Cybersecurity breaches don’t always start with hackers—they often start with your own employees. Even well-meaning team members can accidentally open the door to data loss, system outages, or costly ransomware attacks. The good news? Most of these risks can be prevented with the right tools, training, and culture.
At TechWerxe, we believe in proactive protection—and that means empowering your people to be your first line of defense, not your weakest link.
Here are 10 common employee actions that can put your company at risk—and how to fix them before they become costly mistakes.
🚩 1. Clicking on Suspicious Links
The Risk: Phishing emails are more sophisticated than ever. One click can compromise your entire network.
The Fix: Ongoing phishing awareness training, simulated phishing tests, and email filtering tools.
🔑 2. Using Weak Passwords (or the Same One Everywhere)
The Risk: A single reused or weak password can give hackers a master key to your systems.
The Fix: Enforce strong password policies and implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all platforms.
📱 3. Accessing Company Data on Personal Devices
The Risk: Personal phones and laptops are usually unsecured and unmonitored, increasing the chances of data leaks.
The Fix: Roll out a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy and use mobile device management (MDM) tools.
💻 4. Ignoring Software Updates
The Risk: Outdated systems are vulnerable to known exploits. Waiting even a few days can leave you exposed.
The Fix: Automate updates and patch management across devices and platforms.
🔓 5. Sharing Credentials
The Risk: Credential sharing leads to accountability gaps and makes it harder to detect unusual behavior.
The Fix: Use role-based access controls and require individual logins for all systems and platforms.
🌐 6. Using Public Wi-Fi Without Protection
The Risk: Employees working remotely may use unsecure networks, exposing company data to interception.
The Fix: Provide a company-approved VPN and train your team to use it—every time.
🧩 7. Downloading Unauthorized Software
The Risk: Unverified apps and browser extensions can introduce malware and open backdoors.
The Fix: Restrict downloads to IT-approved tools and set up application whitelisting.
📤 8. Sending Sensitive Files via Email
The Risk: Email is not secure enough for sensitive data—especially if forwarded or misaddressed.
The Fix: Use secure file-sharing platforms and implement data loss prevention (DLP) tools.
🗃️ 9. Holding on to Old Data
The Risk: Keeping outdated files, accounts, or emails increases your risk exposure and compliance issues.
The Fix: Enforce data retention policies and regular audits to clean up old or unused data.
🤐 10. Not Reporting Issues or Mistakes
The Risk: Many breaches worsen because employees are too afraid or unsure about reporting small incidents.
The Fix: Create a blame-free reporting culture and ensure employees know exactly how to report suspicious activity.
✅ Final Thoughts:
No cybersecurity tool is effective if your employees are bypassing or ignoring it. The goal isn’t to scare your team—it’s to empower them to act as informed protectors of your company’s digital assets.
At TechWerxe, we help companies like yours implement not only the right cybersecurity tools—but the right habits and culture to match.
Want to know where your team might be putting you at risk?
Let’s talk.
