The Unseen Threat Within

Imagine this scenario: It’s Friday afternoon, and an employee, eager to wrap up for the weekend, connects to a public Wi-Fi network to send a final report. They overlook a pending software update and neglect to log out of the company dashboard.

While seemingly trivial, such actions can significantly compromise your business’s cybersecurity.

Recent studies have shown that two-thirds of UK office workers engage in behaviours that pose security risks, such as not logging out of accounts, using unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and downloading unauthorised software. These habits are not limited to large corporations; small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are equally vulnerable.​

The Human Element in Cybersecurity

Everyday Behaviours That Compromise Security

A survey conducted by Sharp Europe Sharp for Business | EU revealed that two-thirds of SME employees engage in risky tech behaviours at work. Common practices include:​

• Leaving work accounts logged in on shared devices.
• Using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.​
• Delaying essential software updates.
• Downloading unauthorised applications.​
• Sharing sensitive information through unsecured channels.​

These actions create vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit, potentially leading to data breaches and financial losses.​

When Awareness Doesn’t Translate into Action

Here’s the kicker: 86% of surveyed employees said they are more concerned about cybersecurity now than they were a year ago, largely due to growing fears around artificial intelligence (AI) and how it can be used for cybercrime.

Yet despite this increased concern, this awareness doesn’t always translate into secure practices. Factors contributing to this disconnect include heavy workloads, lack of understanding of security protocols, and the absence of regular training.​

Notably, 3% of UK SME workers reported receiving no security training in the past two years, and 16% have never received any training on emerging cyber threats. ​

Why Fridays Are a Hacker’s Favourite Day

According to the report, 17% of employees are more likely to make security mistakes on Friday afternoons. It makes sense. The week’s stress piles up, deadlines loom, and concentration dips.

Add in the stat that 35% of employees admit to making security errors due to pressure and heavy workloads, and you start to see a pattern. Cyber criminals certainly have.

They know when to strike – they bank on those Friday slips.

The Real Cost of Human Error

Human Error = 95% of Breaches

Let that sink in. According to the InfoSecurity Magazine, a whopping 95% of cyber incidents are due to human error. Not firewalls. Not zero-day exploits. Not state-sponsored attacks. Just good old-fashioned mistakes.

Simple mistakes, such as clicking on phishing links or using weak passwords, can have severe repercussions for businesses.​

And the cost of those mistakes? $4.88 million (approx. £3.74 million), on average, per breach globally.

Now, small to medium businesses might not hit that number, but even a minor breach can have a devastating impact. Think:

• Data loss and downtime
• Regulatory fines (hello, GDPR)
• Damaged client trust
• Insurance premium hikes

A simple mistake can snowball into a full-blown disaster.

The financial implications of data breaches are substantial. Beyond immediate costs, businesses may face regulatory fines, legal fees, and increased insurance premiums. Moreover, the loss of client trust and damage to the company’s reputation can have long-term effects on business viability.

“It’s Not My Problem” – The Dangerous Mindset

Worryingly, 1 in 20 employees surveyed said they wouldn’t be bothered if their company was hit by a cyberattack.

That apathy is terrifying. It’s also why fostering a culture of shared responsibility is so vital.

Your IT provider can put tools in place, but if staff don’t understand their role in security, you’re building on sand.

Turning Your Team into Your First Line of Defence

What Is User Awareness Training?

User awareness training isn’t about turning your receptionist into a hacker-hunting ninja. It’s about helping every employee understand how their actions affect the wider business and giving them the tools to stay secure.

It covers:

• Recognising phishing emails and social engineering attempts
• Strong password and passphrase hygiene
• The importance of patching and software updates
• Proper data handling procedures
• Secure remote working practices

Think of it like a seatbelt: simple to use, but absolutely essential in a crash.

What Works (and What Doesn’t)

Not all training is created equal. Ticking a box with a dull annual PowerPoint presentation won’t cut it.

Effective training is:

• Regular: Little and often beats once-a-year marathons.
• Interactive: Quizzes, phishing simulations, and gamification boost engagement.
• Contextual: Tailored to real-life scenarios your employees face.
• Supportive: Encouraging, not shaming. Mistakes should be teachable moments.

Creating a Security-Conscious Culture

Embed Security in Your Daily Workflows

Cybersecurity isn’t a bolt-on; it should be baked into how your business operates. That means:

• Enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Running endpoint protection like EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response)
• Monitoring for unusual behaviour
• Logging out inactive sessions
• Keeping systems and apps updated

Make secure practices the norm, not the exception.

Leadership Buy-In Is Critical

If your team sees the boss using “123456” as their password or ignoring update prompts, they’ll follow suit. Cyber security awareness starts at the top. Leaders need to model good behaviour and show that security is a business priority, not just an IT issue.

When to Train: Don’t Wait for Disaster

Reactive training (after an incident) is too little, too late – it’s like closing the gate after the horse has bolted. The best time to implement awareness training? Right now.

Consider embedding quick training refreshers into:

• Onboarding processes
• Quarterly reviews
• Pre-holiday or post-holiday workflows (when people are more distracted)

Counterpoint: “Isn’t This Overkill for a Small Business?”

We hear this a lot. “We’re only a team of 15. Nobody wants our data.” Or, “We use Microsoft 365 – isn’t that secure enough?”

Here’s the reality:

• Small businesses are prime targets because attackers know you often lack in-house IT security teams.
• A breach at a small firm can ripple out, affecting your suppliers, clients, and reputation.
• Many businesses rely on Microsoft 365 assuming it’s secure out of the box, but the default settings are often not enough. It needs careful configuration and ongoing review to keep your data safe.
• Cyber insurance providers increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate ongoing user training as part of their policy requirements.

So, no – it’s not overkill. It’s risk management.

The Holistic IT Approach

At Holistic IT, we know cybersecurity isn’t just about having the right tools – it’s about developing the right habits. That’s why our people-first approach focuses on empowering your team with the knowledge and confidence to make smart, secure decisions every day.

We offer:

• Ongoing user awareness training that’s actually engaging
• Managed EDR and MFA implementation
• Tailored Microsoft 365 reviews
• Security health check reports you can understand
• Advice that doesn’t sound like it’s written by a robot 🤖

Because the financial impact is real, and the responsibility lies with every employee. Security awareness training isn’t a nice-to-have anymore – it’s a requirement for most cyber insurance policies, and it’s an essential part of modern business protection – and often the difference between surviving a breach or shutting up shop.

Your team has the potential to be your strongest line of defence. Let Holistic IT help you unlock that strength through the right tools, training, and support.

Ready to chat about protecting your people and your business? Book a quick call with our team or drop us a line. We’re local, we’re friendly, and we actually answer the phone. 😉