Page 161 - Cyber Defense eMagazine April 2023

CISOs and cybersecurity professionals are under tremendous pressure to stay up to date with the latest
trends, prepare for threats, and ensure that software, tools, and platforms are secure. Protecting
collaboration tools must be a cybersecurity priority for organizations of all sizes.

Remote work and distributed teams persistently at risk

As distributed teams and remote work environments are now permanently in place for enterprise
organizations, collaboration tools are a critical part of an optimal hybrid and remote work experience. But
with the large number of employees working from multiple locations, there are more opportunities for
malicious actors than ever before.

Secure integrations of platforms and tools are critical, as the number of devices and access points are
creating multiplying levels of attack surfaces that are more difficult to track and manage.

Some business tools that were once intended for limited use are now ubiquitous across organizations.
Adding another challenge is the way teams are accessing these tools across multiple devices, both
corporate-owned and personal. The risks of compromised credentials, devices and tools that are not
adequately secured are compounded.

Collaboration tools and platforms are a pervasive source of threats, including communication, document,
and content sharing tools. Industries that handle sensitive information, for instance, financial and
accounting, management consulting, or government agencies, must be hyper-vigilant about data
security. Confidential and sensitive data, from corporate secrets to Personal Identifiable Information (PII)
and financial information are often key targets of cybercriminals.

Securing software and tools must be part of the culture of cybersecurity that needs to start from the C-
suite. Creating a cybersecurity-minded culture includes creating policies and education about protecting
data and systems. Passwords, secure devices and zero trust approaches are essential. However,
choosing secure software platforms and integrations, starting with software that is built securely from the
ground up, is also a key strategy.

Strategies to secure collaboration tools and integrations

Most firms use a variety of business tools day-to-day, many of which are used to collaborate,
communicate, and share data. To ensure that these tools are secure, firms need to focus on a few key
practices. For instance, good password hygiene, zero trust architecture and multi-factor authentication
are a must, regardless of where employees are working. It’s important for teams to maintain these
practices across all devices, apps and transmissions.

Organizations, meanwhile, need to make sure their employees have access to the tools that give them
optimal remote work experiences, which means using advanced and highly secure collaboration tools
and technology. If the firm’s tech stack suits their needs, employees are less likely to download
unauthorized apps or tools.

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