As coronavirus spreads, cybersecurity staff contend with increasing attacks, remote workers

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, cybersecurity professionals have never been busier.

Despite some reports of cybercriminals encouraging others to not take advantage of the pandemic, others have instead increased the frequency of their attacks. Hospitals treating coronavirus patients and even a medical company preparing to do a trial for a vaccine have been targeted this month. Even the World Health Organization was targeted by hackers earlier this month.

More of the same seems likely in store. Cybersecurity professionals are faced with not only increasing attacks during the crisis but also dealing with a workforce that is working from home.

Steve Durbin, managing director of the Information Security Forum, noted that the change to remote working is the new business normal. “Remote working and remote business interactions will identify new opportunities, new ways of working that we would not otherwise have spotted and I think will also give rise to a number of new ventures that are able to seize the opportunities that will arise,” he said.