has changed forever. Across Canada and around the world, remote and hybrid work models have moved from temporary, pandemic-era solutions to long-term business strategies. And while this flexibility brings benefits like access to global talent pools and cost savings, it also opens the door to a whole new world of cybersecurity risks.

In 2025, it's not enough to rely on the same old firewalls and antivirus software. It's time to level up your remote work security strategy to protect your data, your customers, and your reputation. Let’s break down the most important remote security strategies for how you can stay one step ahead of modern threats and keep your remote employees productive.


Remote Work is the New Reality

According to a 2024 Gartner report and despite recent Return to Office (RTO) mandates, 76% of employees expect flexible work as the new norm. That’s already a reality here in B.C., where many employees are logging in from home offices, coffee shops, or shared coworking spaces. Remote work has given employees new freedoms and flexibility to balance work and life, take care of family, or even live your dream traveling the country in a technology tricked out RV. The problem is that remote work has made some existing cybersecurity challenges worse and introduced whole new threats to deal with. No matter where your team works, the risk is the same: more devices, more networks, and more ways for something to go wrong.


Why Yesterday's Cybersecurity Security Doesn't Cut It for Remote Work Today

Modern cyber threats are more aggressive and more sophisticated than ever. Here’s what you should watch out for:

  • Sophisticated, AI-enabled phishing attacks mimic trusted sources and trick remote employees into clicking harmful links. It's getting harder and harder even for the experts to tell real emails from phishing.

  • Simple VPNs with a username and password aren't enough to thwart hackers; you need multi-factor authentication (MFA) to make sure only your employees get access to your network.

  • Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are prime targets for hackers because they often lack sophisticated security and have privileged vendor access to larger companies' networks. SMBs are seen by hackers to be the easy way into larger targets.

  • Cloud platform misuse, with employees using unsanctioned apps to share or store sensitive data.  It takes seconds to sign up for the latest AI-powered tool and start uploading sensitive data without knowing how that data is (or isn't) protected.

  • Regulatory pressure, as Canadian privacy laws like PIPEDA tighten enforcement and increase fines for data breaches. You have to be vigilant for signs that someone has gained access to your network and files.


What Is a Data Retention Policy – what you need to keep, what can be deleted, and why it matters

Think of a data retention policy as your small business’s playbook for managing information. It outlines what data to keep, how long to keep it, and when it’s time to securely delete it. In every jurisdiction, there are specific provincial and federal regulations that cover how businesses should store, protect, and manage data, especially if you work in sectors like healthcare, finance, or legal services. No matter what kind of business you run, bookkeeper, dentist, contractor, or counsellor--you need to know the rules and how they apply specifically to your business. Rules in hand, the next step is building a smart data retention plan.


7 Strategies That Make Remote Work Secure

This all seems scary, overwhelming, and technical to deal with, but the reality is that a good IT partner, like improvingit, makes it easy to improve your security and help your remote employees stay productive. The first step is adopting these seven strategies that are the foundation for solid cybersecurity.


1. Zero Trust Security: Trust Nothing, Verify Everything

Old-school security trusted devices just because they were inside your office network. Not anymore. It's too easy for something as simple as a thermostat to open a backdoor into your company's network. Zero Trust means every login, every device, and every access request is verified with no exceptions. It's not "trust but verify" with a username and password; it's trust no one and limit access to things to only what is needed to get the job done, and nothing more.

Here's how to get started with zero trust security:

  • Use tools like Okta, Jump Cloud, or Microsoft Entra to manage identity and access. These tools go beyond what we used to do even a few years ago to manage users, passwords, and access.

  • Require Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all users. SMS-based authentication is okay, but authenticator apps from Microsoft, Google, and Cisco are much more secure and less vulnerable to attacks.

  • Set conditional rules based on where a login comes from. An employee logging in from Calgary into your Surrey office might be fine, but an unusual login from Europe? Block it. It's better to block and confirm "Hey, are you working from Paris this week?" than let a hacker into your network.


2. Upgrade to Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Traditional antivirus just isn’t enough in 2025. Modern threats require real-time monitoring, behaviour analysis, and automated responses, especially when employees are working from multiple locations. Recommended EDR tools:

  • CrowdStrike Falcon

  • SentinelOne

  • Bitdefender

A single compromised device could infect your entire network with ransomware, or worse, if not caught early. Modern EDR systems can detect if a device is doing something unexpected or unusual, like going through all your SharePoint areas one after another or trying to connect to an external network, and stop it before something happens.


