When it comes to cybersecurity for employees, most Brunswick business owners believe they’ve checked all the right boxes. You’ve invested in security software. You’ve scheduled the mandatory training sessions. You’ve sent the reminder emails about strong passwords.
So why are small businesses in our area still falling victim to employee-enabled cyberattacks?
The answer isn’t about what your staff don’t know – it’s about what they aren’t doing with the stuff they do know.
Your Employees’ Biggest Cybersecurity Mistake? Underestimating the Impact of Their Inaction
You read that right: the biggest cybersecurity mistake plaguing Brunswick businesses isn’t ignorance. It’s inaction.
Your team sat through the training. They nodded along when you explained the risks. They might have even taken detailed notes about best practices. But months later, with deadlines looming and clients calling, those security protocols have fallen to the wayside. After all, ‘how bad could reusing one password really be?’
Multiply that thought by the number of employees in your organization, and suddenly your business has a serious vulnerability – one that can’t be fixed with another PowerPoint presentation.
What Inaction Looks Like in Your Workplace
45% of employed people have fallen victim to a cyberattack or scam, and the same percentage admit they’re purely reactive to cyber threats at work (rather than taking proactive measures to prevent them).
Cybersecurity risks for small businesses often materialize through everyday shortcuts like:
Weak Password Practices
- Using simple, easy-to-guess passwords
- Reusing the same login credentials across multiple accounts
- Sharing passwords among team members for “convenience”
Communication Breakdowns
- Not reporting suspicious emails to IT
- Failing to alert colleagues about potential phishing attempts
- Keeping quiet when accidentally clicking questionable links
Protocol Workarounds
- Not configuring home networks securely. (Really, remote work warrants its own cybersecurity discussion, which fellow IT support provider ASC delivered in this piece.)
- Using personal devices instead of company-approved systems because “it’s quicker”
- Not alerting IT managers when they notice they have access to data they shouldn’t
Small Business Cybersecurity Risks: What Happens When Employees Start Slacking
Cybersecurity in Brunswick isn’t just a theoretical concern. The danger’s as real for businesses here as anywhere else in the country. Just last month, The Good Life Medical Staff LLC experienced a data breach stemming from a compromised employee email account. Similar incidents affected department store Cardi’s in the same timeframe – and these aren’t isolated cases.
In 2024 alone, infostealers captured a staggering 3.2 billion employee credentials from organizations globally. Behind each of these statistics are real businesses facing financial losses, reputational damage, and the exhausting process of recovery.
So if employees know better, why aren’t they doing better?
Why Awareness Training Alone Isn’t Enough
“But we invested in those cybersecurity awareness trainings. What went wrong?” The truth is, knowledge is transient, especially when it pertains to topics most employees find (let’s be honest) somewhat dull.
The biggest cybersecurity mistake many companies make is treating security like a college course: study once, pass the test, and move on. But there is no big cybersecurity test to be passed. There can’t be, because security savviness isn’t a learned theory – it’s a practiced skill.
Like learning how to ride a bike, drive a car, or write up a quarterly financial report, you can only master security best practices by doing them repeatedly until they become second nature. It’s routine, not recitation, that makes it all stick.
Building a Culture of Active Cybersecurity for Employees
How, then, do you transform your team’s security knowledge into consistent action without putting your business at risk?
- Make Security Convenient
One of the main reasons employees bypass security protocols is that they perceive them as obstacles to productivity. The solution? Make the secure option the easy option.
- Implement password managers that generate and store complex passwords
- Set up single sign-on solutions where appropriate
- Create simple reporting systems for suspicious emails (one-click reporting)
- Build Security Into Daily Workflows
Instead of treating cybersecurity in Brunswick as a separate task, integrate it into everyday processes.
- Include security checkpoints in project management workflows
- Add security reminders to meeting agendas
- Make security conversations part of regular team check-ins
- Create Accountability Without Shame
When employees fear punishment for security mistakes, they’re less likely to report issues.
- Recognize and reward security-conscious behaviors
- Create anonymous reporting channels for near misses
- Share lessons learned from incidents without blaming individuals
- Practice Regular Security Drills
In addition to annual training, implement frequent, short exercises with the help of your IT team.
- Run simulated phishing tests monthly (not to catch people out, but to build awareness)
- Practice incident response procedures quarterly
- Conduct five-minute security refreshers at team meetings
Could TikTok Be the Key to Effective Cybersecurity Training?
While cybersecurity risks for small businesses are serious, your approach to training doesn’t have to be dry. That was the thought of Anagram, who decided to use lessons from the social media giant (plus Khan Academy and Duolingo – all companies that have nailed the art of engagement) when building their hands-on security training platform.
Using gamification (points, achievements, friendly competition) transforms security from a chore into an engaging activity. When employees participate in short, interactive challenges that mimic real-world scenarios, they build muscle memory for proper security responses. Instead of dozing off during a presentation, they’re involved and active during training, making it easier to enact best practices in their everyday.
Cybersecurity in Brunswick: Moving from Awareness to Action
The biggest cybersecurity mistake your employees are making isn’t a technical vulnerability – it’s a human one. But by focusing on turning knowledge into action, local businesses can build a truly resilient security posture that keeps them safe against even the most sophisticated threats.
Rather than asking, “Do my employees know what to do?” start asking, “Are my employees actually doing what they know?”
That shift in perspective might be the most important security upgrade your business makes this year.
Coastal Computer Consulting: Award-Winning IT Support and Managed Cybersecurity Services
Since 2008, we’ve been empowering businesses up and down the I95 corridor to get the most out of their technology. With our wealth of experience and solutions designed for the area, we’ll handle all your IT needs so you can focus on driving success.
Whether you’re a long-standing local business looking to elevate operations or you’re just finding your feet in the area, our expert team can take on the burden of cybersecurity for your business. Contact us today to learn more about how it works.
