• Sanjana Kunnackal Santhosh
• Sanjana Kunnackal Santhosh
• Zaheeruddin Ahmed

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the digital environment, leading to a swift shift towards remote work and cloud-based technologies across various sectors. While these changes brought enhanced flexibility and operational efficiency, they also exposed new security weaknesses, particularly in systems that control user access and permissions. Cyber attackers quickly capitalized on these vulnerabilities to breach organizational defences. This study explores how access control vulnerabilities have evolved in the aftermath of the pandemic and the tactics attackers have used to exploit these weaknesses. By examining recent cyberattacks that targeted access control systems, this paper highlights key areas where conventional security measures have fallen short, including inadequate multi-factor authentication (MFA), weak encryption protocols, and insufficient real-time monitoring. Additionally, the rapid adoption of cloud infrastructures and the increased reliance on remote work have created new entry points for attackers. This research provides valuable insights into the post-pandemic cybersecurity landscape, offering recommendations to strengthen defences and safeguard critical data and assets. The goal is to help organizations better prepare for and counter the growing sophistication of cyber threats in today’s digital world.

Access Control Management, MFA for Access Controls

"A New Era of Cyber Threats: Evaluating Access Control Vulnerabilities Post-COVID and Approaches to Strengthening Security ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no.g7-g44, May-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2505702.pdf

"A New Era of Cyber Threats: Evaluating Access Control Vulnerabilities Post-COVID and Approaches to Strengthening Security ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no. ppg7-g44, May-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2505702.pdf