Jul. 22, 2017 "Are Canadian businesses failing to correct data security practices?": Today I found this article by Michael Murphy in the Globe and Mail:
Michael Murphy is VP & country manager, Citrix Canada.
While Canada’s reputation for being overly polite can make for some great jokes, it may also be cause for concern for companies. A recent study, The Need for a New IT Security Architecture: Global Study on the Risk of Outdated Technologies, revealed that Canadian IT professionals are among the most concerned in the world about controlling employees’ devices and data, yet are the least concerned with enforcing employee compliance with security policies.
This begs the question: Are Canadians shying away from correcting bad security practices?
It wouldn’t be the first time businesses have run into problems because of Canadians being “too nice.” The same issue was observed in the case of Canadian customers refraining from complaining or providing negative feedback – stifling companies’ ability to adjust and improve their services.
However, whether Canadian politeness is the cause or not, with technology integral to success and security risks rising, business leaders must enforce strategies and policies that ensure employees are keeping confidential information safe.
Developing and enforcing policies
Security measures are undermined if leaders and HR don’t support IT by creating and implementing security policies across all management levels in all departments. These policies must clearly outline a range of regulations, including whether the company will embrace Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) or provide corporate devices, how costs will be divided, which services will be offered and who is eligible.
It is then up to the organization to enforce these policies. This means setting clear compliance guidelines and repercussions, as well as following through on them when they’re broken.
Too often, organizations must deal with employees who have inadvertently caused a security problem when they weren’t even aware it was an issue in the first place. There are far too many stories of employees saving private information on their laptops and USBs only to have the devices stolen, leaking confidential information out in to the world. Finally, these policies must apply to all employees.
Even those at the top must follow regulations, sending a message supporting the importance of IT security across all levels of the corporate structure.
Educating employees
Human error is an unavoidable risk factor that every organization faces. With the prevalence of BYOD work cultures, the opportunity for human error to pose a significant security risk increases substantially.
In fact, 67 per cent of Canadian IT professionals perceive personally owned mobile devices in the workplace as a disruptive technology and risk to IT security infrastructure.
In fact, 67 per cent of Canadian IT professionals perceive personally owned mobile devices in the workplace as a disruptive technology and risk to IT security infrastructure.
Going beyond establishing policies and protocols by providing an in-depth yet easy-to-digest explanation as to why they’re in place goes a long way to ensuring they are absorbed, understood and respected.
Employees should be educated on essentials such as what to do if their device is lost, how to avoid connecting to unsecure networks, which data transfer solutions (eg. Dropbox) are unsecure and how to avoid malicious apps. Introducing training sessions for new employees as well as manuals or guidebooks for day-to-day reference for both new and existing employees can be a straightforward solution.
Employees should be educated on essentials such as what to do if their device is lost, how to avoid connecting to unsecure networks, which data transfer solutions (eg. Dropbox) are unsecure and how to avoid malicious apps. Introducing training sessions for new employees as well as manuals or guidebooks for day-to-day reference for both new and existing employees can be a straightforward solution.
Adapting to change
Seventy-four per cent of Canadian IT practitioners are concerned that having millennials in the workplace poses a significant risk to security – second only to Japan (79 per cent). As the world’s first “connected” generation, millennials are hyperactive on their mobile devices; using apps and social media platforms for both personal and professional purposes.
With 90 per cent of respondents also believing that employees’ use of social media in the workplace has a negative impact on security – 15 per cent higher than the global average - this causes a problem.
With 90 per cent of respondents also believing that employees’ use of social media in the workplace has a negative impact on security – 15 per cent higher than the global average - this causes a problem.
As Canada’s largest generation in the workforce, they are the now, and the generation coming up behind them is even more connected. Businesses must accept and embrace this change in tech usage by implementing adaptive IT solutions, practices and procedures that can be flexible without compromising security. This may mean making targeted efforts to show employees how to securely use social media in the workplace.
Of course, responsibility to keep data secure does not entirely fall to the employees. Without the right infrastructure or mobility management solutions in place, companies are at risk.
With 73 per cent of IT professionals stating their infrastructure is outdated and inadequate, investment in IT is more critical now than ever, as is a holistic approach to protecting sensitive information that includes both man and machine.
With 73 per cent of IT professionals stating their infrastructure is outdated and inadequate, investment in IT is more critical now than ever, as is a holistic approach to protecting sensitive information that includes both man and machine.
rf9
4 days ago
"Seventy-four per cent of Canadian IT practitioners are concerned that having millennials in the workplace poses a significant risk to security ..."
Try having them in CHARGE of IT and security. I know there are certainly competent professionals out there but the number of IT support start-ups out there offering their so called services to small and medium-sized businesses who have no idea what they're doing is stunning. And being millenials they are impossible to correct. You have companies that absolutely depend on their IP and everything is left open to the net. Absolutely amazing. China, have at it.
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ElRey4
4 days ago
Canada's businesses are failing to do pretty much everything. I am by no means a big business but I regularly source items from Canadian, US and EU suppliers. The disinterested, not to say arrogant, attitude of most Canadian businesses, with few exceptions, is appalling. They seem not to be aware of broadband internet and the world around them.
Here's one example of the difference in attitude when trying to purchase an item online that is out of stock:
Canadian: Sold Out (translation: too bad, so sad, get lost)
US or EU: That item is temporarily out of stock but enter your email address here and we'll notify you as soon as we have it back in stock (expected in X days). In the meantime, you might be interested in these alternatives. (translation: we want your business).
