By Editor
Businesses need to better prepare their data
security systems in order to deal with the digital habits of millennials and
the measures outlined by the upcoming GDPR regulations.
This is according a new survey released by the Ponemon Institute in conjunction
with Citrix, which canvassed the opinions of over 4,000 IT, security and
enterprise professionals.
Over half (55%) of respondents said millennials
currently pose the greatest risk of “circumventing” IT security policies, while
a further 39% said they were also more likely to use unauthorized apps in the
workplace.
However, the survey findings suggest that different
generations have their own issues when it comes to data security.
For example, 33% of survey respondents claimed that
Baby Boomers (those born between 1946-1964) were more likely to fall victim to
phishing and social engineering scams.
Another 30% said the same group displayed a lack of
knowledge in how best to protect sensitive and confidential information.
Generation Xers (those born between 1965-1980) were
also found to have weaknesses, with 32% of respondents stating they were the
most likely to use unapproved apps and devices in the workplace.
While companies will need to take action to try and
address these inter-generational issues, those dealing with organizations in
the European Union are also facing the prospect of dealing with the upcoming
GDPR regulation, which is set to be introduced in May 2018.
According to the survey, 74% of professionals
believe the new rules will have a negative impact on business operations, while
another 65% are concerned about the harsher penalties that will be introduced
for non-compliance.
Another 52% said their security infrastructure did
not facilitate compliance, suggesting that many companies need more information on the ramifications of GDPR.
Stan Black, chief security officer at Citrix, said:
“While these more strict regulations are being put into place, take a strategic
approach, look at the big picture, educate your workforce to create a
security-aware culture, and find comprehensive solutions that adhere to the
unique needs of your business.”