Adapting Cybersecurity To A New Era Of Work

The shift to remote and hybrid work has rendered traditional office-based cybersecurity models obsolete. With employees accessing data from all over and on diverse devices, organisations face heightened security challenges. Modern solutions like Security Services Edge (SSE) offer cloud-native, scalable protections.

The workplace has transformed rapidly in recent years, with the pandemic accelerating shifts toward remote and hybrid models. In fact, 12.7 per cent of full-time employees now work from home, and 28.2 per cent operate in a hybrid model, while 16 per cent of companies are fully remote, according to Forbes. This decentralisation necessitates a shift in cybersecurity, as traditional office-based security frameworks no longer suffice.

NTT Data’s 2023 Global Customer Experience Report: The Rise Of AI, Cloud And Employee Experience In Shaping The CX Of The Future shows that only 46 per cent of senior executives feel confident in their cybersecurity measures for all work environments, highlighting the gap in current protections as employees access data from various devices, locations, and networks. The adoption of cloud services, IoT, and digital transformation has created a distributed workplace, where data and applications span cloud infrastructures, on premise servers, and third-party providers, increasing security complexity and supply chain vulnerabilities.

To address these challenges, organisations must rethink and rearchitect their security strategies. The traditional perimeter-based security models designed to protect fixed office locations are no longer viable. Employees are no longer confined to a specific office space, rendering older security paradigms irrelevant. In the past, firewalls and other perimeter defences sufficed because work was centralised in one location. Today, users are dispersed across regions, accessing applications spread across cloud, on-premise, and third-party services. Security must now be built around access and move closer to users, no matter where they are.

One effective approach for securing the modern workplace is adopting the Security Services Edge (SSE) model. SSE is a cloud delivered security platform that provides granular control and consistent enforcement of security policies across all access points. Whether employees are working remotely, accessing cloud applications, or interacting with third-party services, SSE platforms offer the flexibility and scalability needed to secure distributed work environments.

By implementing a Security Service Edge (SSE) approach, they can apply security policies directly at the point of access, regardless of the user’s location or device. This model leverages cloud-native security capabilities like Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB), Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), and Cloud Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP), all reinforced with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). This architecture delivers consistent, comprehensive secure access across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, enabling organisations to achieve a higher standard of security in a distributed digital landscape.

As organisations in our region increasingly adopt cloud infrastructure, securing these environments becomes a priority. SSE platforms offer cloud-native security features that protect workloads and data within these cloud environments, an essential step as companies rely more on third-party services and supply chains, thereby expanding their attack surface. These platforms ensure secure access to cloud workloads, information, and applications, moving away from traditional perimeter-based security models. SSE also integrates with modern networking approaches such as Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN), which provides scalable perimeter security for remote sites, particularly where direct internet access is required.

As businesses continue their digital transformation journeys, it is imperative that they re-architect their security frameworks. The old perimeter-based model is neither scalable nor feasible in today’s context. Security must be designed around access, with controls moving closer to users and cloud environments, while maintaining consistency across all access points—whether they are remote, on premise, or involve third-party services.

Organisations that fail to adapt their security strategies will not only struggle to secure their environments effectively but may also hinder business productivity and growth. As the workplace continues to evolve, so must the security strategies that protect it. By adopting a modern, cloud delivered security framework like SSE, companies can ensure they remain agile, secure, and ready for the future of work.

Lloyd Oandah is a Technical Architect, Cybersecurity at NTT DATA in East Africa