How to Make Sure Your Remote and Hybrid Workers Are Still Secure in 2025
Remote and hybrid work are no longer “temporary fixes”—they’re the way we do business. According to Gallup, 52% of U.S. employees are in hybrid arrangements and another 22% are fully remote as of 2025.
That flexibility brings big benefits—happier employees, access to a wider talent pool, and often reduced costs. But it also brings unique security risks that too many organizations still underestimate.
At Pacific IT Support, we help SMBs, schools, nonprofits, and medical practices secure their distributed workforce without slowing them down. Here’s what you need to know to keep your remote and hybrid teams safe in 2025.
The Biggest Security Risks for Remote & Hybrid Teams
1. Home Networks Aren’t Business-Grade
Employees working from home often rely on consumer-grade routers with default passwords and no segmentation. Cybersecurity firm Check Point found that 1 in 5 home networks is infected with malware.
Fix it: Require WPA3-enabled routers, provide secure VPNs, and train staff to lock down their Wi-Fi.
Read also: How Often Should Your SMB Replace IT Equipment?
2. Shadow IT Apps Everywhere
From free file-sharing tools to unapproved chat platforms, employees often install “quick fixes” to make remote work easier. These “shadow IT” apps can leak sensitive data. Gartner predicts that 75% of employees will use unapproved tech by 2027.
Fix it: Provide safe, approved tools—and educate staff on why it matters.
3. Phishing and Social Engineering on Steroids
Remote workers are prime targets for phishing. Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report found that 74% of breaches still involve human error or social engineering.
Fix it: Run ongoing phishing simulations and security awareness training—especially for distributed staff.
Read also: Don’t Click That! A Simple Guide to Identifying Phishing Emails in 2025
4. Device Sprawl and Lost Laptops
Employees often use multiple devices—personal phones, work laptops, tablets. Each one is a possible entry point. Worse, lost or stolen devices are still a leading cause of data breaches.
Fix it: Deploy Mobile Device Management (MDM) to enforce encryption, lock, and wipe policies across devices.
Read also: Before Getting Rid of Old Tech Devices, Do This
5. Weak Authentication Practices
Remote logins are a goldmine for hackers. Even with MFA, attackers are using AI-powered phishing and MFA fatigue tactics to bypass protections.
Fix it: Upgrade to Zero Trust strategies: conditional access, passwordless logins, and continuous monitoring.
Read also: Keeping Your Remote Team Safe, Connected and Productive
Best Practices for Securing Remote & Hybrid Teams in 2025
- Adopt a Zero Trust model – Verify every access attempt, regardless of location.
- Provide company-managed devices – Don’t rely on BYOD for sensitive work.
- Use encrypted collaboration tools – Ensure chat, video, and file-sharing are secure.
- Implement BCDR – Have backups and recovery plans that include remote devices.
- Keep policies clear and updated – Remote workers need explicit security guidance.
- Test regularly – Conduct simulated attacks and risk assessments.
Read also: Cybersecurity Training in 2025: What Your Team Still Doesn’t Know (But Should)
How Pacific IT Support Can Help
We specialize in helping organizations build secure, flexible IT for distributed workforces by:
- Rolling out Zero Trust security frameworks
- Managing devices and enforcing policies remotely
- Training staff on phishing and social engineering
- Monitoring networks 24/7 for unusual activity
- Building compliance-ready solutions for HIPAA, FERPA, GDPR
With Pacific IT Support, your hybrid team doesn’t have to trade flexibility for security.
Remote and hybrid work aren’t going away. But the risks don’t have to grow with them.
By combining smart tools, strong policies, and ongoing training, your business can stay both agile and secure—no matter where your people work from.
Ready to secure your remote workforce? Contact Pacific IT Support today for a free IT risk assessment.