Homeworkers Putting Corporate Data at Risk

Posted by

Vivek Dodd

on 08 Jun 2020


Our YourGov survey found that British workers are failing to take the most basic measures to ensure data security when working from home.

Homeworkers Putting Corporate Data at Risk

Working from home poses a huge data security challenge for companies. The Skillcast WFH Insights Survey May 2020, conducted by YouGov, found that some British employees working at home all or most of the time have failed to take some of the most basic measures to ensure data security when working from home. It reinforces the need to focus and prioritise if you are to maintain data protection in times of disruption.

We presented 1,983 employees, confirmed as working from home all or most of the time, with a selection of data security statements and asked them to select all that applied to their home working arrangements.

Free GDPR Personal Data Awareness Poster

Basic data breach precautions aren't happening

  • Password protection: 37% leave their PCs unlocked during breaks
  • Privacy: 26% have no way of preventing others in their home from seeing their work or listening to their conversations
    1. 17% of those working from home prior to the Covid-19 outbreak
    2. 32% of under-35 years versus 16% of over-55 years
  • Non-work devices: 16% connect personal devices to work e.g. laptop/computer

    1. 20% of under-35 years versus 11% of over-55 years

WFH_Data_Security_Chart_1

About the Skillcast WFH Insights Survey

Skillcast is the leading provider of compliance e-learning and staff compliance tools to companies in the UK, ranging from FTSE 100 giants to small and mid-sized businesses.

In May 2020, Skillcast commissioned YouGov to undertake the largest study of its kind in Great Britain, based on responses from 1,983 participants qualified as working from home all or most of the time.

This is just a taster of the full survey results. For further insights by the size of firm, the industry sector, region and demographics, email us at insights@skillcast.com.

To see more primary research results from our surveys, read our Insights blogs.

GDPR Self Assessment Questionnaire

Need more help with working from home compliance?

Working from home presents specific challenges to maintaining regulatory compliance. This is why your senior managers and compliance officers will need a resilient, scalable plan.

Our 3-step compliance training and assessment roadmap will help put your homeworking environment on a much stronger footing.

It includes a 10-minute training module for all staff, a 15-minute training module for managers and a self-assessment.

You can access all of these training aids for free, and they are available for roll-out as part of our Compliance Essentials Course Library.

Looking for more compliance insights?

If you'd like to stay up to date with best practices, industry insights and key trends across regulatory compliance, digital learning, EdTech, and RegTech news, subscribe to Skillcast Compliance Bulletin.

To help you navigate the compliance landscape, we have collated searchable glossaries of key terms and definitions across complex topics, including GDPR, Equality, Financial Crime and SMCR. We also track the biggest compliance fines, explaining what drives them and how to avoid them.

You can follow our ongoing YouGov research into compliance issues, attitudes and risk perceptions in the UK workplace through our Compliance Insights blogs.

Last but not least, we have 60+ free compliance training aids, including assessments, best practice guides, checklists, desk-aids, eBooks, games, handouts, posters, training presentations and even e-learning modules!

If you've any questions or concerns about compliance or e-learning, please get in touch.

We are happy to help!

Compliance Audit Checklist

Compliance audits systematically examine organisations' activities to determine whether they meet all applicable legal requirements and corporate policies.

Here, we explain the key steps to completing a compliance audit to identify any gaps in compliance and suggest corrective actions.

Download your free audit checklist