In an era where digital collaboration is the cornerstone of productivity, and attacks are increasing in frequency, ensuring the security and compliance of workplace collaboration platforms has become paramount. Metrigy’s Workplace Collaboration and Contact Center Security and Compliance 2024-25 global research study sheds light on the evolving landscape of security and compliance within organizations, offering insights into the strategies and challenges faced by modern businesses. Let’s delve into two critical aspects highlighted by the study: the role of security and compliance organizations and the formulation of workplace collaboration security strategies.
Security and Compliance Organization: Safeguarding Digital Interactions
With the rapid proliferation of collaboration applications, organizations are grappling with the challenge of maintaining robust security and compliance standards. The involvement of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) emerges as a crucial factor, with nearly half of the participating organizations mandating CISO approval for new app deployments. This underscores a growing recognition of the significance of cybersecurity leadership in shaping technology adoption strategies.
Furthermore, the study reveals that 70.6% of organizations prioritize assessing the security of both collaboration and vendor security certifications, and 64.7% do the same for contact center apps and services. Multi-factor authentication and software development security controls emerge as the most sought-after vendor capabilities, indicating a concerted effort towards fortifying the digital infrastructure against potential threats.
Workplace Collaboration Security Strategy: Building a Foundation for Success
Despite the escalating cybersecurity threats, only 35.0% of organizations have a formal workplace collaboration security program in place. However, the study finds a positive correlation between organizational success and the presence of such programs. Successful companies are more likely to have a formal security program or one in development, underscoring the role of proactive security measures in driving business outcomes.
Remote worker security emerges as the linchpin of workplace collaboration security programs, reflecting the seismic shift towards remote work models. As organizations embrace distributed workforces, safeguarding remote access and communication channels becomes imperative to mitigate security risks effectively.
Interestingly, the study highlights that 30% of participating organizations resort to blocking access to collaboration apps and features as a security measure. Meeting recording and generative AI are the most blocked capabilities, signaling a delicate balance between enabling collaboration and mitigating potential data breaches. Often companies will block apps when they lack the means to effectively secure them or ensure compliance. Unfortunately blocking app access frequently incentivizes employees to go around IT to gain access to the capabilities that workers feel that they need, creating additional security and compliance risks and a potential loss of productivity.
Navigating the Path Forward: Embracing a Holistic Approach
Considering the findings from our study, it is evident that ensuring workplace collaboration security and compliance necessitates a holistic approach encompassing both organizational structures and strategic initiatives. Empowering CISOs to play a pivotal role in app deployment decisions and investing in robust security frameworks are crucial steps towards fortifying digital ecosystems against evolving threats.
Moreover, organizations must prioritize the formulation of formal workplace collaboration security programs, with a particular focus on remote worker security. By embracing proactive security measures and leveraging advanced technologies, businesses can navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity with confidence, maximizing collaboration ROI without compromising on compliance and data integrity.
