Employees are the first line of cyber defense

There is an urgent need for greater collaboration to address the serious vulnerabilities that put business — and our economy — at risk. (Credit: momius/Adobe Stock)

Companies of all sizes have adapted to remote and hybrid models for the workplace, and many are making the changes permanent as employees grow accustomed to this new environment. Today’s digital economy presents unique opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to connect with employees and customers in new and efficient ways but comes with considerable cyber risk.

A 2021 global survey by Ponemon Institute and IBM found that the shift to remote operations during the pandemic led to more costly data breaches on average — $4.96 million when remote work was indicated as a factor versus $3.89 million when remote work was not a factor.