Workers' data security, AI knowledge gaps carry risks

Dive Brief:

Employees in a recent survey said they're unprepared for data breaches and the emergence of AI — pointing to a need for employer training, according to a Jan. 22 GetApp statement.
Despite rising data breaches in the workplace, only slightly more than half of employees responding to the study said they had received security training. "As data is one of the most valuable assets for businesses today and well into the future, ensuring employees can protect their data — and apply insights for a business advantage — will be the difference between disrupting and being disrupted," GetApp said.
Additionally, 44% of respondents said they expect AI to be the most disruptive technology to business in the future but only 12% said their organization uses the tech today. GetApp suggested that employers "consider more transparent policies with regard to how AI is being used in their organization, and encourage employees to learn, become trained and upskilled to apply the technology in the future."

Dive Insight:

Experts have been touting the benefits of cybersecurity training for years, warning that human error is a leading cause of breaches. And while such training initiatives have been a priority for some, others haven't dedicated the time or resources needed — or worked to ensure training is ongoing.

The same goes for training on AI and other tech. To sustain growth in the future, HR will have to ensure workers have regular, ongoing learning opportunities. But that's easier said than done, according to experts; automation and digitalization are rapidly changing the skills required for success, Gartner said in a December 2019 report, and organizations are having trouble keeping up.

The keys may be agility and, more important, adaptability, some say. A company's culture may need to adopt a philosophy about "failing fast and learning fast," Michael Stephan, Deloitte's US human capital leader, previously told HR Dive.

"You have to have a workforce that is ready to adapt to change. We hate change," Mark Brandau, principal analyst at Forrester, added. But "[a]daptive workforces thrive in change."