Examples of organizational risks posed by technology in the workplace include data privacy issues and data security breaches. HR personnel are often tasked with assessing risk factors revolving around HR data. HR personnel also often help mitigate risk factors by providing training and awareness sessions to managers and staff-level employees. As described in the SHRM-CP learning system, three organizational security measures must be addressed: 1) Exposure of electronically stored sensitive data (such as personal or benefits information). 2) Loss of sensitive personnel data. 3) Unauthorized updates of key data. Please respond to the following:
Which of these three do you consider to be the most important? And, why?
If left unmitigated, select another security measure, and describe what types of organizational impacts/damage might be caused.
Select a security protection method you believe to be the most effective for an organization you are familiar with; select from these methods: encryption and protecting against hacking and social engineering methods.
List and discuss two ethical dilemmas workplace technology may pose to HR personnel.
Be sure to respond to at least one of your classmates' posts.
Full Answer Section
2. Loss of sensitive personnel data: This can hurt employee morale, damage trust, and lead to compliance issues. While not as widespread in impact as data exposure, it can be highly sensitive and have direct consequences for individuals.
3. Unauthorized updates of key data: This can lead to operational disruptions, inaccurate information, and potentially fraudulent activity. While less widespread in impact, it carries the risk of compromising core systems and manipulating critical data.
Therefore, ranking depends heavily on the organization's specific context and risk tolerance.
Unmitigated Impacts:
Example: Loss of sensitive personnel data:
- Individual impacts: Identity theft, financial loss, emotional distress
- Organizational impacts: Erosion of employee trust, reputational damage, compliance violations, legal ramifications
Security Protection Methods:
Encryption: While valuable, it alone might not be sufficient. It primarily protects data at rest, not in transit or use. A multi-layered approach combining encryption with access controls, firewalls, and user awareness training is crucial.
Ethical Dilemmas for HR Personnel:
- Employee monitoring: Balancing the need for productivity monitoring with employee privacy and ethical considerations.
- AI in decision-making: Ensuring fairness and non-discrimination in automated HR processes relying on AI algorithms.
Sample Answer
Determining the "most important" security measure depends on the specific context and priorities of the organization. However, I can offer some insights:
1. Exposure of electronically stored sensitive data: This carries significant potential for reputational damage, financial loss, and legal repercussions. Stolen data like personal information or benefits details can lead to identity theft, fraud, and lawsuits. Its importance lies in the breadth of potential impacts and the vulnerability of large datasets.