When you welcome a new hire, your priority is usually making sure they can hit the ground running. You get them a laptop, set up an email account, grant access to the right systems, and introduce them to the team.
But there’s one thing that often gets overlooked during onboarding: cyber security.
In fact, the first three months of a new employee’s journey is one of the riskiest times for your business when it comes to cyber attacks.
Why criminals target new starters
Recent studies show that around 71% of new hires fall victim to phishing or social engineering attacks in their first 90 days. That’s an alarming number, and it proves that cyber criminals are deliberately targeting your newest people.
Think about it from their perspective. Starting a new job can be overwhelming. Employees are eager to impress, still learning processes, and not yet confident in what’s “normal” communication. Hackers know this, and they use it to their advantage.
Typical scams might include:
- Fake HR portals requesting personal details.
- Bogus invoices marked as urgent.
- Emails impersonating senior managers asking for sensitive information.
Because new employees are still finding their feet, they’re 44% more likely to click a malicious link and 45% more likely to believe fake executive requests than long-standing colleagues.
Training makes all the difference
So what’s the solution? The answer isn’t just better software or stricter firewalls. Those are important, but they won’t stop a well-crafted phishing email from reaching your team.
The most effective protection is security awareness training right from day one. Businesses that invest in tailored training and realistic phishing simulations see phishing risk fall by as much as 30% after onboarding.
People are your strongest defence
Your employees are on the front line of cyber defence, especially your newest ones. Without the right guidance, they’re your weakest link. With clear training and support, they become one of your greatest assets in protecting the business.
If you’d like help creating simple, effective cyber security training for new starters, or want to strengthen your overall security strategy, our team is here to help. Get in touch today.
