Employee Data Protection: The Key Role and Responsibilities of HR in 2025
In today’s digital world, thinking that data security is solely the responsibility of the IT department is a costly mistake. True protection starts and ends with people — placing HR at the heart of every cybersecurity strategy. What are HR’s responsibilities, and how can they truly strengthen an organization's digital resilience?
With rising cyber threats and an increasing volume of data — from sensitive employee records to strategic client information — companies must adopt a holistic approach to security. Experts agree that mature security architecture rests on three pillars: technology, processes, and people. While technology and processes are crucial, it’s the human factor — largely shaped by HR — that forms the foundation. People create the systems and processes, and their awareness and habits determine the system’s effectiveness.
From Reactivity to Resilience: A New Security Philosophy
Rather than reacting to incidents after they occur, modern organizations focus on building digital resilience. What does that mean in practice? It’s about proactively preparing the organization for potential threats — just as athletes train their bodies for competition.
HR plays a key role in this transformation by shaping work culture and daily habits. HR departments decide who joins the company and can assess candidates’ awareness of security even during recruitment. But how can HR effectively embed security thinking during onboarding? More importantly, how can they foster a culture where employees are not afraid to report mistakes, and where incidents are treated as valuable lessons for the entire organization?
You’ll find answers and practical tips in our webinar.
Critical Risks HR Must Manage
There are several critical areas where HR’s role is indispensable:
- Access Management: HR is the “gatekeeper” of the organization. Onboarding and offboarding are crucial moments. If a former employee still has access to systems and data, it’s a ticking time bomb. Are your procedures prepared for that?
- The Human Factor: Employees can be the strongest or weakest link. Effective training, clear procedures, and awareness-building are areas where HR drives real change.
- Payroll Data Protection: In 2025, optimizing and securing payroll processes will be one of the biggest challenges for Polish companies. Employees expect transparency and protection of their most sensitive data, such as salary information and bank account numbers.
What Can You Do Today?
Building a culture of security is a marathon, not a sprint. But you can take the first steps today. Talk to your team about HR’s role in this process. Check whether your tools ensure adequate security, if data is encrypted, and if logins are secure. Make sure your procedures for password changes and access management are clear and followed.
Want to discover more practical solutions and learn how to implement a structured approach to data protection in your company?
Watch the recording of our webinar “The Role of HR in Building Digital Security in the Organization”, where our experts Bernadetta Hajduk and Dariusz Czerniawski share actionable insights you can implement right away.
