Password protection commonplace in the home, but not in the office, finds Citrix

Just how important is personal information to employees all over UK was revealed in a new study stating that workers will take greater steps to protect personal files than work documents. The survey was carried out by Census wide last year on 2000 full time employees around the United Kingdom. It found an, as they have described it, “as alarming disparity in employee attitudes toward work and personal data’’.   According to Chris Mayers, chief security architect of the company, the research revealed that, in spite of the fact many individuals are well aware of basic precautions necessary for handling their own personal data, too many of them are not so conscientious at their workplace.

And here are the facts. Almost half (over 45 percent) of the surveyed group admitted that they use passwords regularly at their home computers, however, only a bit more than a third (35%) stated they use the same practice at work. When it comes to protecting information in other ways, like destruction of physical documents, the situation is even more alarming. Seven out of ten surveyed employees shred their personal documents so they can’t be discovered, but only four out of ten is keen to destroy unnecessary business files at their workplace.

When it comes to the individual’s attitude towards device security, the study reveals an alarmingly laid back attitude of employees. Almost 60 percent of the surveyed group, aged over 55 claim to work only on devices with trusted company security software installed, while only 47 percent of the employees, belonging to a younger population, ranged 25-34 do the same. In that way, according to Citrix, security risk for business is significant, since unsecured devices with access to the company data can be compromised.

Protecting every business digital assets is a two way street, consisted of employers who have a responsibility to provide tools and safeguards for employees to use, in order for the work process to be secure. If one party fails to conduct such a practice, it can result in numerous negative consequences.