App Fatigue, the phenomenon of users getting overwhelmed by the number of applications they need to use in their daily work, is becoming increasingly common in the business world. It is a serious security risk for businesses because it can lead to employees downloading and using insecure apps, forgetting to update or maintain them, and creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. In this post, we will provide five examples of how app fatigue is a security risk to businesses.
- Increased likelihood of downloading malicious apps
When employees are overwhelmed by the number of apps they need to use, they may be more likely to download and use third-party apps that promise to simplify their workflow. These apps can be risky because they are often not vetted or approved by the company’s IT department and may contain malicious code or be a conduit for cyber attacks. Additionally, employees may not pay attention to the permissions that these apps require, giving them access to sensitive data or resources.
- Forgetting to update or maintain apps
Employees may neglect to update or maintain their apps when they are overwhelmed with too many applications. This can leave them vulnerable to security vulnerabilities and bugs that have been patched in newer versions of the software. Hackers often target known vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain access to sensitive information or systems.
- Too many passwords to remember
With so many apps to use, employees may need to create and remember numerous passwords. To simplify their lives, employees may use weak or easily guessable passwords, or reuse passwords across multiple applications. This makes it easy for hackers to gain access to multiple systems once they have access to one set of credentials.
- Difficulty monitoring access
With so many apps in use, it can be challenging for IT departments to monitor who has access to what resources. This can make it difficult to detect unauthorized access, which can lead to data breaches or other security incidents. The more apps in use, the more challenging it is to manage access controls effectively.
- Complexity of managing updates
When there are many apps in use, it can be challenging to manage updates effectively. IT departments may struggle to coordinate updates across multiple applications, and employees may be unsure which applications need to be updated. This can lead to security vulnerabilities and bugs remaining unpatched for extended periods.
To combat app fatigue, businesses can take several steps to simplify and streamline the app experience for employees.
- Conduct a thorough app audit
The first step in combating app fatigue is to conduct a thorough app audit to determine which applications are essential for each job function. By understanding which applications are necessary for employees to perform their job duties effectively, businesses can identify opportunities to reduce the number of applications and simplify the user experience.
- Consolidate and integrate applications
Once businesses have identified the critical applications, they can explore ways to consolidate and integrate them. By integrating applications, businesses can streamline workflows and reduce the number of applications employees need to access separately. This can help reduce app fatigue by reducing the number of applications employees need to manage.
- Provide employee training
To combat app fatigue, it is essential to provide employees with training on how to use the applications they need effectively. This can include providing resources and support for applications, such as user guides, online training, and helpdesk support. By providing employees with the necessary resources to use applications effectively, businesses can reduce frustration and confusion and make employees feel more confident in their ability to use the applications.
- Implement a single sign-on (SSO) solution
One of the biggest sources of app fatigue is the need to remember and manage multiple passwords for different applications. Implementing an SSO solution can help solve this problem by allowing employees to sign in once and access multiple applications. This not only simplifies the login process but can also help businesses improve security by reducing the likelihood of employees using weak or easily guessable passwords.
- Regularly review and update application usage
Finally, businesses should regularly review and update application usage to ensure that employees are using the most up-to-date and relevant applications. By regularly reviewing application usage, businesses can identify opportunities to consolidate or eliminate applications, reducing the number of applications employees need to manage.
In conclusion, app fatigue is a significant security risk for businesses, and it can be challenging to manage. To mitigate these risks, companies should encourage employees to use approved applications, provide training and resources on app management and security, and consider implementing identity and access management solutions to monitor and control access to critical resources. By being proactive, businesses can reduce the likelihood of a data breach or other security incident resulting from app fatigue.
