As if 2020 didn’t bring enough challenges to security leaders, it’s about to get even more challenging.

Let’s face it: The workforce will change dramatically over the next 10 years. By 2030, security leaders will have to grapple with a workplace in which three generations hold a significant proportion of the working population, but one in which Gen Z and Millennials will dominate. And while enterprises should and will continue to support the needs of all generations, the fact remains that the younger generations have drastically different expectations for technology than those that came before them. It’s a serious future challenge that most security leaders aren’t thinking about today. That needs to change.

“Why Change?” You Might Ask

The technologies the younger generations use today will become the de facto business tools of tomorrow. And I’m not just talking about chat messaging platforms and smartphones. It also includes emerging technologies like augmented reality/virtual reality, virtual assistants, and a whole host of new software-as-a-service apps. Not only that, but Gen Z and Millennials are much more likely to want complete autonomy over the devices, apps, and services they use for work. The drive for choice will only breed more complexity and dramatically increase the size of your attack surface.

“Can’t We Just Lock Everything Down Like We Used To?”

The problem is that the same strategy will no longer work in the future of work. Younger generations report that they will circumvent security policies if they get in the way of productivity. It’s not a matter of if younger employees will use these new emerging technologies, but when. Your security strategy must be ready to accommodate those changing preferences, but how can you get ready?

The key lies in better understanding employees, in having empathy for their needs, and in helping them be as successful as possible with the technology they use. In other words, security must become a facilitator of productivity, not a blocker.

The good news is that I’ve recently completed a stream of research that identifies the changing expectations of employees and helps both IT operations and security leaders prepare for the future.

Even more exciting, I’ll be speaking on this very topic at this year’s Security & Risk event on November 9 and 10. You can register for the event here.

If you’d like to speak one-on-one with me and you’re a Forrester client, you can always reach out to inquiry@forrester.com to access myself and the research.