The biggest thing we tell new starters is this... if something feels off, don't ignore it. Doesn't matter if it's a weird email, a dodgy link, or something you clicked that suddenly opened five tabs and made your laptop sound like it's about to take off. Always ask. Always flag it. You're not being annoying, you're doing the right thing. Most cybersecurity issues don't start with some elite hacker. They start with someone clicking on something without thinking, then not wanting to admit it! That's what causes the damage. So don't worry about looking silly. Worry about staying quiet when something feels wrong. Ask first...click later. That mindset alone protects the business more than any bit of tech! PS: If your email says your parcel's on the way and you didn't order anything...don't click it. You're not suddenly lucky. You're being baited.
The most valuable advice I give to new employees is to think before you click, respond, or take action when something feels urgent or unusual. Having spent years investigating mobile security incidents at Certo, I've observed that the vast majority of security breaches exploit one common weakness: the human tendency to bypass critical thinking when pressure is applied. Cybercriminals deliberately create scenarios designed to trigger automatic responses. Whether it's a seemingly urgent email from the CEO requesting immediate action, a suspicious link disguised as a legitimate company resource, or a caller claiming to be from IT support who needs your password right now - these attacks exploit the natural human desire to be helpful and responsive. The practice I recommend is simple but powerful: implement a personal "pause and verify" protocol. When any request feels urgent, contains unusual details, or asks for sensitive information, take a moment to verify its legitimacy through a separate communication channel. This might mean calling the supposed sender using a number you already have, asking a colleague to confirm the request, or double-checking with IT through official channels. This approach protects both you and the company because modern cyber attacks often target individuals as entry points to broader systems. A single compromised credential can cascade into a company-wide security incident, affecting not just your data but potentially thousands of customers or business partners. What makes this advice particularly relevant is that security measures like two-factor authentication and encrypted email are meaningless if a human is still manipulated into providing access. Technology can only go so far - the human element remains the most critical line of defense. The beauty of this practice is that it becomes second nature with repetition. Eventually, that brief pause before taking action becomes automatic, and you'll find yourself naturally identifying potentially suspicious requests before they create problems. Simon Lewis Co-founder at Certo
One piece of advice I always give new hires is to adopt a "zero-trust" mindset: assume that every email, link or download could be malicious until you've verified its source. Protect yourself by: * Always verifying senders before you click. If something feels off like unexpected attachments, odd phrasing, strange URLs, pause and confirm via a separate channel (e.g. a quick Teams or Slack message). * Using strong, unique passwords stored in a reputable password manager, and enabling multi-factor authentication everywhere it's offered. * Keeping your devices and apps up to date so you have the latest security fixes. Protect the company by: * Reporting anything suspicious immediately to your IT or security team. Early detection stops threats from spreading. * Following and never bypassing security policies, whether that's using only approved cloud services or encrypting sensitive files. * Sharing what you learn: if you spot a clever phishing attempt, let your teammates know so they don't fall for the same trick. Training yourself to question unexpected requests, locking down your own account with MFA, and speaking up at the first sign of trouble, makes your own work safer and helps you build a culture of resilience that protects everyone.
One thing I always tell new employees is to slow down and trust your instincts. Most security issues don't happen because someone hacks a firewall. They happen because someone clicked a link or responded to a message without taking a second to think it through. Attackers are smart. They rely on urgency and familiarity. If something feels off, even slightly, it probably is. That's your signal to stop and verify. If you get a request for access, data, or payment, confirm it using another method. Call the person. Use Slack. Don't rely on the original message, even if it looks legit. Cybersecurity isn't about knowing every threat. It's about developing good habits. Pause. Ask questions. Stay aware. You don't need to be in a technical role to make a big impact on security. Just being careful and consistent is often enough. The teams that do this well build a strong security culture. It's not complicated, but it takes intention. Be the person who checks, who asks, and who doesn't just assume. That mindset is what keeps both you and the company protected.
As someone who's managed over 2,500 WordPress websites and currently maintains hundreds through wpONcall, I've seen what makes sites vulnerable. My top cybersecurity advice for new employees is simple: understand that human behavior is the primary security vulnerability. In our experience, over 90% of website compromises aren't from sophisticated attacks but from predictable password combinations, outdated plugins, or clicking suspicious links. One practical step we implement for all clients is creating a dedicated email address solely for critical accounts. This separates your important logins from your regular email that receives potentially malicious messages, significantly reducing your attack surface. We recently helped a client recover from a breach where an employee's WordPress admin credentials were compromised through a phishing email. Our daily backups saved them, but the incident could have been prevented with proper account isolation and awareness of social engineering tactics.
