Why Digital Security Matters
Over the last decade mobility has changed the workspace. To put this in perspective, Apple released its first iPhone in 2007 – ten years ago. With advancements in technology and connectivity, and the release of countless new applications over the years, it’s become a common practice that companies encourage employees to BYOD or offer company laptops and mobile devices as tools to do their jobs efficiently.
Today employees do a significant amount of work from advanced mobile devices while on the go. It is no longer necessary for organizations to house all their employees under one roof because seamless communication has never been easier. This has contributed to a boom in the number of remote workers. In fact, in our 2016 survey of Canadian IT decision makers, Enabling the Remote Workforce in Canada, 84 per cent reported having employees that work remotely. The ability to access files anywhere at any time has accelerated the move toward flexible working hours and ultimately less time spent in a traditional office.
This is particularly true during the summer. With warm weather and sunshine, most people want to escape the city and head to the cottage, or be around the house with their children. Many employers have started offering “summer hours,” giving employees more flexibility to work from home or even extra time off. However, working on different networks outside the office can increase the risk of leaked confidential files or even security breaches. Organizations have generally been slow to respond to the increased IT security risks that come with this newfound flexibility, leaving corporate apps and data vulnerable to unnecessary threats. As mobility and flexibility become the new workplace norm, companies need to ensure employees at all levels can access and share files securely.
A recent study conducted by Oxford Economics found that 75 per cent of Canadian organizations make data securely available to their employees, compared to 59 per cent globally. This figure suggests the Canadian landscape is better adjusted to remote work than its global counterparts. However, only 20 per cent of Canadian business executives said their organizations have a comprehensive mobile strategy in place today.
So how can companies strike the right balance between maintaining company security with employee productivity and flexibility? A comprehensive mobile strategy is essential and includes investing in the right technology, establishing policies and procedures to support digital/remote work, and training employees.
As a leader in secure mobile solutions, Citrix is equipped to help companies implement a comprehensive mobile strategy. For example, with solutions like XenApp and XenDesktop, IT can securely deliver company apps and data to its employees regardless of their location, while maintaining the information securely at the data center. With ShareFile, employees can access, sync and share files securely. IT can define policies that allow the right level of access for each user, in any scenario, while taking into consideration their location, role, or device.
In a Twitter poll recently conducted by Citrix Canada, 15 per cent of respondents said they work remotely 3-4 times per week. Most surprising was the 25 per cent who said they work remotely 5 or more times per week. Although a small sample size, this demonstrates a significant move toward digital workspaces and the need for a secure, accessible network.
If employers want to get the most out of their employees, they must be willing to invest in the IT infrastructure needed to do so securely and efficiently. When employees have the tools necessary to thrive in a digital workspace – proper IT infrastructure, strong policies and appropriately trained employees – employers can expect security and more productivity for their bottom line, regardless of the season.
