Hybrid Workspaces: How Security Professionals Protect Work-From-Home Colleagues

I've written more than once on home security (here and here). Those were all great for the Before Time and the times of extreme uncertainty of 2020. Now that we have some predictability and yet more uncertainty, we are better able to weather the storms that come. As 2021 kicks into gear, so must we. In fact, it should be noted that "you don't have to get ready if you stay ready."

However, the clock isn't running out on work-from-home. Hybrid organizations are the way of the immediate future. The fight continues and I didn't hear no bell.

We all have to do our annual safety training, even though changes in the company structure may not require us to ever set foot in the office again. Doesn't mean the requirements to do your e-Learning about fire and life safety, etc. go away. Also doesn't mean the security training requirements do.

Your in-house team can easily do these trainings in person, or maybe a video conference, but in the end, people zone out without a test portion which keeps them more engaged -- I still believe people are in this "that's someone else's job" when it comes to their attitude about security. I'm going to say this one more time for the people in the back:

Security is everybody's responsibility!!!

So, now that that's out of the way, what're the solutions?

One solution is interactive, high-quality e-Learning tools like the ones provided by Commsafe [ai]. Formerly Vigilance Risk Solutions, Commsafe provides customers with professional, high-speed, slick, digestible training videos and tests in a smooth, clean format for the 21st century (I'm amazed at how clunky the other life-safety trainings I've taken over the recent years are). Almost like it was designed by a Navy SEAL. Before I left URW, we were about a year into our contract with Commsafe and between the Security Ops and HR departments, we had nothing but good words to say. I presume that's still true.

Another is teaching people how to assess their own homes within your company's guidelines. EasySet is a self-guided assessment tool for pros and Joes alike. It's easy, and once you're done, you're set. So easy a Marine could do it (and founded it).

The penultimate piece to the puzzle is, if you have the resources, to provide funds to employees who are working from home 50% of the time or more. Additional first aids kits, fire extinguishers, flashlights and batteries are all easy items that can be issued out as a one-time cost. With that, however, come stipulations: It may just be a $500 gift card to go to Home Depot, or it may be a reimbursement for several approved items from the company MTOE (military jargon for the stuff you absolutely have to have or you're at mission failure already).

The final piece is training on those items, on developing evacuation/safety plans, how to critically review evacuation plans for high-rise dwellers, emergency communications, and so much more.

So what's your plan to get your colleagues security-minded for 2021? How will you get them to snap out of it, stop blaming an arbitrary number of revolutions around the sun since a certain point in history, and "take charge and move out?" Post in the comments below!