Employees Are More Aware of Privacy Risks and Stakes but Unsure of How They Affect the Workplace; Persistent Misconceptions About Malware, Phishing and Cloud Counter Gains in Cybersecurity Savvy
MediaPRO’s just-released 2020State of Privacy and Security Awareness Report highlights employee knowledge gaps across both the cybersecurity and privacy realms, including a lack of awareness of two major data privacy regulations.
Notably, 62 percent of employees reported they were unsure if their organization has to comply with the recently-enacted California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which gives California residents enhanced consumer data privacy rights. Results reveal a similar lack of awareness regarding the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), in effect since 2018.
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Based on an in-depth survey of more than 1,000 employees across diverse types of organizations and job roles, the report gauged understanding of cybersecurity and privacy and the level of risk organizations face due to a lack of awareness. The survey was conducted by Osterman Research.
The findings reveal progress in cybersecurity awareness. However, many respondents continue to hold false impressions about malware, phishing, and cloud file-sharing, putting their personal and employers’ data at risk.
“The benefits and rewards of digital technology are many, but so are the risks. As states race to address cybersecurity and data privacy risks with new compliance measures, businesses are under more pressure than ever to educate their employees, or prepare to face increasingly negative outcomes,” MediaPRO Chief Strategist Lisa Plaggemier said. “To adequately protect consumer data, companies must quickly transform employees from bystanders into security advocates, and that begins with awareness programs that engage employees and reinforce behaviors that align with security and compliance goals.”
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The survey assessed employee engagement with and understanding of good cybersecurity and privacy practices (or lack thereof) across multiple risk areas. Overall results show more than 50 percent of respondents fall within the “vulnerable” side of the spectrum regarding their reported practices and attitudes.
“The survey revealed a number of key issues that decision makers should address right away,” said Michael Osterman, Principal Analyst of Osterman Research. “Among them is the need for more and better security awareness training, and improving employees’ perception of their role as a key line of defense for both security and privacy compliance.”
MediaPRO’s research surveyed U.S. employees across a variety of industries to gauge how well employees were implementing cybersecurity and privacy practices and the level of risk organizations face when employees do not understand them.
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