Balancing Cybersecurity with a Seamless Digital Employee Experience

In today’s digital landscape, organizations face a critical challenge: balancing cybersecurity with a seamless digital employee experience (DEX). As businesses increasingly rely on technology for operations, ensuring robust security often comes at the expense of usability. Conversely, prioritizing user experience can lead to risky behaviors that compromise organizational security. Striking the right balance is essential for protecting corporate assets while ensuring employees remain productive and satisfied.

I recently had an insightful conversation with Daren Goeson, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Ivanti, who shared his perspective on this pressing issue. In our discussion, we explored key areas where businesses can enhance cybersecurity without sacrificing employee experience.

Finding the Right Balance: Security vs. User Experience

One of the most significant challenges in cybersecurity today is balancing rigorous security protocols with an easy-to-use, frictionless digital experience. Daren highlighted an important statistic: 86% of IT professionals report that poor digital experiences push employees to adopt risky behaviors. When security measures become cumbersome, employees may resort to workarounds that jeopardize sensitive information, such as using unauthorized devices or sharing files through unapproved platforms.

It’s not enough to have strong security policies in place; companies must focus on making these measures as user-friendly as possible. A poor digital experience can undermine all security efforts, as employees will find ways to bypass protocols that slow them down. Thus, improving the user experience—especially regarding security processes—can prevent these risky workarounds.

The Growing Threats from Generative AI

The rapid rise of generative AI tools presents both opportunities and challenges for workplaces. While these tools can significantly boost productivity, they also introduce new security vulnerabilities that many organizations are unprepared to handle. According to Daren, 81% of office workers lack adequate training on how to use generative AI tools securely.

Generative AI platforms, capable of producing text, code, and images, offer new avenues for cybercriminals to exploit weaknesses. From malicious AI-generated phishing emails to deepfake technology used for fraud, the risks are real. Companies must implement robust AI-specific security measures and ensure employees are trained to recognize potential threats. As these technologies evolve, security protocols need to be adapted swiftly, and employees must be educated to navigate this new landscape safely.

Making Remote Work Secure: The Importance of VPNs and Zero Trust

Remote work is here to stay, but not all organizations are taking the necessary steps to secure it effectively. Despite the increased cyber threats associated with remote work, only 62% of organizations are utilizing VPNs or Zero Trust solutions. These technologies are essential for securing data and communication for employees working outside the traditional office environment.

Daren stressed that as businesses shift towards hybrid work models, ensuring secure access to corporate networks remains a top priority. VPNs help encrypt employee data, while Zero Trust models ensure that no user or device is trusted by default—whether inside or outside the company network. For organizations that continue to support remote work, investing in these security solutions is non-negotiable.

Interestingly, as many leaders push to bring employees back into the office under the assumption that it will improve productivity, they may overlook that a significant segment of the workforce will still work remotely at least part-time. Securing this hybrid workforce requires a tailored strategy that combines strong security measures with flexibility and ease of use, ensuring productivity across all environments—whether in the office or at home.

The Role of CISOs in Digital Employee Experience

Despite the evident overlap between cybersecurity and employee experience, only 38% of companies involve their Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in planning digital employee experience strategies. Daren emphasized the importance of engaging security leaders, particularly CISOs, in shaping the digital employee experience.

CISOs bring a unique perspective that ensures security protocols are deeply integrated into the digital experience from the ground up. By including them in DEX planning, companies can design systems and processes that are not only secure but also intuitive and easy for employees to use. This integration creates a safer and more seamless experience, reducing the likelihood of security breaches while promoting productivity.

Daren also pointed out the growing role of Digital Experience Management (DEM) tools, which allow companies to monitor and optimize the digital experience across their workforce. These tools provide real-time insights into employee behavior and can highlight areas where the user experience might be suffering, allowing security teams to intervene before risky behaviors emerge.

Prioritizing a Holistic Approach

One of the key takeaways from my conversation with Daren was the need for organizations to adopt a holistic approach when balancing cybersecurity and digital employee experience. Cybersecurity cannot be treated as an afterthought or something separate from user experience. When both elements are considered together, businesses are better positioned to foster a resilient workforce that can thrive in a secure digital environment.

The digital employee experience encompasses not just how user-friendly a company’s systems are but also the tools, technologies, and workflows that employees rely on daily. Focusing on security at the expense of experience may lead to frustration, which could result in decreased productivity or even employee turnover. Conversely, focusing solely on user experience without considering security may open the door to cyberattacks.

Action Steps for Businesses

To effectively balance cybersecurity with digital employee experience, organizations should:

1. Engage CISOs early in DEX planning: Security should be part of the conversation from the beginning to ensure a seamless and secure digital experience.

2. Train employees on safe AI usage: As generative AI becomes more prevalent, providing adequate training will be crucial in mitigating the associated risks.

3. Implement secure remote work solutions: Ensure that VPNs, Zero Trust, and other security measures are in place to protect remote employees.

4. Leverage DEM tools: Use real-time data to monitor and optimize the digital experience, addressing potential issues before they escalate.

5. Create user-friendly security protocols: The more seamless the experience, the less likely employees are to resort to unsafe workarounds.

The Path Forward

As companies continue to embrace digital transformation, balancing security with a great digital employee experience is more important than ever. The conversation with Daren Goeson highlighted that this balance is not only possible but necessary for building a resilient, productive workforce in today’s threat-laden environment. With the right strategies, organizations can ensure that employees remain secure without compromising usability, ultimately fostering a safer and more efficient workplace.

For a deeper dive into this topic and to hear more from Daren, check out the full interview here.