Young Employees Cybersecurity Risks
New research has uncovered an unexpected twist in the tale of cybersecurity risks – your tech-savvy younger employees may be your biggest vulnerability.
Shocked? Let’s dive into the details.
More than 6,500 employees across the globe were surveyed, with an almost equal representation of demographics. The results were rather alarming.
The study found that younger office workers, those 40 or under, are more likely to disregard standard password safety guidelines. Can you believe that 34% admitted to using their birth dates as passwords, compared to just 19% of those over 40?
And it doesn’t stop there.
The habit of using the same password across multiple devices was also more prevalent among younger workers, with 38% admitting to doing this.
And let’s not even get started on phishing
Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Business from Within
In our digital age, cybersecurity is paramount. Surprisingly, one significant threat comes from your younger, tech-savvy employees. Let’s explore the issue.
Understanding the Research
A recent global survey of over 6,500 employees unveiled some concerning trends.
Password Risks
Younger employees, aged 40 or under, are more likely to use weak passwords. Shockingly, 34% use their birth dates as passwords, compared to only 19% of those over 40. Using the same password on multiple devices is also common among younger workers, with 38% admitting to this risky practice.
Ignoring Phishing Threats
Phishing scams go underreported, with 23% of younger employees not reporting such attempts, believing them to be unimportant.
Awareness vs. Action
While many employees recognize ransomware and phishing as threats (23% and 22%, respectively), their actions don’t always reflect this awareness.
Training Gaps
Alarming statistics show that organizations worldwide fail to provide mandatory cybersecurity training. From the US to China, there’s a significant deficiency in preparing employees to protect the organization.
Taking Responsibility
Are younger employees solely to blame? It’s more complicated. Businesses need to equip their workforce with essential cybersecurity skills.
It’s time to prioritize cybersecurity awareness and provide training for all employees, not just the tech team or executives. This cultural shift is the first step in protecting your business effectively.
Creating a Safer Digital World
It’s not just about safeguarding your business; it’s about building a secure online environment for everyone. By addressing vulnerabilities within your workforce and offering comprehensive cybersecurity training, we work toward a safer digital future.
We’re here to help. Contact us to join the journey to a stronger, safer digital world.
scams. A whopping 23% of the younger demographic didn’t report the last phishing attempt they received. Their reasoning? “I didn’t think it was important”.
But surely they understand the gravity of security threats against businesses, right? Well, not quite.
While ransomware and phishing were acknowledged as critical threats by 23% and 22% of employees respectively, the overall attitude towards cyber security leaves much to be desired.
Here’s the kicker: a staggering number of those surveyed revealed that their organizations did NOT provide any mandatory cyber security training.
From the US (30%) to the UK (17%), Netherlands (32%), Japan (35%), India (31%), Germany (22%), France (43%), Australia (29%) and China (65%) – the numbers speak for themselves.
So, are we really to blame our young workforce when it’s clear that businesses aren’t doing enough to equip their employees with the necessary cyber security skills?
It’s high time we stopped treating cybersecurity as an afterthought and started investing in regular cyber awareness training for everyone in our businesses. Yes, EVERYONE. Not just the tech team or the executives, but every single employee.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about protecting your business; it’s about creating a safer digital world for us all.
We can help you do that. Get in touch.
Young Employees Cybersecurity Risks