New Aruba survey discloses rising security threats linked to ‘Generation Novel’

After years of catering to the needs of Gen X and Gen Y, a new survey from Aruba, suggests that post-pandemic employers will have to deal with a whole new generation, with 85 percent of hybrid workers identifying with the characteristics of the emerging Generation Novel (Gen-N).

Gen-N is a cross-generational group of people that thrive on digital-first experiences and place greater emphasis on personalization, customization, and transparency from the brands they buy from, work for, and support, as coined by digital anthropologist Brian Solis. Above all, they comprehend, utilise, and demand more from technology than ever before — at home and at work.

According to a survey of 5,018 hybrid workers across EMEA, 78% believe they utilise technology more now than they did before COVID-19, and 75% consider themselves to be “digitally savvy.” Sixty-nine percent of respondents agree that they now have a stronger opinion on the technology they use at work, and 71 percent believe it is critical to be able to tailor their workplace tech setup to meet their personal tastes.

According to a poll of 5,018 hybrid workers in EMEA, 78% feel they use technology more now than they did before COVID-19, and 75% consider themselves “digitally knowledgeable.” Sixty-nine percent of respondents think that they now have a stronger opinion on the technology they use at work, and 71 percent believe that being able to customise their workplace tech setup to match their personal tastes is crucial.

Additional key findings from the report reveal:

Hybrid workers have a new perspective on the role of workplace technology:

• 80% of our respondents say their company must maintain policies that encourage healthy technology use.
• While 73% believe technology has a role to play in fostering an inclusive environment in the new hybrid workplace, 44% believe it is not currently doing so.

Hybrid workers bring new risks to the workplace if their needs go unmet:

• When encountering a tech issue at work, nearly three-quarters (74%) of hybrid workers say they expect it to be resolved in 20 minutes or less – and over two-fifths (42%) in under 10 minutes.
• Over half (55%) of our survey respondents admit to connecting to a non-password-protected public network at least once a week, but only a third (33%) consistently think of the security risks in doing so.
• Meanwhile, as many as 82% are still using their personal mobile device to access work information.

“Our research suggests that this emerging generation of hybrid workers, with its evolving behaviours and heightened expectations, will put new demands on employers when it comes to workplace technology,” said Morten Illum, Vice President, EMEA for Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.

Morten added, “In order to mitigate the security risk that Gen-N poses, as well as boost efficiency within their workforce and support their employees, businesses must address these new needs. Striking the balance between an open but secure network will afford employees the flexibility, freedom and personalization they now seek, without compromising on security.”