New Staff, New Security Risk?
Bringing someone new into the business is always exciting. You’re focused on making sure they feel welcome, have the right tools to get started, and can hit the ground running. A laptop, email account, system access… maybe a quick intro to the team.
But here’s what often gets overlooked: those first few months of a new hire’s journey are also one of the riskiest times for your company’s cybersecurity.
And the numbers are alarming.
Recent research shows 71% of new hires fall victim to phishing or social engineering attacks within their first 90 days. That means cybercriminals are deliberately targeting your newest team members—and far too often, they succeed.
Why New Employees Are at Risk
Think about what it’s like starting a new job. You want to make a good impression. You don’t know all the processes yet. You’re eager to follow instructions and not slow anyone down.
Hackers know this. They exploit that uncertainty with carefully crafted messages—emails or texts that appear to come from HR, a manager, or IT support.
A fake HR portal asking the employee to “update their details”
A bogus invoice marked urgent
A spoofed message from a senior leader asking for sensitive information
Because a new starter hasn’t yet learned what’s normal—and who’s who—they’re 44% more likely to click on phishing attempts than longer-serving colleagues. When attackers impersonate company executives, that figure jumps to 45% more likely.
That’s not just a small risk. It’s a glaring vulnerability.
What You Can Do
The good news? You can drastically reduce the risk with the right approach.
The key is timing. Cybersecurity training shouldn’t be something you get around to after a new hire has “settled in.” It should be part of day one.
When employees receive targeted security awareness training and take part in realistic phishing simulations during onboarding, their risk of falling for an attack drops by 30%. That’s a big win for a relatively small investment of time and effort.
Of course, tools like firewalls, antivirus, and advanced security software are critical. But they can’t stop every attack. Your people—especially your newest people—are your first line of defense.
Final Thought
Excited new starters can also be your weakest link—unless you equip them with the knowledge to recognize and resist cyberattacks from the very beginning.
If you’d like help setting up straightforward, effective security training for your new employees—or want to strengthen your overall defenses—we’re here to help. Get in touch today.
👉Book a discovery call or reach us at 478‑291‑8620
💯 Take 60 seconds to Check your Cyber Score and see how well you're protected