Jul. 24, 2017 The Ladder: Laura Dawson:
Jul. 24, 2017 The Ladder: Laura Dawson:
Laura Dawson, 52, is the director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington and a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
I was born in Sault Ste. Marie [Ont.], went to high school in Calgary, dropped out and ran off with the wrong guy, ending up in the Kootenays. I worked in radio as a copywriter. I made all the decisions you don’t want your daughter to make. My first child at 20, second at 22, single parent at 23. I had to take algebra to get into college, part time, with giant student loans.
A professor suggested I take an international-relations course – to me, political-science people were men in the cafeteria playing Risk. We discussed women in Sandinistas, campesinos, trade agreements around that time [of] Canada/U.S. free trade – terrible things! I was on that crusade. I was good at international relations, terrible if you want to earn money quickly.
With two little kids, you can’t get summer jobs, so I had to go on social assistance – the faculty found me jobs, mentored me. I was a Calgary Olympics mascot; I saw the costume at the airport and it brought a tear to my eye.
I got the first degree from [the] University of British Columbia – Okanagan. The faculty said for [my masters in] political science I had to go to Ottawa, which with two kids was like going to Mars. I took a leap of faith, to the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carlton University. The administrator found me a research assistantship – physical anthropology – stones and bones. I learned quickly and hauled skulls around.
I got the first degree from [the] University of British Columbia – Okanagan. The faculty said for [my masters in] political science I had to go to Ottawa, which with two kids was like going to Mars. I took a leap of faith, to the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carlton University. The administrator found me a research assistantship – physical anthropology – stones and bones. I learned quickly and hauled skulls around.
I’m a trade geek. I started as a research assistant, staying 15 years at the Centre for Trade Policy and Law. I worked with retired diplomats who’d been trade negotiators – old grumpy guys – they whipped me into shape. I travelled the world with the centre. I got my PhD at 40, the year my son graduated high school. A job came up as an economic adviser at the U.S. embassy. Flash forward 20 years, all those guys, I’ve replaced them.
The biggest shift since 2005 has been democratization, the accessibility of trade. Trade is technical, not amenable to sound bites so I keep it accessible. If I have a niche, it’s to explain complex matters in ways people understand and expand the benefit of trade to people who need it.
I do 40 speaking engagements a year; women ask how I got to do what I do. Some comes from being an outsider – I came from a fractured family, know what it’s like to not feel I belonged or privileged, was an imposter. The people who helped when I was finding my way were extraordinarily important.
I do 40 speaking engagements a year; women ask how I got to do what I do. Some comes from being an outsider – I came from a fractured family, know what it’s like to not feel I belonged or privileged, was an imposter. The people who helped when I was finding my way were extraordinarily important.
My career path is unorthodox; I stumbled from one thing to the next. I trusted that good luck and hard work would get me where I wanted. I was never encumbered by a big government pension or tenure track preventing me from blundering into the next thing.
When I was a professor, students used to be in states of angst, stressed they weren’t on the path they thought. You can do a lot in your 40s and 50s, important and worthwhile things – we’re an aging population and healthier. Give yourself a break if you’re 25 and stressed.
When I was a professor, students used to be in states of angst, stressed they weren’t on the path they thought. You can do a lot in your 40s and 50s, important and worthwhile things – we’re an aging population and healthier. Give yourself a break if you’re 25 and stressed.
When Americans think of Canadians at all, they think of Canadians in a very favourable way but don’t realize the interconnectedness of the relationship. I ask if they know Canada is the largest buyer of U.S. exports, largest supplier of energy, one of the largest foreign investors – they don’t know.
The challenge is so great to educate and inform Americans about Canada and Canada-U.S. issues. Justin [Trudeau] is beloved here. My junior staff are smitten. We have a Justin selfies stage; a big frame with pictures. For Canada Day, there’s all sorts of fancy parties – we do a happy hour for interns. We started primarily with our own but extended it this year to all Canadian interns in the embassy, World Bank, the Alberta and Quebec offices.
The challenge is so great to educate and inform Americans about Canada and Canada-U.S. issues. Justin [Trudeau] is beloved here. My junior staff are smitten. We have a Justin selfies stage; a big frame with pictures. For Canada Day, there’s all sorts of fancy parties – we do a happy hour for interns. We started primarily with our own but extended it this year to all Canadian interns in the embassy, World Bank, the Alberta and Quebec offices.
I miss fundamental civility; Canadians think twice before they say or do something. Then I miss silly things … that cabinet [Ms. Dawson points to a cabinet] is full of maple cookies, Coffee Crisp bars, all-dressed chips. We use swag for happy hour.
I love Washington. Every day you’re in the midst of political drama. It’s exciting but you have to maintain perspective – if you’re spending your time reading 140-character tweets, you’re not getting anything done.
As told to Cynthia Martin. This interview has been edited and condensed.
HouleTara
8 hours ago
What a refreshing read. Here's a gal who took risks and accepted full responsibility for them...all the while refusing to play the blame game on society while raising 2 kids as a single mum. I give full marks for anyone wanting to challenge themselves and taking necessary risks in order to make that leap of faith...all through sheer work, little sleep, and tight budgets.
Many thanks for bringing this story to your column. I hope we meet many more inspiring trailblazers!
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