How to Strengthen Cyber Security During Onboarding
When welcoming a new team member, most businesses focus on setup — providing a laptop, email access, and introductions.
But few stop to consider the cyber security risks that come with onboarding.
Those early days in a new role can be one of the most vulnerable periods for your organisation’s data security — and it often goes unnoticed.
Recent research shows that nearly three-quarters of new employees (71%) fall victim to phishing or social engineering attacks within their first 90 days on the job.
That means cyber criminals are deliberately targeting new starters — and too often, they succeed.
Why onboarding creates security gaps
Starting a new job can be overwhelming. New employees are eager to make a good impression, still learning internal systems, and trying to follow instructions correctly.
Cyber criminals take advantage of this. They send convincing messages that appear to come from HR, management, or IT, exploiting uncertainty and trust.
A message might ask a new employee to verify their details on a fake HR site, approve an urgent payment, or share confidential information. Because they’re still learning what normal communication looks like, new hires are 44% more likely to click on these phishing attempts than established team members. When attackers pose as executives, that figure increases to 45%.
These statistics show just how crucial it is to secure your onboarding process.
How to protect your business
Cyber security training shouldn’t be something you “get to later.” It should start on day one.
Early training helps new staff understand how to spot phishing emails, recognise suspicious requests, and know exactly what to do when something doesn’t seem right.
Companies that include tailored awareness training and phishing simulations during onboarding reduce phishing risk by around 30% after the first few months. That’s a significant improvement for such a simple step.
Of course, tools like firewalls and antivirus software are still essential. But your people remain your first line of defence.
By equipping new employees with the right knowledge from the start, you’re strengthening your entire organisation’s cyber resilience.
If you’d like guidance on setting up effective cyber security training for new staff — or advice on improving your business’s overall IT security — get in touch. We’ll help you make sure every employee becomes a confident part of your defence from day one.
