Security should not be a nuisance: How companies can promote pragmatic security solutions 🔒

The problem: security is perceived as an obstacle

Let's imagine the following situation: A large data set needs to be transferred quickly from A to B. The company-wide security guidelines? Forgotten, ignored or simply considered cumbersome. Instead, the file is stored on an external data carrier or uploaded to private cloud storage. Thoughts such as ‘What could possibly go wrong?’ or ‘This is faster’ dominate.

Such scenarios are not uncommon. In many companies, well-intentioned security measures meet with resistance because they are perceived as obstructive or impractical. The result: security breaches that could have been avoided and an increased risk of data loss or data protection violations.

Why do such rule violations occur?

1. Complexity of security policies: Overly complicated or inflexible requirements are off-putting.

2. Time pressure: Employees often prioritise efficiency over compliance with rules.

3. Lack of awareness: Security risks are often not taken seriously enough because their consequences seem abstract.

4. Lack of alternatives: If secure methods are cumbersome or not user-friendly, they are simply circumvented.

The solution: security that makes everyday work easier

In order to implement security measures effectively, they must be seamlessly integrated into everyday work. The following approaches can help:

1. Prioritise user-friendliness: Security solutions should be designed to be as simple as possible. Secure file transfer, for example, should be just as quick and convenient as uploading to private cloud storage.

2. Education and communication: Awareness campaigns can sensitise employees to the consequences of security breaches – without lecturing, but rather using comprehensible examples from real life.

3. Create flexibility: Companies should offer pragmatic solutions that meet the needs of their employees. For example, through secure, cloud-based working environments or easily accessible encryption tools.

4. Seek feedback: Regular communication with employees can help identify weaknesses in security measures and make them more practical.

Practical examples of ‘nerve-sparing’ security

• Secure cloud access: Employees can store data in a company-managed, secure cloud and access it from anywhere.

• Automated security checks: Instead of constant logins and passwords, biometric solutions such as fingerprint scanners could be used.

• One-click encryption: Tools that automatically encrypt files and transfer them securely without requiring additional steps.

Conclusion: Security is a joint project

Security measures should not be perceived as an obstacle – they should support work, not hinder it. When companies design security solutions that are user-friendly, flexible and suitable for everyday use, everyone benefits: employees can work efficiently and the organisation remains protected from security risks.

Because one thing is certain: a security culture that promotes understanding, practicality and trust is the key to sustainable success.