Softchoice study finds employees exhibit risky cloud behavior, despite new level of cloud sophistication

TORONTO, April 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Enterprise cloud adoption has matured in recent years, but employees using cloud apps continue to display reckless technology habits that put their employers at risk, according to a new study by Softchoice, a leading North American IT solutions and managed services provider. The study, (Still) Careless Users in the Cloud, found 1-in-5 employees keep passwords in plain sight, such as on Post-It notes, and 1-in-3 cloud app users have downloaded an app without letting their IT department know.

Based on a similar study Softchoice conducted in 2014, (Still) Careless Users in the Cloud finds employees' bad cloud app habits have gone unchanged over the past two years. This kind of behavior can be attributed to the lack of cybersecurity training provided to employees on corporate policy and the safe and effective use of cloud applications. The study found 58 percent of full-time employees cite having not been told the right way to download and use cloud apps, and 39 percent having not been told the risks of downloading apps without IT's knowledge.

"Most businesses have a stronger understanding of the cloud than they did two years ago, yet, barely anything has improved when it comes to better user behavior," said David MacDonald, Softchoice's President and CEO. "Risky behavior and data vulnerabilities are almost guaranteed to persist if organizations don't provide training and direction on cybersecurity best practices for the apps, platforms and IT tools employees use on a daily basis."

(Still) Careless Users in the Cloud surveyed 1,500 North American full-time employees to understand employee tech behavior, and how having access to cloud-based applications has affected their behavior. Other highlights include:

• Younger app users are more likely to go rogue than their older counterparts. 31 percent of Millennial employees have downloaded cloud apps without letting IT know, (compared to 22 percent of Baby Boomers), and 23 percent of Millennials have downloaded unsanctioned apps even when IT offers an approved version (compared to 13 percent of Baby Boomers).
  
  
• Employees may not follow the rules, but they respect IT: 71 percent of employees believe IT works proactively to understand their business needs and 67 percent believe IT provides an optimal level of tech support.
  
  
• Nimble devices are stealing workday share: 27 percent of employees use a tablet for work and 42 percent of tablet users prefer using it for work over a desktop or laptop. While only 2 percent of full-time employees currently own a wearable device, 14 percent plan to purchase one in the next year.

"Employees display a wide range of bad habits, from lax password security to rogue IT behavior. If something doesn't change, organizations will be placed in an extremely vulnerable position," MacDonald said. "By allocating time and resources for ongoing training and communication about cloud best practices, organizations can make a difference in their employees' habits."

See the study results at: http://blogs.softchoice.com/itgrok/research/north-americans-still-careless-users-cloud/

About Softchoice

As a leading North American provider of IT solutions and managed services, Softchoice combines the efficiency and reliability of a national IT supplier with the personal touch and technical expertise of a local solutions provider. Softchoice's holistic approach to technology includes solution design, implementation, asset management and cloud services, as well as access to one of the most comprehensive and cost-effective technology distribution networks in North America. With over 1,300 employees, Softchoice manages the technology needs of thousands of corporate and public sector organizations across the United States and Canada.

SOURCE Softchoice Corporation

Image with caption: "While most organizations have gained a new level of cloud sophistication in recent years, North American workers continue to display careless technology habits from lax password security to rogue cloud use that are putting their organizations at risk. (CNW Group/Softchoice Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160413_C5763_PHOTO_EN_664842.jpg

Media Contact: Joel Hoidas, Communications Manager, Softchoice, Phone: [phone] ext. 222590, Email: Joel.Hoidas [at] softchoice [dot] com