With each generation, technology use changes. Today’s millennials (age 18-34) have grown up in a world where technology and mobility are a given. More importantly, statistics from the US Bureau of Labor indicate that by 2030, this hyper-connected, tech-savvy generation will comprise 75% of the workforce. At the same time, however, they do not consider company security as important as baby boomers. Millennials also explore and push boundaries more than baby boomers or individuals from Gen X. So what are companies to do?
In a recent study conducted by Absolute Software Corp., 35 percent of millennials admitted to modifying the default settings of mobile devices they were issued.1 The trend illustrates the idea of “knowing enough to be dangerous.” Furthermore, given that the knowledge to change the settings alone does not authorize a user to do so and could theoretically compromise security efforts managed by an organization’s IT department, it’s clear that these individuals aren’t considering the big picture when moving forward with their actions. Overall, 25 percent of millennials believe they may have compromised IT security within their organization at some point, compared with only five percent of baby boomers.
Key takeaways from the report include:
- Younger employees present a great security risk to today’s organizations
- Half of survey respondents believe IT security is not their responsibility
- Clear differences in usage behavior and security risks exist among junior, mid-level and senior staff
- Enterprise mobility management (EMM) provides IT with a persistent visibility over all devices on the network
- Mobile device usage policies and training are critical in communicating best practices for mobile usage to all employees, regardless of age
With the knowledge of this information, companies must create and enforce specific, tailored policies and procedures that complement other EMM initiatives to address employee behavior. Employees — and millennials, specifically — are unlikely to modify their actions without clear direction and the information needed to understand why such steps are necessary. That’s why organizations must also educate and train staff about mobile usage and security, and work to gain buy-in from the beginning of implementing a comprehensive mobile strategy.
For more tips and strategies on how to make security a priority within your organization, give TechOrchard a call.
1 “U.S. Mobile Device Security Survey Report” conducted by Absolute Software Corp., March 2015
Phil Poje | CEO, TechOrchard
A serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of executive leadership and ownership experience, Phil has a unique understanding of the challenges that exist within the rapidly growing technology sector. Contact him directly at phil@techorchard.com to discuss innovative ways for overcoming those challenges and propelling your organization to new levels of success.