One of the tips that I typically give to a fresh employee when setting them on the track of cybersecurity awareness is to treat every email, link, or file with doubt as a threat—especially when unexpected or when it appears to be quite urgent. The cybercriminals have gotten so brilliant and often send maleficent mails pretending to come from real companies, running through their branding, and sometimes even mentioning internal names or projects. I have come across instances where the perpetrators impersonated CEOs or department heads to ask employees for the urgent sending of files or transferring money. In that, a quick call or internal chat to check out would have prevented serious damage. In an effort to protect themselves and their company, I encourage each new employee to use a password manager for generating and storing strong, unique passwords for each platform, never using the same password for different accounts. We also have multi-factor authentication (MFA) set up on all business-critical systems, making sure to communicate that it is not just an inconvenience but a crucial security layer. Beyond this, we train our teams to recognize the usual phishing signs: mismatched email addresses, odd grammar, a sense of urgency, or abnormal file attachments. Making sure that suspicious activities are reported to the IT personnel right away, even if anyone feels unsure about it, may well be the course that leads between a narrow call and a full-blown sense of failure.
Always think before you click. My top advice to any new employee is to treat every unexpected email, link, or file with healthy suspicion. Phishing is still the most common entry point for cyberattacks. When in doubt, verify the source—don't just trust the logo or name. Use strong, unique passwords (with a password manager), enable 2FA, and never share credentials—even with someone who "sounds official." Your caution can protect not just you, but the entire company.
As a healthcare practitioner running a men's health clinic, my top cybersecurity advice is to treat sensitive data with the same privacy protocols we use for protected health information. At our Center for Men's Health, we handle intimate medical details daily, making us prime targets for data breaches. Our practice implemented a "need-to-know" access policy for patient records that dramatically reduced our vulnerability surface. When we onboarded our team member Mike from his EMT background, we established clear boundaries about which systems he could access during training versus after certification. I've witnessed how compounding pharmacy partners like Wells Pharmacy Network become targets through their association with medical practices. This taught me to verify the security practices of every third-party vendor before sharing any data—something any employee can implement by questioning how external tools will handle company information. The most valuable security measure isn't technical but behavioral: cultivate healthy skepticism. When we receive unexpected requests for patient information—even from seemingly legitimate sources—we independently verify through established channels before responding. This verification habit has prevented numerous potential breaches at our clinic and requires zero technical expertise.
As a signage manufacturer, I've seen how physical security and digital security are actually similar - both are only as strong as their weakest point. My advice: treat company data like those site induction signs we make - nobody gets access without proper verification and training. In our early days, we had a supplier attempt to compromise our systems after an employee clicked what looked like a shipping confirmation email. Now we implement a simple "call to verify" system for any external payment requests or account changes, which has stopped several phishing attempts. When we're printing sensitive custom designs for mining sites or high-security facilities, we require proper authentication channels rather than just relying on email approvals. Training our team to follow verification processes for both manufacturing requests and digital communications created consistency that protects everyone. Manufacturing businesses like ours face unique risks with intellectual property. We secure our design files with access controls and train our team to recognize when someone is requesting files through unusual channels. Cybersecurity isn't about complex systems - it's about consistent human behavior.
Treat your login credentials the same way you would treat your bank account information. Be wary of e-mails or websites asking you to log in to something unexpectedly, the same way you exercise caution when a website unexpectedly asked you for your credit card information. In the workplace, your login credentials are oftentimes all that an attacker needs to begin a cyberattack.
As the founder of Security Camera King, I've seen how security awareness extends beyond physical cameras into the digital field. My top advice for new employees is to implement visible security measures that act as deterrents - this applies to cybersecurity too. Just as businesses strategically place visible cameras to prevent fraudulent incident claims, displaying cybersecurity badges and compliance certifications on your workstation signals to potential attackers that you're not an easy target. Our customers who visibly demonstrate their security measures experience fewer attempts at breaches. Document everything digital - conversations, unusual emails, access requests. When our technical support team troubleshoots customer issues, complete documentation helps us identify patterns in security problems before they become major breaches. This practice has saved several of our clients from sophisticated phishing attempts. Security shouldn't be hidden entirely. While some businesses prefer low-profile surveillance, those who make certain security elements highly visible often prevent incidents completely rather than just capturing evidence after the fact. The same principle applies to your digital workspace.
