{"id":9353,"date":"2022-06-23T20:15:09","date_gmt":"2022-06-23T16:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/?p=9353"},"modified":"2022-07-05T01:23:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-04T21:23:26","slug":"hybrid-work-privacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/hybrid-work-privacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Privacy in the World of Hybrid Work. What Does it Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hybrid work comes with many upsides. It gives employees the flexibility they crave\u2014without sacrificing the in-person time in the office that leads to meaningful relationships and improved collaboration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are new downsides to be aware of as well. Specifically, privacy risks. When your workforce starts splitting its time between the office and their own homes, it introduces cybersecurity concerns that are important to start addressing immediately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not sure what this means and how to get started, don\u2019t worry. In this blog post, we\u2019ll explore what privacy in the world of hybrid work looks like and share tips to help you start protecting your organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why hybrid work creates more privacy risks\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

What exactly is it about the nature of the <\/span>hybrid work model<\/span><\/a> that introduces new privacy risks, compared to a fully in-office setup?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The short answer is that your organization no longer has full control over the working environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the office, your IT team works hard to ensure all your networks are protected and your computers have the right software installed. Even just by nature of working in a secured building, you\u2019re mitigating your cybersecurity risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, when people have the option to work from home, your company no longer has control over the workspace. Your employee may have family members, guests, and contractors coming in and out of their house all day. Or they may choose to work at a coffee shop, where strangers can easily see what\u2019s on their laptops or where their device may be left unattended for short periods of time.<\/span><\/p>\n

All of these factors lead to increased privacy risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the top 4 security challenges of hybrid work?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s get more specific and explore the top five privacy challenges your hybrid workforce may be facing right now:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Your employees aren\u2019t aware of cybersecurity concerns<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most people aren\u2019t aware of the privacy risks associated with working outside the office. This is a security challenge in itself. Why? If your employees aren\u2019t aware of the potential dangers, they won\u2019t behave in a way that keeps themselves protected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say, for instance, your employee is at a co-working space and needs to use the restroom. Someone who isn\u2019t aware of the potential security risks may leave their laptop open and leave it unattended for several minutes. This may give a bad actor time to steal the computer or peek at sensitive information on the screen.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, if your employee is aware of the security issues, they may choose to pack up their laptop and bring it with them to the restroom. This difference in mindset can make all the difference when it comes to privacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Public spaces lack visual privacy<\/span><\/h3>\n

According to a recent <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> by the Ponemon Institute, an average of 40% of organizations’ hybrid and remote workers spend time in coffee shops and shared workspaces.<\/span><\/p>\n

The problem with these public workspaces is that they lack visual privacy. In other words, it\u2019s easy for people to see what your employees are working on\u2014including sensitive company information, passwords, and more. This can then lead to potential breaches in security.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Transporting devices creates risk<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another risk is the transportation of company phones and laptops. When your employees have to physically move their devices from one location to another, it increases the chance of these items getting lost or stolen. This, of course, has many negative implications from a privacy perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Secure networks aren\u2019t guaranteed<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another challenge you\u2019re likely facing is the fact that you can\u2019t control the networks your employees use.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means that if they\u2019re working on an unsecured WiFi network, for example, they may be vulnerable to attacks that allow the bad actor to gain access to sensitive information\u2014including passwords, key identifiers (like social security numbers), and company data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to address privacy risks created by hybrid work<\/span><\/h2>\n

Thankfully, there are steps your organization can take to mitigate the privacy risks introduced by hybrid work. Here are a few ways you can get started:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Invest in educating your employees<\/span><\/h3>\n

The first step is to make your workforce aware of privacy issues. As we mentioned before, most people aren\u2019t aware of the risks that come with working outside of the office. By simply raising visibility about the potential risks, your employees can adjust their behaviors accordingly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How exactly do you educate your employees about this topic? There are a variety of tactics you can turn to, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n