Workplace Security 2020

Digital threats, physical dangers, and hope for the modern office

As today's workplace changes, so do the potential risks, like unwanted intruders, cyber attacks, and IP theft. It's your responsibility to do everything you can to combat evolving security threats for you customers, clients, visitors, and staff.

We partnered with Wakefield Research to survey 1,000 U.S. IT and Security professionals who are responsible for technology impacting physical security, data, and network elements. What we learned was the threats are real, your concerns are valid, and you're not alone.

Every workplace is different, but the threats to their security are very much the same.

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While more than 2 in 5 (44%) IT and Security professionals feel most threatened by external malicious actors, more than half (56%) worry about internal threats such as employee negligence (28%) and accidental data slippage (28%).

97% of those responsible for security tech say the news makes them feel less safe at work. In fact, nearly 7 in 10 (69%) IT and Security professionals see headlines once a week or more that make them feel their office isn't as secure as it should be.

How often do headlines worry IT and Security professionals?

  • 38%
    Every Day
  • 73%
    Few Times a Week
  • 58%
    Once a Week
  • 43%
    Every Couple of Weeks
  • 30%
    Once a Month

* 1,000 U.S. IT and Security Professionals

Teams are in place to predict and prevent security threats, but are they doing enough?

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Workplace security is so critical that 99% of IT and Security professionals have someone directly responsible for setting up the policies and tools their spaces need to keep their people, property, and data safe.

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What's shocking is that over 1/3 of companies place workplace security responsibilities solely on their front desk receptionist, who may not have the training or experience required to handle these responsibilities.

Only half (54%) of respondents feel completely confident that their IT team can predict and prevent security threats.

IT and Security teams see the benefit of visitor management solutions when it comes to mitigating risk

20% did not have a dedicated budget for visitor management solutions in 2019.

80% have dedicated a portion of their workplace security budget to visitor management solutions.

A total of 98% of respondents see some benefit in investing in visitor management solutions.

The top benefit is workplace security at 63%.

Visitor Icon Over half (53%) require badges to be printed for all visitors.

List Icon 47% of respondents require pen-and-paper visitor sign-in.

Teams are in place to predict and prevent security threats, but are they doing enough?

63% of respondents expect to see an increase in their workplace security budget next year (2020)

by an average increase of 13%.

Over the next 5 years, 99% plan to increase spending on data security, data storage, visitor management systems, and integrated systems.

  • 81%
    Data Security
  • 72%
    Data, Cloud, and Network Storage
  • 69%
    Workplace Security and Visitor Management
  • 66%
    Workplace Resource Optimization

IT and Security teams aren't sure where to focus their energy—physical threats or cybersecurity.

Spoiler alert: the answer is both.

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What's more vulnerable?

57%
Cyber Data Security

43%
On-Site Physical Security

IT and Security professionals are split on the most vulnerable threats—57% say cyber data security; 43% say on-site physical security.

97% agree

that in order for physical security to be effective, it must be fully integrated with digital security.

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Download the full Workplace Security Report

Get ahead of the physical threats and digital threats your workplace faces today.

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