Every generation approaches technology differently. A 55-year-old manager is going to think about data security differently than a 22-year-old just starting their career. Recent studies have shown that different generations have dynamic attitudes and behaviors regarding digital security, requiring businesses to move from a one-size, “fits-all mentality,” to a more tailored approach. Could this new-age workforce be your next vulnerability?
Viewing Security Policies Differently
Recent studies conducted by our partners “Webroot Security” have shown that younger generations think about online security less than their older counterparts. Younger generations can/will make the assumption that inherent levels of security exist in the workforce. This is even more of a reason for layering security and establishing a plan via company-wide security policies.
A 2016 Webroot survey found that despite a reputation for being less tech-savvy, 49% of baby boomers reported having anti-virus solutions installed on their devices, only 10% more than millennials. The survey found that 49% of millennials were concerned about someone gaining access to their social media accounts, versus 33% concerned with someone gaining access to their email accounts.
82% of millennials reuse passwords for websites and applications, compared to 70% of baby boomers. It was also reported that 86% of baby boomers hardly download free applications or software to work devices without consulting your company’s designated IT support.
Our partners at Citrix surveyed workers to find which generation posed the greatest risk to sensitive information in the workplace, and millennials received 55% of the vote. It should be noted that baby boomers were deemed as being the most susceptible to phishing and social engineering attacks. (33%)
Tailor Your IT Security Approach
- Identify and build contextual access controls so users have access to apps and data; nothing more.
- Automatically prevent employees from running unauthorized apps on corporate hardware, or worse, networks.
- Extend protection to mobile platforms, but give users the freedom to access data securely on the go.
- Embrace virtualization and containerization for critical apps and data.
- Gain visibility via analytics so you can be proactive about security.
- Increase Cyber-Awareness Training for users.
These steps won’t solve every security problem, but they will go a long way in helping to better secure your workforce, regardless of age. With the cyber-landscape evolving faster than ever, applying education, training, and remediation with the assistance of your staff has become paramount. Like many, knowing where to start is half the battle, and if you need a kickstart, contact Us to schedule your free Cyber-Awareness Training today.