I think the answer is in your question - "How can they best protect themselves..." Honestly forget about trying to protect the company. The best thing you can do is to let people know that what they learn will personally protect them from cyber scams, and that means that will ultimately save money and time from being hacked less, or hopefully not at all. So when you're talking about cyber awareness, always emphasise the personal impact of having good knowledge in this area. Now of course the challenge you faced as a company is to ensure that the content you distribute is relatable (i.e. home use), and that what they learn also applies to the business.
As a founder who's dealt with cybersecurity challenges at both Stradiant and previously as IT Director at Chuys/Krispy Kreme, my best advice for new employees is to assume every unsolicited email or message is suspicious until proven otherwise. The most devastating attacks I've seen weren't from sophisticated hackers but from convincing impersonation emails that created artificial urgency. One practice I've implemented with great success is having employees physically verify any request involving financial transactions or sensitive data. Recently, we prevented a major breach when an employee called to verify an "urgent wire transfer" supposedly requested by the CEO - it was actually a well-crafted spoof using information scraped from LinkedIn. Hover over links before clicking them - always. This simple habit has saved countless organizations from compromise. At Stradiant, we've observed that most ransomware infections originate from seemingly innocent links that redirect to malicious sites hosting exploit kits. Lastly, report anything unusual immediately. The window for preventing lateral movement after initial compromise is short. We had a client whose quick-thinking receptionist reported a strange login notification, allowing us to isolate the breach to a single workstation instead of facing a company-wide ransomware situation.
As the founder of tekRESCUE and having managed cybersecurity for countless clients over the years, I'd say the most important advice for new employees is to understand that you are always a target. No matter your position, cybercriminals view every employee as a potential entry point. I've seen how personal devices can compromise entire networks. Last year, an employee brought their infected personal laptop to work, connected it to the company network, and within hours we were dealing with a network-wide infection that could have been prevented with proper segmentation. Create clear boundaries between work and personal digital activities. We implement separate networks for personal and work devices at client sites, which has prevented countless cross-contamination incidents. This simple separation has proven to be one of the most effective security measures. Practice good device management - always lock your devices when unattended, even if just stepping away for a minute. It sounds basic, but in our monthly security audits, we consistently find open uped workstations that could give attackers physical access to sensitive systems.
Working here at SSLTrust, you'll quickly find that cybersecurity isn't just what we do for others; it's deeply ingrained in how we operate and protect ourselves, too. If I had to give just one piece of advice to a new employee about cybersecurity awareness, it would be this: Cultivate a healthy sense of suspicion and always think before you click, share, or connect. I believe this is the single most important habit you can develop, both for protecting yourself personally and for safeguarding the company. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics, but so many attacks, from phishing emails trying to steal login details to social engineering calls trying to get you to reveal internal information, rely on tricking people into bypassing security measures or revealing sensitive data. My thoughts are that by approaching unexpected emails, links, file attachments, or even unusual requests with a bit of scepticism - asking yourself, "Does this seem right? Is this expected? Is this the legitimate way this is usually done?" - you create a vital pause. This pause gives you a chance to verify things through official channels instead of reacting impulsively. I feel that by adopting this vigilant mindset, you become a critical part of our collective defence. You protect yourself by not falling for scams that could compromise your personal accounts or data. And you protect the company by preventing potential breaches, malware infections, or data leaks that could stem from clicking a malicious link or providing information to an unauthorised party. It's about being proactive and understanding that you're on the front line of defence every day. Always remember to report anything that feels suspicious - even if it turns out to be nothing, it's far better to flag it.
Security systems fail because of basic human decisions made by people who feel safe rather than technical flaws or outdated firewalls. Every new employee receives my warning to be careful and cautious while performing their role as the security gatekeeper. The foundation of cybersecurity exists within the way people think. When you encounter anything suspicious such as urgent emails or files from unknown senders or requests that skip standard procedures you should immediately stop to verify the situation. The appearance of safety does not guarantee security so always verify everything. A brief pause in action can stop an entire crisis from unfolding. Use strong passwords and change them regularly. The practice of using identical passwords across different accounts functions similarly to giving one key for all your house and car and office safe. Enable multi-factor authentication wherever you can. The implementation of multi-factor authentication functions similarly to installing a deadbolt on your digital entry system. Keep your software updated. The frequent pop-up alerts serve as security patches which fix major system vulnerabilities. If you notice anything unusual you should speak up. Report it. Your warning can prevent a security breach from occurring. The cyber threats do not differentiate between your self-perceived level of experience or technical abilities. The attackers focus on human actions instead of focusing on job positions. A culture of protection emerges when everyone takes responsibility because it safeguards both data and trust and reputation and peace of mind.
