How Retailers Jeopardize Security With Temps

How Retailers Jeopardize Security With Temp Workers

How Retailers Jeopardize Security With Temp WorkersHow Retailers Jeopardize Security With Temp Workers

Some retailers that do not fully understand security can put their business at risk by improperly vetting and training temporary—and permanent—employees.

Employees Share Log-in CredentialsEmployees Share Log-in Credentials

Although respondents said they know what employees do when they access corporate systems and data assets, that is not so. 21% of permanent and 61% of temporary floor workers do not have unique log-in credentials for corporate systems.

Shared Login Credentials Are HazardousShared Login Credentials Are Hazardous

When employees share accounts, retailers have no visibility as to what each individual does when he or she accesses corporate systems and data assets.

Temporary Employees' Access to Systems Is UnknownTemporary Employees’ Access to Systems Is Unknown

37% of respondents cannot identify which systems their temporary employees have accessed. 8% cannot say which systems permanent employees have accessed.

Retailers Don't Know if Sensitive Data Has Been LeakedRetailers Don’t Know if Sensitive Data Has Been Leaked

26% of respondents don’t know whether temporary employees have ever accessed and/or send data they should not have accessed or sent.

All Workers Create RiskAll Workers Create Risk

66% of respondents view permanent workers as somewhat risky.

Temporary Workers Are RiskyTemporary Workers Are Risky

Survey respondents acknowledge that temporary workers are somewhat risky (47%) and fewer view them as high risk (32%).

Retailers Have False Sense of ConfidenceRetailers Have False Sense of Confidence

81% of retailers give themselves a rating of 6 or greater when it comes to identifying critical assets to protect, detecting theft or data leakage, and controlling employee access to critical assets.

Security Awareness Training Is InadequateSecurity Awareness Training Is Inadequate

Seven in 10 IT decision-makers believe their retail organizations proactively provide security awareness training to employees. But 80% do so only once or twice a year.

Factors Accounting for Employee RiskFactors Accounting for Employee Risk

High turnover in retail industry: 5% change jobs monthly, translating into 60% annually. Holiday rush hiring results in minimal vetting. High turnover and rush to hire seasonal workers results in little employee education, especially regarding security.

Karen A. Frenkel
Karen A. Frenkel
Karen A. Frenkel is a contributor to CIO Insight. She covers cybersecurity topics such as digital transformation, vulnerabilities, phishing, malware, and information governance.

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