Quick Question: Do You Lock Your Home When You Step Out?

Chances are, you do.

But imagine returning and finding a window wide open. You might as well have left the door unlocked in the first place, right?

Now think about your business.

You’ve likely invested in solid cyber defenses—strong passwords, firewalls, and regular software updates—to keep things safe. But if your employees are unknowingly leaving the “windows” open, all that security effort goes to waste.

It’s not about pointing fingers; it’s about creating awareness. Whether they mean to or not, your employees can pose the greatest risk to your company’s security.

Remote work is on the rise, and studies show four out of five employees use personal devices for their job. It makes sense—why not use the technology they already have on hand?

Here’s the catch: Those personal devices usually don’t have the same safeguards you’d enforce in the office. Weak passwords, outdated software, and unsecured Wi-Fi connections are just the sort of vulnerabilities hackers love.

And it gets worse…

Two out of five employees admit to storing customer data on their personal devices. That’s confidential information leaving your secure business environment and ending up in a much riskier place.

If that doesn’t get your attention, consider this: Over 65% of employees admit they only follow cyber security guidelines “sometimes” or “never.” This includes sending work emails to personal addresses, setting up Wi-Fi hotspots on their phones, or ignoring protocols around sensitive data when using AI services.

Then there are passwords—nearly half of employees reuse the same passwords for multiple work accounts, and over a third use identical passwords for both work and personal logins.

Picture this: A hacker cracks into an employee’s social media account, then uses that same password to access your company systems. That’s a crisis waiting to unfold.

So, what’s the solution?

Education.

Help your team understand why cyber security matters. People usually don’t violate rules on purpose; they just don’t fully grasp the dangers. Show them that even “small” habits—like reusing passwords or connecting on public Wi-Fi—can lead to big problems.

Set up security policies that are clear and easy to follow. For example:

• Use a password manager to generate a unique, robust password for every work account
• Only log in to work systems from secure, approved devices
• Never forward work-related emails to personal accounts

Schedule regular training sessions to keep cyber security front and center, and be sure to acknowledge good habits. When someone flags a suspicious email or devises a creative way to protect sensitive information, share that success with everyone.

Cyber security is everyone’s job.

By equipping employees with the right skills and resources, you can transform them from a potential liability into your best defense.

Need help keeping your team current on emerging security threats? Reach out, and let’s make sure your business stays safe.