Aon expands cyber risk assessment tool to account for increased remote working

Aon has expanded the scope of CyQu Enterprise, its cyber risk assessment methodology, to account for the increased time people are working remotely due to COVID-19.

The changes enhance its analysis of the cyber security impacts of recent network access or policy changes.

CyQu is an automated cyber self-assessment tool, designed for SMEs. After completing a short survey, businesses receive an automated CyQu score, which is benchmarked against industry peers, with a snapshot of the business’s reported cyber maturity and exposures across nine security domains.

These areas now include remote working, alongside data security, access control, endpoint and systems security, network security, physical security, application security, third-party exposure and business resilience.

Richard Hanlon, CCO in Aon’s cyber solutions unit for EMEA, said the majority of SMEs have not comprehensively assessed their cyber risks, and are not adequately prepared for a cyber incident. “The shift to remote working as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has only amplified business’ exposure, as many are not aware of the additional cyber risks involved in connecting and working remotely,” he said.

Aon warned that businesses face increased levels of remote working for the foreseeable future, which it said increased opportunities for cyber attacks.

“While the risks of remote working have come to the forefront during this lockdown period, we have long seen a trend towards businesses’ promoting flexible working practices,” Hanlon said.