It’s easy to assume that younger employees are naturally good with technology.
After all, they’ve grown up with smartphones, social media, and apps.
They’ve been online for most of their lives, so surely they don’t need much help staying safe.
I’ve found that’s a dangerous assumption.
Being comfortable with technology isn’t the same as understanding cyber security.
Someone can navigate half a dozen apps without thinking, switch between devices effortlessly, and solve everyday tech problems in seconds.
That doesn’t automatically mean they’ll recognise a phishing email, spot a fake login page, or understand why reusing passwords creates a risk for the whole business.
They’re two completely different skills.
I’ve seen businesses make the mistake of tailoring cyber security training towards people they think are “less technical”.
The newer, younger members of the team are expected to pick it up naturally.
Everyone has different gaps in their knowledge.
One person might recognise a suspicious email immediately but use the same password everywhere.
Another might have excellent password habits but happily approve an unexpected sign-in request because it looks familiar.
Cyber criminals don’t care how old someone is.
They’re looking for the easiest way into a business, and that usually means finding the first person who trusts something they shouldn’t.
That’s why cyber security training works best when it’s something the whole business does together.
It also needs to reflect how people work today.
A lot of work now happens on mobile phones.
Staff approve sign-in requests while they’re travelling, open documents on personal devices, reply to emails between meetings, and switch constantly between business and personal apps.
That creates opportunities for mistakes that didn’t exist a few years ago.
Good training helps people recognise those situations before they become a problem.
It also creates a culture where asking questions is completely normal.
If somebody receives an unexpected email or isn’t sure whether a login request is genuine, they should feel comfortable checking before they continue.
That’s a much better outcome than hoping they’ve made the right decision.
Making cyber security training something everyone takes part in helps keep the whole business moving in the same direction.
If it’s been a while since your team received cyber security awareness training, or you’re relying on people to work things out for themselves, we can help. Get in touch.
