Firms split over technology democracy

Security experts are warning that organistions must give staff security training a higher profile, after new research from vendor Trend Micro found firms are in two minds over whether to allow employees greater freedom to use IT tools and devices.

The research, carried out by the Economist Intelligence Unit, found respondents split down the middle on the issue, with 48 percent embracing " technology democracy" and 47 per cent against it. In addition, 42 percent of executives said they think the benefits outweigh the additional risks, while 40 percent think the risks outweigh the benefits.

Those in favour of giving employees greater freedom to use IT tools said it offers new ways of providing customer service to user communities, improves employee morale and helps staff maintain a better work-life balance.

However, time wasting, potential data loss and increased vulnerability to attack were seen as major negatives.

Rik Ferguson, Trend Micro's senior security adviser, argued that the report highlights a worrying disparity between the number of organisations that see greater opportunity than risk in technology democracy and the number that have started or plan to start training in the area of secure or responsible use of new technology or social media.

"Education is the cornerstone of any security policy, and when it comes to a technology with such potentially costly and visible risks it should be way up the priority list, especially when you consider that your employees will be using Web 2.0 services at the very least at home out of office hours even if they are blocked in the workplace," he said.

Ferguson added that policy should be created with risk management in mind.

"If you go down the road of blocking or disabling access to technology or resources, in many cases you encourage your employees to find 'creative ways' around your ban, possibly opening up more risks in areas you are not even monitoring or aware of," he said.