Are Your Employees Your Security's Weakest Link?

Let me ask you this: Do you lock your front door when you leave the house?

Of course, you do.

But what if you return home to find someone left a window open? It's as if you left the door unlocked, isn't it?

Now, consider your business.

You've likely invested in robust cyber security measures to protect it, utilising strong passwords, firewalls, and the latest software updates. Yet, if your employees inadvertently leave the "windows" open, all that security is in vain.

It's not about laying blame – it's about raising awareness. The reality is that your employees might be your biggest security risk, without even realising it.

With more people working remotely, research indicates that four out of five employees use their personal phones, tablets, or laptops for work. It makes sense. Why not utilise the devices they already own?

Here's the issue: Your employees' personal devices are probably not equipped with the same security measures you'd employ in the office. Their phones and laptops might use weak passwords, outdated software, or even be connected to unprotected Wi-Fi networks. This is a dream scenario for hackers.

And here's where it gets alarming...

Two out of five employees admit to downloading customer data onto their own devices. That's sensitive data leaving the safety of your business, now vulnerable to falling into the wrong hands.

If that's not enough to cause concern, here's another shocker: More than 65% of employees confess they only follow cyber security rules "sometimes" or even "never". This includes forwarding work emails to their personal accounts, using their phones as Wi-Fi hotspots, or ignoring guidelines about handling data when using AI tools.

Passwords are another issue, with nearly half of employees using the same passwords across different work accounts. Even worse, over a third use the same passwords for both their work AND personal accounts.

Imagine a hacker gaining access to your employee's social media account and using the same password to infiltrate your business systems. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

So, what can you do?

The key is education.

Start by helping your team understand why cyber security is so crucial. Most people don't break the rules intentionally – they simply don't realise the risks. Explain that those little habits that seem harmless (like reusing passwords or working on public Wi-Fi) can cause serious damage.

Create security rules that are clear, simple, and easy to follow. For instance, you can instruct your team to:

- Use a password manager to create a strong, random, and unique password for each of their work accounts.

- Only access work systems on secure, approved devices.

- Never forward work emails to their personal accounts.

Additionally, ensure your employees receive regular training sessions to keep cyber security at the forefront of their minds, and don't forget to celebrate good habits. If someone flags a suspicious email or devises a clever way to safeguard sensitive data, be sure to let everyone on your team know.

Cyber security is everyone's responsibility.

By providing your employees with the right tools and training, you can transform them into your first line of defence instead of your weakest link.

If you’d like assistance in keeping your team updated on the latest security threats, please get in touch.