Are Your Employees Your Biggest Cyber Security Risk?
Murray Thorpe
IT Expert for small businesses and schools in Essex & Suffolk. Published author
Let me ask you something:
Do you lock your front door when you leave home?
Of course, you do.
But what if you got home and found that someone left a window open? Suddenly, that locked door doesn’t mean much anymore.
Now, think about your business.
You’ve probably invested in solid cyber security—strong passwords, firewalls, and regular software updates—to protect your data and systems. But here’s the problem: If your employees unknowingly leave the “windows” open, all that security could be useless.
The Unseen Risk: Your Employees
This isn’t about blame—it’s about awareness. The truth is, your employees could be your biggest security risk without even realising it.
With more people working remotely or in hybrid environments, personal devices are increasingly being used for work. And while that might seem convenient, it introduces serious vulnerabilities.
?? 80% of employees use personal phones, tablets, or laptops for work.
?? 40% admit to downloading customer data onto their own devices.
?? 65% of employees say they only follow security rules “sometimes” or “never.”
?? Nearly half reuse passwords across multiple work accounts—and over a third use the same passwords for both work and personal accounts.
Let’s break that down.
Imagine an employee using their personal laptop—one with outdated security software—to access sensitive company information. Or consider an employee working from a coffee shop, connecting to an unsecured Wi-Fi network.
Even worse, think about a hacker gaining access to an employee’s social media account and realising they use the same password for work systems. It’s a perfect recipe for disaster.
Where Things Can Go Wrong
Hackers know that humans are the easiest target in cyber security. That’s why cybercriminals use phishing emails, social engineering, and weak passwords to gain access to sensitive data.
And it’s not just about hacking—sometimes, employees unknowingly bypass security measures out of convenience:
?? Forwarding work emails to personal accounts to make access easier.
?? Using personal devices for work that lack proper security settings.
?? Downloading sensitive customer data onto unsecured personal storage.
?? Using AI tools without security guidelines, potentially exposing confidential data.
What Can You Do?
Cyber security isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a company-wide responsibility. The good news? With the right approach, you can turn employees from your biggest security risk into your first line of defense.
1. Educate Your Employees
Most security breaches happen due to lack of awareness, not bad intent. Employees need to understand why security rules exist—not just be told to follow them.
Make training practical, engaging, and relevant to everyday work. Highlight real-world examples of security breaches and their impact.
2. Set Clear and Simple Security Policies
Your cyber security policies should be easy to understand and follow. A few critical rules include:
? Use a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords.
? Access work systems only on secure, company-approved devices.
? Never forward work emails to personal accounts or download sensitive data onto personal devices.
3. Reinforce Security Awareness Regularly
Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so training shouldn’t be a one-time event.
?? Provide ongoing security awareness training to keep cyber security top-of-mind.
?? Send regular security updates on emerging threats.
?? Conduct simulated phishing tests to test employee awareness.
4. Reward Good Security Habits
Encourage employees to take security seriously by recognising good behavior.
?? If an employee reports a phishing attempt, celebrate it.
?? If someone suggests a better security practice, listen and implement it.
Positive reinforcement builds a culture of security.
Final Thoughts
The biggest cyber security risk in your company isn’t the technology—it’s how people use it.
By educating your employees, setting clear security policies, and reinforcing awareness, you can transform them from a security risk into your strongest defense.
?? Need help strengthening your team’s cyber security awareness? Let’s talk.