A study from Entrust “Securing the New Hybrid Workplace” shows that 97% of Singaporean employees are in favor of a hybrid work environment – ranking the highest amongst 10 countries surveyed.
However, there are still concerns about overall security in these new workplaces that came to life after the COVID-19 pandemic struck the working environment with workplace restrictions.
The survey also shows that while security concerns are high, the overwhelming majority of respondent companies are moving to a long-term hybrid workplace approach.
The hybrid working model is a location-flexible arrangement, allowing employees to combine onsite and offsite work as they and their employers see fit.
Following the lifting of COVID lockdowns worldwide, a wide range of hybrid arrangements have emerged, granting employees flexibility that was seldom offered before.
The survey asks companies that are adopting a hybrid work model how they are adapting with security issues, data protection and protection of sensitive information.
“For example, how will office security evolve in this new era, and are leaders and employees equipped to protect data and sensitive information?
“Will adapting to hybrid workplaces multiply vulnerabilities, or will enterprises choose smart security strategies to enable employees wherever they work?” says James Cook, Director of Digital Security, Asia Pacific and Japan, at Entrust.
Home office data security presents new challenges: Businesses need to change their data security approach now that employees are more decentralised than ever before.
WFH And Data Security
Business leaders also agree that it is imperative to consider the intersection of data security and work from home standards.
Fortunately, it appears that the introduction of hybrid work has resulted in a step in the right direction for workplace data protection.
In fact, while 75% of leaders said their company has offered employees training on data security, the overwhelming majority (85%) said it was offered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a trend towards enhanced data security.
A total of 1,500 business leaders and 1,500 general employees across 10 countries — 300 respondents from Singapore — were surveyed. Key findings include:
85% of leaders and 87% of employees said their company is currently using a hybrid model or is fully remote and considering a hybrid work model.
