Cultural issues in security and privacy
With regard to security, and especially to privacy, a one-size-fits-all approach is generally not appropriate for organisations operating in multiple jurisdictions. Employee monitoring is a prime example of how cultural expectations and local laws require careful consideration. Colin Tankard of Digital Pathways explains that firms wanting to use employee-monitoring schemes – which may include monitoring of emails, web and network use – need to tread very carefully. Differences in cultural attitudes play a large part in society. What is considered to be acceptable in one country can be highly offensive in another. Cultural differences can be a minefield for conducting business internationally, from how and when to shake hands to negotiating deals.