Ever hear of a VPN? This is pretty standard “security” for most Fortune 500s. Home network can be a Starbucks WiFi, but unless you have the decryption keys you are not going to be able to intercept the traffic tunneled through a VPN.
Comment on Forcing Workers Back to the Office Might Not Have Been a Good Idea After All
couragethebravedog@lemmy.world 10 months agoSecurity is definitely a legitimate argument for some companies. The average home network is nowhere near as secure as an enterprise network and BYOD is not nearly as secure as the systems setup and managed by your organization.
malloc@lemmy.world 10 months ago
couragethebravedog@lemmy.world 10 months ago
It’s not just network security though, that was just one example I used. Another is protecting company IP. They could be working from home and a neighbor peek through the window and see what you’re working on. Also that VPN isn’t worth a damn if someone can get into your home and gain physical access to your device. Sure they could also break into an office, but offices usually have a security system with alarms, cameras, and sensors. They also usually have stronger doors and locks. Security is absolutely a valid reason to return to the office. I work in cybersecurity for the record and this is an actual reason being pushed for a return to the office.
malloc@lemmy.world 10 months ago
They could be working from home and a neighbor peek through the window and see what you’re working on.
This is a joke, right? RTO won’t stop this “attack” either. Since we are looking at extreme situations, what’s to stop an attacker from using a high powered scope and peek at an executives computer? In an office environment you have plenty of targets to choose from and exfiltrate information.
Also, this is easily defeated by privacy screens. So this is a non-issue.
Also that VPN isn’t worth a damn if someone can get into your home and gain physical access to your device
You are right. Which is why multiple layers of defense is needed. VPN is just one layer, albeit a very poor “security by obscuration”
Ways to combat this is have data encrypted at rest, and in transit. Modern computers/OS have the ability to encrypt all data at rest. If computer is stolen, attacker can’t do much without the decryption keys. Also, thin clients (VDIs) can be used to further reduce chance of compromise of physical device. Data does not leave the secure data center of the firm.
Also, having applications / endpoints secured by MFA will help in reducing possible infiltration.
The only attack vector I can think of that will defeat these measures is a person held with a gun pointed to their head but this is why having multiple persons to confirm an action will help reduce the impact of one person.
but offices usually have a security system with alarms, cameras, and sensors
All easily defeated and poor security measures with the right motivation.
usually have stronger doors and locks
This is poor security as well. Perhaps even security theater. Unless the doors are bank vault level lol
None of the points you have given are valid in this digital age. A forced RTO is pointless.
Kangie@lemmy.srcfiles.zip 10 months ago
Having implemented this sort of stuff for the mind if companies you probably think of when you’re thinking of enterprise… You’re making a mountain out of a molehill.
The use of a VPN to secure data in transit and the use of strong encryption on the device, endpoint protection and management features, along with good password security make it easy for any organisation not dealing with literal SECRET or TOP SECRET information to enable remote with.
TipRing@lemmy.world 10 months ago
If you use vdi that runs on a corporate thin client security is basically a non-issue. Data never leaves the data center and so long as you harden the thin client it should be difficult to breach it.
couragethebravedog@lemmy.world 10 months ago
It’s also about physical security, protecting access to your work laptop and protecting IP. That VPN is completely useless if someone can get into your home and access your device. It’s way easier to get into someone’s home than into a properly secured office.
TipRing@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Right… that’s why you would use a VDI. There’s nothing local except a thin client that runs your citrix/vmware/whatever client. There’s a reason that VDI is generally used for PCI-compliant business cases but VPN is not.
mycroft@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Even the government has capitulated to the idea that devices themselves should be secure:
csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/207/final
If you can deal in government data on your laptop at a starbucks, we most certainly can work at home behind locked doors in our own offices with anything equivalent.
couragethebravedog@lemmy.world 10 months ago
See my other comment. It’s also about physical security, protecting access to your work laptop and protecting IP. That VPN is completely useless if someone can get into your home and access your device. It’s way easier to get into someone’s home than into a properly secured office.
mycroft@lemmy.world 10 months ago
No. Even that is incorrect.
You are 4 nodes deeper in OSS intel required, (isemployee->hasaccess?->homeaddress->break in)
I also know there are only 2 people with keys to my home, the hours of operation are limited, and there are no 3rd parties with unrestricted physical access (maintenance, physical security, janitorial services.)
The only difference in person provides is a record of access, cameras and access control systems etc.
My home also has this record of access and if requested can be provided. Most folks have egress cameras nowadays too.
silvercove@lemdro.id 10 months ago
I doubt it. The home network does not need to be secure. That is why you have VPNs and other such technology.
KnightontheSun@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Some networks are not accessible via vpn.
ngdev@lemmy.world 10 months ago
In those cases it’s justifiable to have to work in-person. I don’t think we’d want closed networks (presumably for stuff like nuclear power) exposed to the open internet.
atx_aquarian@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Those networks are also not accessible from home networks, then.
couragethebravedog@lemmy.world 10 months ago
The issue of using a work device outside of the office is if you ever connect it to your home network off of the VPN, then there is a chance the device is compromised. A malicious actor could have targeted you because they want to gain access to your company and they saw on your LinkedIn that you work remotely. So they simply use some OSINT to find your address, run a geo search on shodan and wiggle to identify your homes IP, then use that as an entry point to compromise your router and wait for your device to connect to continue the attack. This may sound complicated or a lot of work but this is actually quite simple to do and takes only 10 - 15 minutes.
couragethebravedog@lemmy.world 10 months ago
It’s also about physical security, protecting access to your work laptop and protecting IP. That VPN is completely useless if someone can get into your home and access your device. It’s way easier to get into someone’s home than into a properly secured office.
TheCraiggers@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 months ago
That’s also why you encrypt your drives. The average enterprise figured out how to let somebody work from and airport long ago. It’s really not a huge deal.