Returning from a holiday, you turn on your laptop, only to find it sluggishly processing updates before abruptly shutting down. Later, as you race against a critical deadline, your computer insists on yet another round of updates, culminating in the dreaded “blue screen of death” for a prolonged ten minutes. Does this scenario sound all too familiar?
This is the reality of modern office work, where the push for ultra-secure systems has turned corporate-owned computers into a source of stress and unpredictability. Frequent interruptions for updates, often to install new software that is less user-friendly and efficient, leave many workers frustrated and questioning the necessity of these changes.
Security Concerns Drive Update Frenzy
According to a high-level IT expert based in Adelaide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the majority of these updates are implemented for security reasons. “The cyber threat now is so high, even compared to ten years ago, that companies are extremely risk-averse and want to ensure their systems are as secure as possible,” he explained.
In the past, corporations would selectively implement updates from their enterprise agreements with major tech companies, ignoring those deemed irrelevant. However, with the increasing number of threats from foreign nationals and governments, companies now opt to install all available updates to avoid potential reputational damage from a cyber breach.
“It does slow things down,” the expert noted.
One corporate manager humorously remarked to the ABC that his role now feels reduced to “just sitting there and doing updates on my computer.”
The Push for ‘Shiny’ Over Usability
Professor Asif Gil, head of Software Engineering at Sydney’s University of Technology, suggests that updates are also driven by revenue, regulatory compliance, safety, and maintaining a reputation, all of which can impact usability. He points out that there is often a focus on new features rather than “real usability” and “people’s work habits.”
This focus may stem from an organization’s fear of falling behind or a desire for a “first-mover competitive advantage.” However, Dr. Gil emphasizes that software release frequency should align with business goals and day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth integration within existing workflows.
The Adelaide IT expert added that large software providers frequently rebrand their products, which can lead to frustration among users who find the old versions easier to use. “They’re trying to refresh and give you more functionality, but with more functionality comes the need for more processing power,” he said.
“At the end of the day, it’s a cost, but they don’t see the cost in productivity loss,” he added.
Bespoke software tailored for corporations also requires updates to keep pace with external software changes, while local interfaces may be updated simply to meet employee performance targets.
Frequent Updates: A Sign of the Future
Dr. Gil warns that if current update practices are driving users to distraction, they can expect even more frequent updates in the future, particularly with the advent of AI-generated code. “There’s a misalignment between day-to-day operations and what software can do,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the struggle continues for many office workers, who find themselves battling their computers’ attempts to save files to the cloud rather than locally, despite repeated opt-outs and interface adjustments. This ongoing frustration highlights the need for a balance between security and usability in the digital workplace.
