The nature of privacy and security in shared workspaces
The shift to a hybrid work model is raising concerns about security and privacy in shared workplaces.Key Takeaways
- Co-working spaces offer flexibility for organisations with a hybrid workforce. But they come with security risks, with many employees feeling their privacy is compromised in these shared environments.
- As such, they're not a viable office option for all organisations, particularly those in regulated sectors such as finance and healthcare.
- Interactive's Secure Spaces offer a solution: A shared workspaces with the security of a private office, ensuring compliance without sacrificing flexibility or productivity.
Privacy and security in shared workspaces: Why the risks are rising, and what to do about it
Since the first co-working spaces opened back in 2005, businesses have seen a shift away from the traditional, fixed office space of the 20th century. Realising that professional work requires more than a desk or being online, workplaces started to decouple the idea of work from being a particular place.
Picture this: You’re on a confidential client call, running through sensitive financial data. Next to you, a stranger quietly types on their laptop. Unknown to you, they’ve tapped into the shared Wi-Fi and are harvesting every keystroke. Across the room, your team has left documents on a communal desk: draft contracts, customer files, personal details. By the time you return from grabbing a coffee. Those files are gone.
It sounds like a nightmare scenario. But it’s one that becomes all too real when organisations compromise on privacy and security in shared workspaces.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 36% of Australians now regularly work from home. As a result, organisations are adopting flexible workspaces that swap the desk space they no longer need for the amenities their employees expect. Yet as they blend remote, co-located, and office-based models, the stakes for security and privacy have never been higher.
Employees want flexibility. Regulators demand compliance, and customers expect trust. The traditional co-working model wasn’t designed to meet all three.
That’s why leaders are rethinking the future of workspaces, and why Interactive’s Secure Spaces are becoming the smart middle ground between flexibility and security.
The difficulties of securing shared facilities
Certainly, the appeal of co-working has always been cost and community. But ask employees, and nearly half report that the lack of privacy impacts their day-to-day use of shared spaces.
Conversations feel less secure, and sensitive documents feel exposed. And communal Wi-Fi networks create invisible risks that many underestimate.
For organisations in highly regulated industries, such as finance and healthcare, these gaps are potential breaches. A single security lapse in a shared office can escalate and ripple across tenants, creating vulnerabilities that no single company can fully control.
Sensitive data meets shared workspaces
When staff handle personal information — bank statements, medical records, legal documents — the open nature of co-working quickly turns from feature to flaw.
- Shared resources like printers, Wi-Fi, and even desks become attack surfaces.
- False confidence can creep in: what feels like “your office” is in fact a communal zone.
- Physical risks — from wandering eyes to unattended devices — make data theft or malware installation a constant possibility.
Yes, VPNs, policy controls, and training help, but they can’t fully eliminate the inherent weaknesses of environments designed for openness rather than control.
Privacy requirements for APRA-regulated businesses
For APRA-regulated organisations, the requirements are clear: control who has access, where data is stored, and how it’s protected. That means authentication policies, identity management, physical controls, and rigorous reporting.
Trying to meet those standards inside a generic co-working hub is a regulatory minefield. Even if your policies are airtight, you can’t enforce the same standards on the company sitting next to you. And in compliance, the weakest link counts.
Secure space advantage
So, what’s the answer? As the workforce continues to evolve, leaders are increasingly asking: Where should my people work to be both productive and secure?
Traditional offices give control, but lack agility. Co-working brings buzz, but compromises on security. Secure Spaces offer the best of both worlds, purpose-built environments designed for regulated, digital-first organisations.
Interactive’s Secure Spaces combine the flexibility of modern co-working with the resilience of enterprise-grade security:
- Certified Compliance: ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certified, supporting APRA and ASIC requirements.
- Physical Security: CCTV cameras, programmable card readers, and customisable controls.
- Continuity Built In: Redundant power, servers, and telco providers to keep you running.
- Scalable Flexibility: From a single office to an entire floor, with managed IT and facilities support.
Notably, it’s the best of both worlds: collaboration, culture, and cost efficiency, without the compliance headaches or exposure to risk.
Rethinking the future of work
The pandemic reset, and reimagined, how Australians think about work. And there’s no going back. With hybrid work becoming permanent, organisations can’t afford to lock into outdated models. At the same time, the new way of working cannot come at the expense of security.
The smarter path is one that balances employee expectations of flexibility with non-negotiable requirements of security and compliance.
That’s the thinking behind Interactive’s Secure Spaces, a workspace model that evolves with your organisation, keeps regulators satisfied, and keeps your people productive.
For more on how flexibility and security intersect, read our related article: Balancing flexibility and security: Rethinking the future of workspaces.
Ready to find your secure middle ground?
Book a tour of Interactive’s Secure Spaces today and discover how your organisation can thrive in a hybrid world, without compromise.
