This article is part of our Remote Work & Workplace Management resource section
Remote working helps the file-sharing industry skyrocket
No matter where you live, what you do for a living or how you like to spend your free time, the past year is probably going to stick with you forever. The global pandemic forced the entire world into changing the way they live, do business, or consume entertainment, and it’s safe to assume things are never going back to how they used to be. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially given the fact that most of these changes had to do with using making some much-needed technological improvements on a global scale. Businesses adapting to these changes can also benefit from practical guidance on boosting remote work management as distributed teams become more common.
Take remote working, for example. Up until a year ago, businesses were under the impression that remote working hurts productivity levels and makes collaboration more difficult. Fast-forward to today, many companies that enabled employees to work from home during the pandemic are considering the transition toward a hybrid work model: employees are allowed to work from home for 2-4 days a week and only come in the office when necessary. This was all possible when we learned to leverage the power of technology we had at our disposal. Building a reliable setup also means understanding the remote work essentials employees need to work effectively.
The remote working model is not only helping the businesses and employees in question but entire industries as well. Today’s file-sharing sector is booming thanks to people needing new methods to transfer files and documents when they are not working in the same office. In 2017, the global Enterprise File Sharing Market was valued at $1.54 billion; by 2023, it is predicted to reach $4.52 billion, with an annual growth rate of 19.67%.
File-sharing software has become an essential tool for businesses everywhere, but we can’t avoid noticing cyberattacks and ransomware attacks have become more frequent than before. At the same time, employees need suitable physical workspaces, and setting up an at-home office for remote work can help create a more organized environment for handling sensitive files and business information.
Why, you may ask?
Focusing on the wrong aspects
Pushed by the increasing demand for file-sharing apps, decision-makers in the industry are continuously looking for ways to make their products better. Their main focus was on improving collaboration and enabling access to information while on the go, but businesses in highly regulated industries bring forward a different set of needs: security and risk mitigation. This comes especially after a long list of cybersecurity threats targeted at the financial, IT, ITeS, and healthcare sectors. Organizations can also benefit from tools for productive remote workers while trying to maintain efficient and secure distributed workflows.
In a recent article, Techrobot points towards a recent issue involving the file-sharing app SHAREit. In February this year, concerns about the app’s security started emerging, more specifically, some bugs that may allow hackers to target SHAREit users and expose them to cyberattacks. These bugs allow hackers to gain access to a person’s device and may even go as far as to use the compromised host to further reach other devices.
The file-sharing market is full of vendors that claim they have users’ best interest at heart but do very little to actually provide a sense of security to the sensitive data people may be sharing using these tools. The best way for companies to avoid being exposed to cybersecurity risks is by doing extensive research into the company they plan to acquire these file-sharing services from and looking into how these vendors protect their clients. A broader work-from-home playbook for staying focused, productive, and mentally strong can also help organizations establish better habits around remote work.
Phishing threats on the rise in 2026
Phishing attacks have and will always be a part of our world. No matter how much cybersecurity technology evolves, hackers will always catch up. Some don’t even care about this because they play on a different field – people’s emotions. Understanding both the advantages and disadvantages of remote work can help businesses identify where additional security and employee-awareness measures may be necessary.
In the past year, hackers have jumped on the opportunity to use the pandemic to get to users. Because of how much traction this videoconferencing software has gained, hackers have started sending out fake Zoom-related emails to trick users into giving out their login information or download malicious content. Others are taking advantage of people’s need to stay informed and send out emails containing malicious attachments disguised as COVID-19 health tips or made to look as if they come from the CDC. The rapid shift to remote work during the pandemic is also discussed in more detail in coronavirus and remote working.
Businesses are at risk as well, as some hackers have gone as far as to send out fake workplace emails asking users to update their email credentials by following a specific legit-looking link. Besides this, ransomware attacks are hitting company after company, with a recent report showing that, in 2020, 62.4% of organizations have been affected in one way or another by ransomware attacks. In 2021, the percentage increased to 68.5%. These risks make it especially important to understand GRC challenges in a remote work environment when managing distributed employees and business data.
File-sharing phishing attacks are conducted by taking advantage of the high level of trust people have in these apps. One method hackers use is they send out emails that look as if you received a file via a reputable file-sharing website such as DropBox or OneDrive, but the URL to the shared file is, in fact, a phishing page that looks very legit. When the user logs in with their credentials, hackers can collect this information and potentially gain access to organization files. Employees who use Apple devices can also review these work-from-home tips for Mac users to strengthen their everyday remote-working practices.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
File-sharing software is not going anywhere anytime soon, simply because it is a convenient and time-saving way to improve collaboration. And, for the most part, these products have made our jobs easier. Still, we can’t ignore the potential threats that can arise with using these services, and until the providers come up with improved methods of security hackers can’t bypass, it is up to the users to protect themselves. Using the right productivity tools to help work from home can make collaboration easier while employees continue working outside the traditional office.
Some simple best practices for keeping your private and corporate data protected include:
- Never respond to emails requesting your personal information.
- Always check the email address of the sender. If something seems suspicious, it usually is.
- Keep an eye out for grammar or spelling mistakes. These are almost never present in official emails.
- Most companies personalize their emails using the person’s name. Generic greetings may be a bad sign.
- Always use different passwords for each account you open. If a hacker manages to get access to login information of one of your accounts, they may try to use the same details for other accounts pertaining to you as well.
- Choose an enterprise file-sharing system. Commercial-level options have lower security levels and may put your company at risk.
- Train your employees to help them understand cyber-threats and how they can avoid them. Regular guidance on how to stay productive when you work from home can also help employees maintain consistent working habits without compromising security.
Companies should also make sure their remote workforce has appropriate systems and processes in place. Choosing the right workforce management software can help businesses coordinate employees and maintain visibility across distributed teams.
Remote teams also need dependable technical support when employees encounter access, device, software, or connectivity problems. Businesses can review how to improve business IT support processes in a remote work environment to make sure technical issues do not create additional security or productivity risks.
Employee discipline is another important part of protecting company information. Simple habits, such as checking links carefully, using strong passwords, and following company security procedures, become easier to maintain when organizations understand how to boost discipline when you work from home.
Remote work also affects administrative processes beyond technology and cybersecurity. For organizations with employees working across different locations, unified payroll systems for a diverse workforce can help support consistent workforce administration as remote and hybrid models continue to develop.
Finally, businesses should recognize that remote working can offer meaningful benefits when it is implemented correctly. Understanding why work from home is beneficial for many specialists can help organizations make more informed decisions about how they structure distributed teams and support their employees.
