Are your new employees your most significant security risk? Yes, yes, they are.

When you hire someone new, do you ever stop to think about how it affects your business’s security?

Most business owners focus on the basics: giving them a laptop, an email account, and access to the right tools. Maybe a quick team intro.

But here’s the truth — those first few months are actually one of the riskiest times for your cybersecurity.

And most businesses don’t even notice it.

A new study found that 71% of new hires fall for phishing or social engineering scams in their first 90 days.

That means cybercriminals are going after your newest team members — and often, they win.

Why?

Think about starting a new job. You want to make a good impression. You don’t know all the people or processes yet. You’re eager to do things right.

Hackers know that. They take advantage of it with fake emails that look like they’re from your boss, HR, or IT.

They might ask your new hire to “update their HR details,” pay a fake invoice, or share sensitive info “for a quick task.”

Because new employees don’t yet know what’s normal, they’re 44% more likely to click on phishing links than long-term staff. And when scammers pretend to be executives, new hires are 45% more likely to believe them.

That’s a big security risk — and it all happens during onboarding.

So what can you do?

The answer is simple: start cybersecurity training from day one. Don’t wait until your new hires “settle in. ”Teach them how to spot phishing emails, what to do if something seems off, and who to ask for help.

Companies that do this see real results — a 30% drop in phishing risk after onboarding.

Strong software and firewalls still matter, but people are your first line of defense. And your newest people? They’re your weakest link — unless you give them the tools to protect your business from day one.

If you’d like help setting up a simple and effective cybersecurity training program for new hires, or improving your overall security, we can help. Get in touch.