3. Move Beyond VPNs with Cloud-Native Access

VPNs were designed for a different era—when most work happened inside office walls. Today, they can be slow, clunky, and vulnerable to modern threats. They’re like using a dial-up modem in a fibre-optic world.

Modern Alternatives for Secure Access

  • SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) Combines networking and security into one cloud-based service. It ensures fast, secure access for users working from anywhere—like having a smart security system that travels with your team.

  • CASBs (Cloud Access Security Brokers) monitor how your team uses cloud apps like SharePoint, Google Drive, or Dropbox. They help enforce policies and prevent risky behaviour—like a digital watchdog for your cloud tools.

  • SDPs (Software-Defined Perimeters) Grant access based on who the user is and how secure their device is. It’s like giving out VIP passes that only work if you’re verified and your device is safe.

 These tools still secure connections and encrypt data like VPNs, but they’re built for cloud-native environments and remote work realities. They’re faster, smarter, and better suited for today’s business needs.


4. Automate Your Patch Management with Remote Monitoring and Management Tools

Unpatched software is one of the top causes of cyberattacks, and it’s completely preventable. Use Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools to push software updates across all company devices all at once. RMM tools ensure computers are kept up to date, not just when people remember to update (which is never). Platforms like NinjaOne or Atera help you manage devices, whether they’re in an office, at home, or on the road.

Bonus: RMM tools let you test updates to catch compatibility issues before they go live, and they help you roll back to what you had before if something goes wrong.


5. Build a Security-First Culture

Even with all the right tools, your biggest security risk will always be people. People make mistakes, and those mistakes, like clicking a link in a phishing message, can have disastrous consequences. To prevent this from happening. You need to make cybersecurity part of your everyday culture:

  • Run phishing simulations to test employee responses. 

  • Offer ongoing, easy-to-digest training especially for new hires or those working from home. 

  • Create clear, jargon-free policies that explain what to do (and not do) with sensitive information. 

There are many training services you can subscribe to that help everyone keep cybersecurity top of mind.


6. Stop Data Leaks with DLP (Data Loss Prevention)

If you’re handling private client data, legal, financial, medical, or intellectual property, then Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a must. DLP tools identify, classify, and restrict how sensitive data is used and shared. It prevents someone from accidentally emailing patient information to the wrong person or sending financial information to your email newsletter list.

Tools to consider: Microsoft Purview or Symantec DLP, both integrate well with cloud platforms like Teams, OneDrive, and Gmail.


7. Use SIEM to Monitor Everything from One Place

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) software helps you see all your security alerts in one place, from cloud services to firewall activity. When your team is spread out across all offices to homes to client sites, you need a single source of truth to catch threats fast. You need to see, at a glance, if something looks fishy (or phishy) so you can respond. Getting alerts and notifications from a bunch of different places is a perfect recipe for missing something critical.

Recommended tools: Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk, or LogRhythm.


5 Tips for a Unified, Agile Security Framework for Today's Remote and Hybrid Businesses

  1. Centralized Security Visibility. Use a unified dashboard to track activity across devices, apps, and users. Customize views for IT, managers, or compliance teams.

  2. Standardize Identity and Access Management (IAM). Enforce SSO (Single Sign-On), require MFA, and apply least privilege access; only give employees access to what they need. 

  3. Automate Your Threat Response. Set up rules so your systems can isolate infected devices or lock accounts without waiting for human action.

  4. Run Regular Security Audits. Review access, test backups, simulate attacks, and adjust policies at least once a quarter.

  5. Partner with a Local MSP. A trusted Managed IT Service Provider can help with 24/7 monitoring, compliance, and support, freeing up your internal team to build your business.


Future-Proof Your Remote Work Setup

Whether you’re a growing business or a long-standing company, remote and hybrid work are here to stay. With the right security strategy, you can protect your people, your clients, and your reputation no matter where your team logs in from. Now is the time to upgrade your remote work security and build a smarter, more agile defence for the future.


Need Help Getting Started?

If your current setup feels stretched or outdated, don’t wait for a breach to act. Connect with a reliable IT partner in your area who understands the unique challenges of B.C.’s small businesses. Protect your business. Empower your team. And stay one step ahead of tomorrow’s threats. Your security starts now. Visit us online: www.improvingit.ca  for more information about our team.

*These tips should not be considered legal advice or guidance. It's essential to verify with the relevant authorities for data retention, particularly in healthcare, taxation, and other sensitive sectors.*



 
 
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