One crucial piece of advice I would give to a new employee regarding cybersecurity awareness is to develop a strong habit of vigilance and continuous learning. In the rapidly evolving landscape of technology, threats are becoming more sophisticated, and staying one step ahead requires both awareness and proactive measures. First and foremost, always be cautious about the emails and messages you receive, especially those that ask for personal or sensitive information. Phishing attacks are common and often quite convincing, so it's critical to verify the authenticity of the sender before responding or clicking on any links. Look out for red flags such as urgent requests, unexpected attachments, and mismatched URLs. Another aspect of safeguarding both personal and company data is maintaining strong, complex passwords and updating them regularly. Use unique passwords for different accounts and consider a reputable password manager to keep track of them securely. Wherever possible, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security. Keeping your software and systems updated is another key practice. Cyber threats often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. Regularly installing updates and patches can prevent these types of attacks. Additionally, make sure to use antivirus and anti-malware programs to scan your systems regularly for any malicious activity. For a company-wide perspective, it's essential to familiarize yourself with your organization's cybersecurity policies and protocols. Understand the best practices laid out for data protection, and don't hesitate to reach out to the IT or security team if you have questions or spot something suspicious. Participation in company training sessions and staying informed through cybersecurity newsletters or alerts can also enhance your knowledge. Lastly, cultivate a culture of open communication about cybersecurity within your team. Encourage sharing information and experiences related to security threats, as this collective awareness can help in preventing potential breaches. Remember, cybersecurity is not just the responsibility of the IT department; everyone plays a part in safeguarding the organization's data and reputation. By being vigilant and proactively engaged, you contribute to a more secure digital environment not just for yourself, but for everyone in the company.
Slow down and think. That's the most important habit when it comes to cybersecurity awareness. Most attacks aren't technical marvels, they're psychological traps. Things like a fake invoice, a login page that looks just familiar enough, or a message from someone pretending to be your boss. If you take a second to ask, "Does this make sense?", you'll avoid most of them. But individual caution only goes so far. Security awareness has to be backed by leadership. If the message is "just be careful" during onboarding and it never comes up again, don't expect lasting results. People take their cues from the top. When leadership prioritizes security and models good habits, others will too.
Having spent 30 years in the CRM space where data security is paramount, I've learned that the most overlooked cybersecutity risk isn't technical—it's human behavior. My number one piece of advice is beautifully simple: "If it's not in CRM, it didn't happen." At BeyondCRM, we enforce this religiously, tracking every client interaction within our secure system rather than leaving sensitive data in personal emails or notes. Some of our clients even tie commission structures to proper system usage—no entry in the CRM, no commission on the sale. Password management is another critical area where I've seen countless breaches. We implemented a company-wide password manager with enforced complexity requirements and automatic rotation. This single change reduced our security incidents by nearly 70% in just six months. What most people don't realize is that cybersecurity isn't just an IT problem—it's a business process problem. When rescuing failed CRM implementations, we often find that clients who experienced data breaches weren't hacked through sophisticated means—they simply had employees storing customer lists in personal cloud storage or sharing login credentials "just this once." Define clear processes for data handling and make security part of everyone's job description.
As an industry veteran deeply involved in high-performance systems, I believe cybersecurity is not just a technical issue but a core responsibility shared by everyone in an organization. A key piece of advice I give new employees is to adopt a "security-first" mindset--integrating cybersecurity awareness into every part of your professional behavior, regardless of your role or seniority. Start by understanding the core principles of cybersecurity: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. These guide how we protect sensitive data, ensure systems remain trustworthy, and maintain consistent access. For instance, confidentiality can mean securing your physical workspace, using strong passwords, and locking your computer when stepping away. Stay informed. Regularly attend cybersecurity training and keep up with emerging threats. Encourage open communication with teammates about suspicious activities--shared vigilance strengthens the organization's defense posture. Be cautious with emails and attachments, especially from unfamiliar senders. Phishing remains one of the most common threats. Use two-factor authentication on all platforms--it adds a vital layer of protection. If you're an engineer or developer, apply secure coding practices: perform regular code reviews, use automated security testing tools, and keep dependencies updated. As we adopt cloud services and IoT technologies, collaborate closely with IT and security teams to address potential risks early. Cybersecurity is a shared effort. By being informed, cautious, and proactive, every employee contributes to a safer and more resilient organization.