If you’ve added any new employees for any position; whether front desk, admin, technician, or assistant, you might have accidentally opened the door to one of your business’s biggest cybersecurity risks.
According to Keepnet’s 2025 New Hires Phishing Susceptibility Report, 71% of new employees fall for phishing or social engineering attacks during their first 90 days.
That’s nearly twice the rate of long-term staff.
This isn’t just an IT headache. It’s a trust issue. A financial risk. A potential hit to your hard-earned reputation.
Why Hackers Love New Employees
New hires show up with the best intentions and a blank slate. That combo is exactly what scammers are banking on.
Here’s why they’re vulnerable:
• They want to impress. A “quick task” from someone who seems like the boss? Many will do it without question, simply because they don’t know the norms yet.
• They’re drinking from a firehose. Policies, passwords, and procedures are flying at them. Cybersecurity details often get pushed aside or skipped altogether.
• They don’t know what “weird” looks like yet. A sketchy HR link, a strange invoice, or a fake vendor name doesn’t raise alarms because they haven’t built their radar yet.
Hackers know this. And they know how to exploit it.
What One Wrong Click Can Really Cost You
A simple click on the wrong link could:
• Expose sensitive customer or patient data
• Set off a chain reaction of compliance violations
• Cause real financial loss from a fake invoice or wire transfer
• Paralyze your business with ransomware
• Tank team morale and erode customer trust
It doesn’t matter if you’re running a clinic, a construction company, or a marketing agency. One mistake from one new person can spiral fast.
The First 90 Days Are the Danger Zone
Keepnet’s report shows that new hires are 44% more likely to fall for phishing emails than your seasoned staff.
But here’s the good news: businesses that used smart onboarding with cybersecurity training saw a 30% drop in that risk within three months.
In other words…this is fixable.
What You Can Do Right Now
Here’s how to protect your team without overcomplicating things:
Bake Security Into Onboarding
Make it part of the Day One checklist. Just like payroll and HR forms. Use real-world phishing simulations that reflect the kinds of messages your team actually sees.
Use Adaptive Training
Don’t hand them a stale slideshow. Modern tools adjust based on role and behavior. They learn faster, and the lessons stick.
Build a “Pause Before You Click” Culture
Train muscle memory early. Reinforce the idea that it’s not just okay, but even smart, to question a sketchy email or link.
Reward Reporting
Make it easy and safe for employees to flag suspicious emails. Use tools with built-in “Report” buttons and even toss in friendly competitions or badges.
Track What Really Matters
Forget checking the box on training. Watch for trends in who clicks, who learns, and who needs extra support.
The Bottom Line
You’ve got enough on your plate without cybersecurity becoming another fire to put out. If your new hires aren’t getting trained to spot scams from the start, it’s not just a gap. It’s a liability.
This isn’t about fear. It’s about foresight.
You don’t need to become a tech expert. You need a partner who:
• Builds protection into your processes
• Understands how your business actually runs
• Treats cybersecurity training like safety gear – a requirement, not a suggestion
That’s what we’re here for.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about stopping a scam. It’s about making sure nothing and no one slips through the cracks on your watch.