You get what you reward: Productivity vs. Cybersecurity

Businesses employ professionals across varied roles with diverse skill sets. Employees face active productivity assessments throughout their tenure while simultaneously needing to comply with security protocols — often implemented without considering productivity impacts. When user experience receives insufficient attention, security and productivity friction can create genuine breach risks.

Research demonstrates that when employees choose between security and productivity, productivity tends to win. One primary psychological factor: completing security measures offers no inherent reward. At best, nothing bad happens. For those never experiencing cybersecurity incidents, breach consequences remain abstract despite training awareness.

Productivity provides immediate, tangible rewards — task completion satisfaction, praise, or financial compensation. Unmet productivity goals trigger negative feedback or income loss. When organizations emphasize productivity discussions while downplaying security priorities, employees cut corners on security when productivity pressures mount.

Where do we start in tackling this issue?

1. Assess your technology interactions

Understanding employee technology experiences requires proper assessment. Small security implementation adjustments can increase compliance willingness. Necessary disruptive measures need acknowledgment and clear explanation of their importance.

2. Management buy-in

Management commitment extends beyond financial investment. Active management discussion about security — matching productivity topic frequency — demonstrates organizational priorities through behavior.

3. Key Performance Indicators

Organizations reveal true priorities through measurement. Tracking productivity metrics while ignoring security creates imbalance. Implementing secure behavior metrics demonstrates security importance while tracking program effectiveness.

Security and productivity need not compete. Organizations can optimize both through thoughtful implementation and balanced organizational focus.