This journal article was originally published in volume 5 (2021-22) of “Cyber Security: A Peer-Reviewed Journal” by Henry Stewart Publications.

The hybrid workforce is no longer a concept, it is a reality. With the hybrid workforce, there will be three types of workers IT teams have to factor for: some who go to work every day, some who are remote, and some that are a mix of both — probably the most complex group. With the latter group, work is going to be from anywhere, meaning airports, outposts, hotels, and more. Exposure points will become exponential, and IT will have to prepare for a diverse set of environments to secure and control.

This begs the question: how do you successfully manage the fluidity of workers, with information traveling in and out of offices, airports, hubs, coffee shops, and libraries at different rates?

We wanted to explore actionable ways organizations can create a security strategy rooted in the variability of the hybrid workforce — one that meets employees where they are and helps them learn the role they play in securing this new model. This strategy is built around three key principles: adopt a zero-trust approach, personalize data protection, and bolster hands-on, robust training. 

Readers of the below journal article can expect to learn what it really takes to put this approach into practice — and what threats and roadblocks they should anticipate along the way. 

You can find my entire article from “Cyber Security: A Peer-Reviewed Journal” here.