A recent study conducted by the IT security company, Ivanti, warns that age bias can threaten workplace cybersecurity. That’s because younger workers can pose a greater risk to an organization’s network security than older employees. These findings are based on a Q4-2022 survey of 6,500 executive leaders, infosec professionals, and office workers worldwide, which concluded that millennials and Gen Z workers are more likely to have unsafe cybersecurity habits than their older peers. Although many assume older employees are less tech-savvy and therefore more likely to engage in risky behaviors, the survey determined that it’s those under 40 who are significantly more likely to disregard important security guidelines around password hygiene, clicking on phishing links, and sharing devices with family and friends. Older workers don’t have the ingrained familiarity with online technology that younger workers do, so they might have a healthy skepticism and sense of caution when going about their business online. Conversely, younger employees often have a lack of awareness and overconfidence in technology, favoring convenience over security, which can result in riskier behaviors.
