What is App Fatigue & Why is it a Security Issue?

The number of apps and web tools employees use regularly continues to increase. Most departments have about 40-60 different digital tools that they use. 71% of employees feel they use so many apps, making work more complex.

Many of the apps that we use every day have various alerts. We get a “ping” when someone mentions our name on a Teams channel. We get a notification popup that an update is available. We get an alert of errors or security issues.

App fatigue is real, and it’s becoming a cybersecurity problem. The more people get overwhelmed by notifications, the more likely they are to ignore them.

Just think about the various digital alerts that you get. They come in:

• Software apps on your computer
• Web-based SaaS tools
• Websites where you’ve allowed alerts
• Mobile apps and tools
• Email banners
• Text messages
• Team communication tools

Some employees are getting the same notification on two different devices. This adds to the problem. This leads to many issues that impact productivity and cybersecurity.

Besides alert bombardment, whenever the boss introduces a new app, that means a new password. Employees are already juggling about 191 passwords. They use at least 154 of them sometime during the month.

How Does App Fatigue Put Companies at Risk?

Employees Begin Ignoring Updates

When digital alerts interrupt your work, you can feel like you’re always behind. This leads to ignoring small tasks seen as not time-sensitive. Tasks like clicking to install an app update.

Employees overwhelmed with too many app alerts tend to ignore them. When updates come up, they may quickly click them away. They feel they can’t spare the time right now and aren’t sure how long it will take.

Ignoring app updates on a device is dangerous. Many of those updates include critical security patches for found vulnerabilities. The device and its network are at a higher risk when not installed. It becomes easier to suffer a successful cyberattack.

Employees Reuse Passwords (and They’re Often Weak)

Another security casualty of app fatigue is password security. The more SaaS accounts someone must create, the more likely they are to reuse passwords. It’s estimated that passwords are typically reused 64% of the time.

A credential breach is a key driver of cloud data breaches. Hackers can easily crack weak passwords. The same password used several times leaves many accounts at risk.

Employees May Turn Off Alerts

Some alerts are okay to turn off. For example, do you need to know every time someone responds to a group thread? Or just when they @name you? But turning off important security alerts is not good.

A breaking point comes when one more push notification can push someone over the edge. They may turn off all the alerts they can across all apps. The problem with this is that in the mix of alerts are important ones, such as an anti-malware app warning about a newly found virus.

What’s the Answer to App Fatigue?

It’s unrealistic to go backwards before all these apps were around. But you can put a strategy in place that puts people in charge of their tech and not the other way around.

Streamline Your Business Applications

From both a productivity and security standpoint, fewer apps are better. The fewer apps you have, the less risk—also, the fewer passwords to remember and notifications to address.

Look at the tools that you use to see where redundancies may be. Many companies are using two or more apps that can do the same function.

Consider using an umbrella platform like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. These platforms include several work tools, but users only need a single login to access them.

Have Your IT Team Set up Notifications

It’s difficult for users to know the most important types of notifications. Set up their app notifications for them. This ensures they aren’t bombarded yet are still getting the important ones.

Automate Application Updates

A cybersecurity best practice is to automate device and software updates. This takes the process out of employees’ hands. It enhances productivity by removing unnecessary updates from their view. 

Automating device updates through a managed services solution improves security. It also mitigates the chance that a vulnerable app will put your network at risk.

Open a Two-Way Communication About Alerts

Employees may never turn off an alert because they fear getting in trouble. Managers may need to realise that constant app alert interruptions are hurting productivity.

Communicate with employees and let them know they can communicate with you. Discuss how to use alerts effectively. As well as the best ways to manage alerts for a better and more productive workday.

Need Help Taming Your Cloud App Environment?

Today, it’s easy for cloud tools to get out of hand. Get some help consolidating and optimising your cloud app environment. Give us a call today.

Do you need the best IT Support for your business?

You need the best IT support in London. Technology is complicated and expensive. It’s so hard to maintain everything and know what to do when something breaks or goes wrong. IT problems can really put a damper on your day. They’re frustrating, time-consuming, and can seem like a never-ending cycle of issues.

We’re unique because…

• We don’t tie our clients into long-term contracts we don’t feel the need to
• We don’t enforce our technical stack on you | each client’s needs are bespoke, and we work for you, not for us
• We have 5* Google ratings from genuinely satisfied clients
• 80% of our growth has been through current client referrals
• We’re proud to have 100% client retention since Penntech was established
• We’ve achieved the above through our customer obsession, passion for innovation, and commitment to service excellence.  Everyone could say that but ask our current clients.

We’re always just a phone call away; we live and breathe IT services. We’re here to help your business with anything that could go wrong with your systems or devices.

Contact us today or explore the range of support packages on offer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Me Mo 
 
10 February 2023
 
 
  
We cannot recommend Penntech highly enough for their continuous IT support, we have worked with them for years and there is truly nothing that they cannot solve or help with. Their vast amount of knowledge and speed in response is second to none.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Alasdair Gray 
 
6 February 2023
 
 
  
We have been using Penntech for around 6 years now and have had a great experience. Every member of the team we interreact with is friendly and helpful and our queries are always answered quickly.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Chris Sheasby 
 
22 March 2021
 
 
  
I've known Lewis since working with him at CIFF in 2011.  More recently, he has built-up an excellent business which supports a number of my past and present clients.  He also supports my business.  Lewis is first rate and equally importantly, he has built a good team around him to provide quality, responsive IT support.  I can't recommend Penntech highly enough.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Rebecca Groves 
 
20 July 2020
 
 
  
Penntech have worked with us for a number of years now and have always gone above and beyond to provide an efficient professional service in every circumstance. Their friendly responsive approach is refreshing and nothing is too big or too small to assist with.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 nick groves 
 
20 July 2020
 
 
  
Lewis and his team are fantastic! Highly recommended
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Demstone Chambers 
 
29 May 2020
 
 
  
Friendly and approachable, but also excellent technically. As a barristers chambers  we have industry-specific data protection requirements. Penntech showed in-depth knowledge about the interaction between these requirements and technical IT aspects.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Marion Caillat 
 
20 May 2020
 
 
  
Penntech helped us migrate and merge our inbox's for our small restaurant and bar group. They were super efficient and got everything done within 24 hours. I highly recommend them and will be using them again.
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 Jonathan Davies 
 
18 May 2020
 
 
  
Heartstyles have worked with Penntech for 3 years. The initial brief to sort out our global IT requirements. Penntech have always been refreshing clear in their comms, avoiding IT gobbledygook. No job has been too small to support and they always deliver above and beyond what was required and within budget. They clearly know what they’re doing and the level of service is always outstanding
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 leigh ryan 
 
18 May 2020
 
 
  
Lewis and the team at Penntech are seen very much as an extension of our business. They are professional, technically brilliant, don't over complicate things, very friendly and the staff feel comfortable dealing with them on a daily basis.  They have a good understanding of our needs and go above and beyond to ensure we can get on with our day to day business, safe in the knowledge that if anything goes wrong technically that Penntech will resolve it efficiently. Leigh Ryan, CIO, MGAM Ltd
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 24 reviews