It usually starts with a simple email.
It looks like it’s from the CEO.
The name is correct. The tone feels right. The signature looks familiar.
“Hey, can you help with something quickly? I’m tied up in meetings. Please handle a vendor payment. I’ll explain later.”
A new employee reads it.
They’ve only been with the company for a few days.
They’re still learning how things work.
They don’t know what’s normal yet, and they don’t want to question a senior request so early.
So they go ahead and act on it.
By the time anyone realizes it was a phishing email, the damage has already been done.0
New Employees, New Opportunities (for Hackers)
In Spring, businesses bring in new employees, mostly interns and fresh graduates.
For the company, it’s a routine process.
For cyber criminals, it’s an opportunity.
According to Keepnet Lab’s 2025 report, CEO impersonation emails are 44% more likely to succeed with new hires compared to experienced employees.
New employees are still learning:
- How communication works internally
- What typical requests look like
- Who usually handles what
They haven’t had time to build confidence or question unusual situations.
And that makes them easier targets.
The Issue Isn’t the Employee
It’s easy to assume the employee was careless.
But most probably, they were trying to be helpful.
They want to respond quickly and do the right thing.
And that’s exactly what attackers rely on.
The Real Problem is a Lack of Training.
Think about your last onboarding. What happened during the first week?
Their laptop was not yet fully set up.
Access was still pending.
Credentials were not finalized.
So people find ways to move forward:
- Borrowing a colleague’s login
• Saving files locally instead of shared systems
• Using personal devices to access information
• Skipping steps to get work done faster
None of this feels risky. The first week is always chaotic, right?
But during this phase, a few things happen quietly:
Access is not clearly tracked.
Data may not be backed up properly.
Personal devices interact with business information.
There is no clear guidance on what to do if something feels unusual.
The same report discovered that 71% of new hires fall for phishing attacks within their first 90 days of employment.
This is not due to a lack of awareness. It comes from a lack of structure.
What a Well-Prepared First Week Looks Like
It doesn’t require complex training programs.
It all comes down to being prepared BEFORE the employee starts.
1. Set Up Access in Advance
Devices, logins, and permissions should be ready from day one.
There should be no need to share credentials or rely on temporary workarounds.
2. Explain What “Normal” Looks Like
A short conversation can make a big difference.
- Who usually approves payments?
- Does leadership send urgent financial requests?
- What should be done if something feels unexpected?
Clarity reduces hesitation.
3. Make It Easy to Ask Questions
New employees often avoid asking questions because they don’t want to seem inexperienced.
Give them a clear point of contact.
Encourage them to verify instead of assuming.
Most early mistakes happen when people don’t know who to ask.
For a detailed IT onboarding process, check out our guide.
The Key Takeaway
Security issues in the first week don’t happen because rules are ignored.
They happen because the rules are not yet clear.
If onboarding is unstructured, small gaps appear.
And those gaps are exactly what attackers look for.
A Structured Onboarding System
If you’re planning to hire in the coming months, make sure your onboarding process is structured and consistent.
Review how new employees are onboarded and identify where improvements can be made.
Book a 15-minute Discovery Call here
A few adjustments can make the first week more secure.
Because the best time to stop a mistake is to prevent it before it happens.
