The Future of The Digital Workplace Requires New Security

In the coming years, corporate investments will increase to protect and regulate endpoints, from PCs to printers, to IoT and AR / VR devices.

According to market research firm IDC, 70% of managers expect, in the coming years, to be able to communicate with their collaborators without constraints related to the physical space of work and time.

In fact, the company workplace is changing under the pressure of the digitalization of processes and the way to consume and exchange information of new generations of workers, with the focus that is now shifting from “when you enter / when you go out / where you are” to “who you are” /What are you doing”.

Collaboration and communication are the new levers of efficiency and productivity, engines of the business transformation necessary to compete in the new digital economy. The obvious digital transformation of the workplace, however, if on the one hand promises more flexibility and a consequent improvement in the quality of work, on the other hides new dangers from the point of view of security and compliance, starting with GDPR.

Protecting and regulating the use of PCs, mobile devices, wearables, peripherals and smart IoT and AR / VR devices – inside and outside the company perimeter, in fixed locations or hotdesk – is becoming increasingly important and urgent.

According to the latest forecasts analyzed by IDC, corporate spending on endpoint security will grow globally from 4.2 billion dollars in 2016 to reach over 5.2 billion in 2020, with a CAGR of 4.4%.

Business spending in security for mobile devices will grow from $ 2 billion (2016 data) to over 3 billion in 2020, with a CAGR of more than 10%. Particular attention must be paid by companies to IoT devices and peripherals, underlines IDC, as they are destined to become the new cybercrime targets to penetrate corporate networks.

Smart IoT printers and devices are considered by IDC to be more vulnerable than PCs or mobile devices because of their nature of objects that must be made open and accessible to the entire organization. In addition, IDC research suggests that in many companies, print security solutions and services are lagging behind the level of IT security set up for the overall infrastructure.

It follows that ensuring the security of printing environments is a process often overlooked with a view to an overall security strategy. For this reason, IDC predicts that by 2020 the largest companies will reallocate 35% of their budget for document and print solutions, to secure the printer and multifunction fleet.

Culture and Employees As a Base For Digital Transformation

Technological innovation in companies is closely related to the most critical component of any change process: people. Digital transformation cannot ignore the culture, organization, and involvement of employees who look confidently at the Digital Workplace.

These are the words of Javier Diez-Aguirre, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Ricoh Europe, in the margins of a new study that Ricoh has realized in August 2017 involving 3,600 employees from 23 countries.

81% of respondents say that new technologies, such as automation and artificial intelligence, are changing the way they work. Employees are convinced that, for the success of a project, it is necessary to put people at the center of attention and to consider the cultural aspects. This also applies to the Digital Workplace, an area where European employees show great optimism and confidence.

The study identified three aspects that companies should take into account in digital transformation projects.

Listen to the employees

Technologies lead to profound changes by changing the status quo. People should be encouraged to share ideas and proposals on how to work more smartly. Employees would like their company to become more agile and flexible through the digital transformation while thinking (71% of the sample) that the only top management interest concerns cost reduction.

One way to listen to employee needs and suggestions may be to open a blog or business forum that facilitates dialogue and, consequently, the adoption of technologies that are really useful in improving day-to-day activities.

Pay close attention to what’s going on around you

Companies, especially small and medium-sized companies, should analyze how market leaders are using technologies to improve their business. Understanding the strategies, as well as the role of digital culture, can help you make the first steps in Digital Transformation.

Almost half of the researcher (45%) claims to be interested in working in competing companies using innovative technologies, and a similar percentage (46%) asks whether the technologies made available by their company really boost productivity. Companies can not afford to lose the best talent just because they fail to introduce the technologies they need.

Remember that practice is better than theory

Only 27% of the employees involved in the study are satisfied with the technological training they receive from their company. The result is that most people find it difficult to use the new technologies and take advantage of it. The theory is not enough, and it is important to organize practice demos and workshops, asking the IT provider to support these activities.

Gap Between Management And Employees Great Obstacle to the Digital Transformation

The study published by Capgemini and analyst Brian Solis, entitled “The Digital Culture Challenge: Closing the Leadership Gap-Employee,” revealed a deep cultural divide between management and staff.

Capgemini and Solis have interviewed more than 1,700 employees in 340 companies in eight countries, finding a significant gap between leadership and employees about the existence of a digital culture within their companies.

The 40 percent of senior executives believe that their company has a digital culture, but only 27 percent of employees surveyed agreed with this statement.

Among the participants, 20 percent are senior executives, 40 percent midrange managers and 40 percent of employees who do not have decision-making roles. The research involved five industrial sectors: automotive, banking/insurance, consumer products, retail, and telecommunications.

To compete with the future, companies need to invest in a digital culture that reaches all. The research shows that culture is both the first hurdle that the catalyst of the digital transformation and innovation. Many executives believe that their culture is already digital, but employees do not agree. This gap means the lack of a vision and a digital strategy and a tactic execution plan from above.

Cultivating a digital culture of signs that you understand how technology is changing behavior, business and market dynamics. It helps all stakeholders to grow more effectively in an evolving business scenario.

Overall, the report found that 62% of respondents see the corporate culture as a major obstacle in the path to becoming digital. In addition, the data show that seven percentage points worsen the situation since 2011 when Capgemini started its research in this area.

The survey asked participants to rate the digital culture of their company based on seven factors: collaborative practices, innovation, open culture, digital-first mentality, agility and flexibility, client-focused and data-driven culture.

The report highlights that employees do not see the culture of their company as “digital.” The conclusions stated that the “gap on digital culture” is a consequence of the fact that management does not communicate a clear vision of the digital company, who lack role models and digital KPI aligned with the digital transformation objectives.

Digital technologies can bring significant value to the business, but companies can unlock that potential only if it is widespread and entrenched the right digital culture.

Companies need to engage and inspire all employees to enable cultural change; work on this gap between leadership and employees is a key factor for growth. Companies that make a strategic pillar of the digital culture will improve their relationships with customers, attract the best talent and are ready for success in the digital world.

Even the innovation is critical for many companies. Only 7 percent of companies surveyed believe it can test new ideas and implement them rapidly. This figure reflects the perception of employees on the culture of innovation. Only 37% of respondents say that their company has a culture of innovation, experimentation, and risk, compared with 75% of senior executives.

In addition, there is strong disagreement on collaborative practices. 85 percent of executives believe that their company promotes internal collaboration, but only 41 percent of employees agree.

Research has also found considerable differences between what the management and employees perceive as a clear digital strategy. The 60 percent of respondents in positions of leadership claimed to have a clear strategy to realize their digital goals, while only 37 percent of employees are in line with this statement.

In conclusion, the report stresses that companies are not engaging employees in the process of cultural change. Engaging employees is crucial to form an effective digital culture and accelerate the cultural and digital transformation of the company. Leaders and company management are crucial to translate the broader digital vision into tangible results and reward positive digital behaviors.

Capgemini and Solis recommend the implementation of digital change agents and upgrading of employees by spreading a digital culture, the design of new digital KPI focused on conduct and made tangible the transformation of digital culture and invest in digital skills.