Is Your ERP Security Model Keeping Up with the Rise of Hybrid Work?

A few years ago, the idea of entire finance, HR, and operations teams working from home would have seemed radical. Today, it’s normal. Hybrid work isn’t a temporary adjustment—it’s the new standard.

However, while businesses have embraced flexibility, their ERP security models haven’t always kept pace. Employees now access critical systems from home networks, personal devices, and sometimes even public Wi-Fi at coffee shops. IT teams that once secured ERP systems within company firewalls now face a growing attack surface, more insider threats, and an increasing reliance on cloud-based ERP solutions.

The question is: Has your ERP security model evolved to protect your business in this new environment? Or are you still operating under an outdated security framework designed for an office-based workforce?

Hybrid Work Has Reshaped ERP Security—But Have You Adapted?

The shift to hybrid work has upended traditional security assumptions. Some of the biggest challenges include:

1. Employees Are No Longer Inside Your Secure Perimeter

In the past, ERP security depended heavily on network-based protections—firewalls, VPNs, and internal access controls. But hybrid work means employees login from anywhere, and that old "castle-and-moat" approach no longer works.

Instead, security models need to focus on identity-based access control rather than location-based access. If your ERP still assumes a user is "safe" just because they’re on a company-issued laptop or inside the office network, your system is vulnerable.

2. Personal Devices, Shadow IT, and the BYOD Dilemma

With hybrid work, many employees access ERP systems from personal devices—some of which may lack the necessary security updates or antivirus protections. Others use unapproved apps (shadow IT) to store, share, or manipulate ERP data.

If you don’t have strict device security policies in place, your ERP data could be exposed through unsecured endpoints without you even realizing it.

3. Insider Threats Have Become Harder to Detect

Hybrid work has blurred the lines between trusted and untrusted access. Employees may be using shared home networks, logging in from personal computers, or working while traveling. This makes user behavior monitoring more critical than ever.

Without proper monitoring, a compromised account—or a disgruntled employee—could be stealing ERP data without triggering any alerts.

Are Your Security Measures Keeping Up? Key Areas to Evaluate

1. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) Needs an Overhaul

Hybrid work requires a more dynamic approach to RBAC. Traditional role assignments often assume fixed job responsibilities and physical office locations, but that’s no longer the case.

What You Need to Do:

• Regularly review and update role permissions based on actual user behavior.

• Ensure temporary or part-time remote employees don’t have excessive access.

• Implement Segregation of Privileges (SoP) with tools like NoirSoft D365RoleSecure, which ensures users only get the permissions they truly need.

  
  

2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Is No Longer Optional

If you still allow ERP access without MFA, you’re leaving the door wide open for attackers. Passwords alone are not enough, especially with employees logging in from various devices and locations.

What You Need to Do:

• Enforce MFA across all ERP accounts—especially for admin and finance users.

• If possible, use biometric authentication for an added layer of security.

  
  

3. Zero-Trust Security: Stop Assuming, Start Verifying

With hybrid work, you can’t assume that just because a user has logged in with the right credentials, they’re safe. Zero Trust security models work under the assumption that every access request could be compromised.

What You Need to Do:

• Verify every login attempt—not just once, but continuously throughout a session.

• Use AI-driven anomaly detection to flag suspicious access behaviors.

• Monitor who is accessing what data and from where—and block unusual activity.

  
  

4. Secure Cloud-Based ERP Access

Many businesses have migrated their ERP systems to the cloud to support remote access. But cloud security brings new challenges, including misconfigured access settings, API vulnerabilities, and third-party risks.

What You Need to Do:

• Ensure cloud-based ERP instances follow strict role-based access controls.

• Audit third-party integrations to prevent unnecessary data exposure.

• Encrypt all data transfers between remote users and the ERP system.

  
  

5. Endpoint Security: Every Device Is a Potential Risk

If employees access ERP systems from personal laptops, tablets, or even mobile phones, those devices must be as secure as your office workstations.

What You Need to Do:

• Require device security checks before granting ERP access.

• Enforce automatic software updates on all devices used for ERP access.

• Implement mobile device management (MDM) to control ERP access from personal devices.

What Happens If You Ignore These Risks?

If your ERP security hasn’t adapted to hybrid work, you’re exposed to a growing number of threats:

• Ransomware Attacks: Cybercriminals target remote access vulnerabilities to deploy ransomware and demand payments.

• Credential Theft & Phishing: Employees working remotely are prime targets for phishing attacks that steal login credentials.

• Insider Data Leaks: Disgruntled employees (or even accidental mishandling of data) can lead to serious data breaches.

• Regulatory Non-Compliance: If your ERP security fails to meet standards like GDPR, SOX, or HIPAA, your business could face fines.

  
  

In short, ERP security can’t be an afterthought in the hybrid work era.

Conclusion: Adapt or Risk Falling Behind

Hybrid work isn’t going away, and neither are the security risks that come with it. If your ERP security model hasn’t evolved to keep up, you’re putting your business at unnecessary risk.

The solution isn’t just more security tools—it’s rethinking how you control access, monitor activity, and secure endpoints in this new work environment. Solutions like NoirSoft D365RoleSecure can help businesses enforce dynamic role-based access, real-time monitoring, and strict privilege management—all essential for hybrid work security.

So, here’s the big question: Is your ERP security model built for the way your employees work today, or is it stuck in the past? If it’s the latter, now is the time to rethink, retool, and reinforce your defenses.