Safer Surfing 

This week we reported that almost 1 million business and home PCs had been compromised after users visited illegal streaming sites. The report from Microsoft suggested that CISOs strengthen security awareness training for employees. 

Readers of CSOonline.com heeded the advice, heading to Smart Answers to ask how exactly they should do this. Smart Answers gives advice based on nearly 60 years of human reporting, so it has some insights to share around how to keep employees safe when surfing. The key is preaching caution, whilst restricting what damage they can do to themselves. 

Find out: How can employees protect themselves from malware when surfing the internet?  



In The Shadows 

In related news, also this week we brought you the story of how IT frustration costs companies more than $100 million a year — with shadow IT the only user solution. We shared a study that says employees are losing more than a month of work each year to digital workflow inefficiencies and are downloading hundreds of unauthorized apps to get their jobs done.  

This prompted CIP readers to ask Smart Answers why employees are so enamored by shadow IT? The answer is a lack of understanding on how to engage IT or a lack of IT bandwidth to address specific challenges faced by business users. 

Find out: What is shadow IT and why do employees turn to it?  


Breaking Boundaries 

Microsoft's EU Data Boundary initiative is now complete, but how ironclad is it? This week we suggested that it is a step forward, but true data sovereignty is not being guaranteed. 

Readers of Network World were in agreement, rushing to Smart Answers in order to understand the significance of this initiative. It's significant: it may reduce data flows out of Europe, enhancing data residency solutions. It should provide businesses with more control and transparency over their data. 

Find out: What is the significance of Microsoft's EU Data Boundary initiative for European businesses?