In a World of Their Own: Working on the Move

The traditional model of white collar workers inhabiting offices to carry out their tasks is no longer valid in the 21st century. Many employees now carry information with them and work while travelling, in hotels and at home. This is a relatively recent development, however, and since the information they carry with them is often sensitive, we have to consider how this new model impacts on the security of the organisation's now distributed and potentially unsecured information. Whereas previously employees could relax within the company's office space, they now cannot let their guard down since they are surrounded by strangers who are not bound by the same loyalties or employment contracts. How aware are mobile workers of the risks of mobile working? Situational Awareness is a concept that has been well known since its role in the development in aircraft design following World War One. It continues to inform studies on the use of mobile phones in cars and the role of distraction in pedestrian accidents. This paper reports on research into leakage of sensitive business information that results from inattention to the risk of working in public places, while on the move.