Data management and security remain clear challenges. One of the biggest changes the pandemic brought is the increase in remote working, which has now evolved into hybrid working. Post-pandemic, companies have continued to develop their work patterns, locations, technology, and infrastructure to embed hybrid working. With remote and hybrid working a prevalent theme across the UK, data security and extracting value from that data are two key areas on which organisations need to retain focus.
CYBER SECURITY AND PRIVACY CHALLENGES
Businesses continue to face an increased risk of data breaches through a lack of employee cybersecurity and privacy understanding, according to our survey. It found that 29% of workers still use the same passwords for both personal and work accounts, potentially compromising their organisation if a personal account were to be hacked.
29% of workers still use the same passwords for both personal and work accounts
A further 39% of workers access corporate accounts and content from their personal devices “often” or “always”, with a further 24% doing so “sometimes”. This could again put data security at risk, especially as 13% admitted to losing devices containing data used for work in the past 12 months, potentially putting sensitive or critical data at risk of getting into the wrong hands.
13% of workers admitted to losing devices containing data used for work in the past 12 months
The pandemic has shifted the way a larger number of workers access their corporate data – now, more than ever, via personal devices and away from office locations. With the higher number of staff working remotely, new risks and vulnerabilities have been presented to organisations.
Some 18% of workers have never received cybersecurity or data protection training, with a further 29% reporting it only occurs once a year or less often within their business. This has resulted in 24% of workers being unaware of the cyber threats facing their organisation and their role in defending against them. Just 26% of workers always protect their internet connections through the likes of virtual private networks or secure wi-fi, with 15% admitting to never doing this, alongside another 15% who weren’t sure if they did or didn’t.
MAKING DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS
The way in which employees interact with their data – with flexible access across many devices and locations, management, storage, and processing – is linked fundamentally to an organisation’s performance, driven by the need to retain efficiency in operations, extract value from data, and keep pace with changing consumer needs, including greater use of online services and platforms such as shopping and information exchange, and increased adoption in technology to access services. For organisations to extract data value – given that employees are widely dispersed and even on-the-move in the hybrid-working era – there needs to be a focus on the adoption of data for decision making. A well-defined data strategy that sets a clear vision and direction in how data is defined, used, and shared across the organisation – underpinned with technology – should be a fundamental bedrock.
This needs to be combined with increased collaboration across teams to achieve synergies in bringing together their analysis and insights for effective decision making. To achieve this, organisations must foster an enterprise-wide collaborative culture that enables employees to access and coherently process varying levels of datasets simultaneously to inform insights and decisions that affect operational performance and services to customers.
Given the pace at which data and analytics-based technologies evolve, it is extremely pivotal that employees are equipped to constantly evolve with them to maximise value. Well-defined skills and role-based training should be mandated and constantly tweaked to ensure an organisation’s workforce is not left behind in terms of its awareness and expertise around data analytics and its associated technologies. Organisations should also constantly be in touch with their workforces to understand their use of data, its application in their decision-making processes, and the skills they believe they need to become better at data-backed decision making.
TACKLING THREATS WHILE HARNESSING DATA
The threats associated with remote and hybrid working can be mitigated with the implementation of an enduring, well-structured, and relevant cyber risk-management programme that covers key areas – including updated security policies and frameworks and a clear understanding of data storage and access protocols.
Furthermore, extracting value from data can be achieved through a well-defined data strategy that promotes practices around defining data, structures, and accessibility. When underpinned with technology, such a strategy can consolidate large datasets to provide insights that drive better decision-making.
Fundamental to data use and security is the need to foster a culture in which all staff embrace the importance of protecting data and using it for compelling insights, leading ultimately to decisions that drive better performance.