Pressure mounts on compliance standards in Irish workplaces, Landmark Technologies study finds.
More than half of Irish office workers say they have felt pressure to cut corners on regulatory compliance in order to meet targets.
That’s according to new research from Landmark Technologies which points to growing cultural and operational challenges for businesses navigating complex rules.
“Particularly concerning is the example being set by senior leaders as well as the number of employees using unsecured or unregulated means to share sensitive data”
The research, carried out by Censuswide on behalf of Landmark, surveyed 1,000 employees in the Republic of Ireland on attitudes towards compliance with regulations such as GDPR, NIS2, and ISO in the workplace.
It found that more than half (54%) believe their organisation prioritises speed or results over compliance obligations. Some 52% have seen senior management bend or break compliance rules, suggesting that, in many cases, poor compliance practices may be driven from the top down.
This is the modern world
Ken Kelleher, managing director, Landmark Technologies
The findings point to growing challenges around regulatory complexity and modern ways of working.
Some 61% of office workers believe compliance requirements are becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with, while 58% say artificial intelligence (AI) is making compliance more challenging for organisations. A further 61% believe remote and hybrid working has made compliance harder to enforce.
“Compliance is not optional and cannot be treated as an afterthought,” said Ken Kelleher, managing director, Landmark Technologies. “As cyber risks grow and regulatory environments become more complex, data protection is paramount. However, our research points to a combination of factors which are creating environments where risky behaviours are becoming normalised.
“Particularly concerning is the example being set by senior leaders as well as the number of employees using unsecured or unregulated means to share sensitive data.”
Bursting the cloud
The research also uncovered a number of concerning employee behaviours when it comes to compliance, particularly regarding data security and confidentiality.
In the last 12 months, a quarter (25%) of office workers used personal cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, to store work files. Nearly a fifth (18%) of employees shared customer data via unsecured channels such as personal email or WhatsApp.
Furthermore, one-in-five employees (21%) accepted terms and conditions on behalf of their organisation without reading them, while the same proportion clicked through a work compliance policy without reading it.
Some 16% signed off on a work compliance document without fully understanding it, 14% downloaded company data onto a personal USB drive, and 12% bypassed compliance protocols in order to meet a deadline.
However, the research suggests that many organisations are prioritising employee awareness and education when it comes to workplace best practices.
Encouragingly, the majority (91%) of office workers say they have received cybersecurity training within the past 12 months, with the average time since their last training session standing at three-and-a-half months.
“As AI and modern ways of working continue to reshape the workplace, organisations need to ensure that compliance processes are not only robust and comprehensive, but are clear and easy for employees to adhere to,” Kelleher said.
“ Strong leadership and regular training are critical to help businesses to reduce risk and maintain trust.”
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