Strengthening Cybersecurity During Employee Onboarding

When a new employee joins your organization, most of the attention goes to helping them feel prepared and supported. They get their laptop, email account, and access to the systems needed to do their job. They meet their team, learn the ropes, and start getting comfortable in a new environment.

But while all of that is important, there’s another piece of the onboarding process that’s just as critical—and often overlooked: cybersecurity.

Why the First 90 Days Matter

The first few months of a new hire’s journey are some of the riskiest times for your organization’s data security. Research shows that nearly three-quarters of new employees fall for phishing or social engineering attempts within their first 90 days on the job. New team members are also 44% more likely to click on suspicious links compared to experienced staff, and 45% more likely to fall victim when attackers impersonate company leaders.

Why does this happen? Think about what it’s like to be new. You’re trying to make a good impression, don’t know all the systems and processes yet, and are eager to follow directions. Cybercriminals take advantage of this uncertainty. A message that looks like it’s from the CEO asking for help, or an email that appears to come from HR requesting updated information, can feel legitimate to someone who hasn’t learned what “normal” looks like in your workplace.

That’s why attackers deliberately target new hires. It’s not just bad luck—it’s a strategy.

The Cost of Overlooking Cybersecurity in Onboarding

If a phishing attempt is successful, the consequences can be severe. A single compromised login can open the door to sensitive data, financial loss, or even a full-scale ransomware attack. For small and mid-sized businesses, especially, the impact can be devastating.

And yet, many organizations don’t address cybersecurity until weeks or months after a new employee starts. By then, the riskiest period has already passed.

Training from Day One

The good news is that there are effective ways to reduce these risks. One of the most impactful is incorporating cybersecurity awareness into the onboarding process. Training should begin immediately- on day one rather than waiting until new employees are fully settled.

This training doesn’t need to be complicated. Practical guidance on how to spot phishing emails, what to do if something looks suspicious, and how to report potential issues can go a long way. When combined with phishing simulations tailored to new hires, organizations can create a safe environment for employees to learn and build confidence.

The results speak for themselves. Companies that prioritize security training during onboarding see their phishing risk drop by as much as 30%. That’s a measurable, significant improvement—demonstrating the value of making cybersecurity part of your culture from the beginning.

Technology Plus People

Of course, training is only one piece of the puzzle. Strong security tools—like firewalls, endpoint protection, and email filtering—remain essential. These tools create a baseline of defense against the majority of cyber threats. But no matter how advanced the technology, people will always be the first line of defense.

New employees, in particular, need to be equipped with both knowledge and the confidence to act if something doesn’t seem right. The combination of effective technology and well-prepared employees creates the strongest security posture for your organization.

How Yeo & Yeo Technology Can Help

At Yeo & Yeo Technology, we work with businesses of all sizes to strengthen cybersecurity from every angle. For new employees, that means helping you create onboarding processes that emphasize awareness and resilience from day one. From security awareness training and phishing simulations to advanced cybersecurity solutions, we provide a layered approach designed to protect your people, systems, and data.

Bringing someone new onto your team should be a moment of growth and opportunity—not a moment of added risk. By building cybersecurity into your onboarding process, you can protect your organization while giving employees the confidence to succeed in their new roles.

Information used in this article was provided by our partners at MSP Marketing Edge.