The 2020s Require A New Approach To Data Privacy And Security

The way that most companies are physically structured and connected has changed dramatically since the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in 2020. The pandemic showed that most office-based employees can work productively from their home, and many corporate leaders have now embraced a hybrid work environment, even after the threat from Covid subsided.

Research from McKinsey published last year explored how working practices have changed, and the results are surprising. In the US, 58% of all employees now say that they can work from home at least one day a week. 35% report that they can work from home all week.

These numbers are particularly striking because McKinsey talked to thousands of employees across many different types of job and industry sector. So this is not just a survey of professional office-based workers. This covers everything, including jobs that would traditionally need an employee on-site in a factory or store.

This has dramatically changed how companies across all business sectors need to think about security. IT systems that were previously based inside an office, with physical security and strong control over network access, have been replaced by cloud systems that can be remotely accessed.

The main difference between securing a cloud network and a traditional office-based network lies in the control and management of the computing resources, the way security perimeters are defined, and how data is accessed and protected.

Here are some specific contrasts to illustrate why a more flexible work environment really does change how security must be planned and managed:

That's not all! The complete article can be found on the IBA Group blog here...

CC Photo by Matthew Henry