Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog

HomeBlog
How to Break the “Who Cares” Mindset

How to Break the “Who Cares” Mindset

April 30, 2025

More often than not, you have an employee on staff who rolls their eyes whenever you have to send out another cybersecurity email or reminder. This “who cares” mindset is dangerous and can infect your business in a profoundly disturbing way. Today, we want to get into why this “who cares” mindset is so dangerous and what’s really at stake when you have an employee who can’t get on board with your security policies.

The Illusion of Insignificance

First, we need to dispel this illusion of insignificance that permeates the SMB landscape.

Many SMBs believe that they are too small to be targeted by a problematic cyberattack. Surely the attackers have bigger fish to fry, right? Well, we hate to break it to you, but SMBs are just as vulnerable as larger enterprises are to cyberattacks—perhaps even more so, considering the limited resources placed on cybersecurity spending.

The reason you’re a viable target is simple: the valuable data your business stores, processes, and uses on a daily basis, all of which can be exploited by a cybercriminal for financial gain.

The Consequences of Neglect

Cybersecurity is not a non-issue, and this kind of “who cares” neglect can lead to real, tangible damages done to your business, including your employees.

Imagine an employee gets an email from “HR” claiming that they need to confirm their banking credentials. This email asks the employee to divulge information such as their online banking username and password, Social Security number, and other sensitive information. Such a phishing email could impact your employees in ways they might not foresee–unless, of course, they’ve been educated and trained on cybersecurity best practices.

Now imagine if the same thing happened to the folks in your accounting department, but they hand over the keys to your business’ financials instead… Not a good look at all.

The Solution: Proactive Security Training and Practices

The best way to keep your business secure is a combination of training and security solutions.

Start by ensuring that your employees know and understand how cybersecurity impacts their day-to-day responsibilities. Emphasize that the business cannot run without dedication to cybersecurity and that it’s also a crucial element in the employee’s home life, too. Follow up these conversations with training and regular testing to illustrate the ongoing importance of cybersecurity.

With the right approach, you’ll get the amount of buy-in your business needs to see appropriate cybersecurity practices take root.

The “who cares” mentality is a poison that needs to be dealt with at your business. Whether it’s an employee who simply doesn’t agree with your stance on cybersecurity or the belief that you’re too small to become a target, you’re playing with fire the longer you let this mindset linger. We can help you make appropriate changes to your business practices that can shift the way your organization handles cybersecurity for the better. Learn more by calling us today at (571) 470-5594.

Previous Post
October 3, 2025
3 Ways an Intranet Can Revolutionize Your Operations
There are countless moving parts for any business, and if you don’t keep your operations organized, you could quickly find yourself losing grasp of your business in the worst ways. SMBs might use instant messaging, shared drives, and endless email chains to communicate internally, but there’s a better, less clunky solution. We’re looking into the intranet, a digital hub for your business that offers several benefits.
October 1, 2025
3 Signs You’re Dealing with a Phishing Scam
Here’s a fun thought experiment; can your team identify phishing scams and respond to them appropriately? It’s a skill that must be learned if you want your organization to be successful and safe. Today, we’re taking a look at the three big signs you’re looking at a phishing scam (and what to do about it).
September 29, 2025
Use Your Data to Fuel a Better Business
Operational efficiency is pretty important for businesses. Wasting time, money, and resources can stifle growth and put you at a competitive disadvantage. Fortunately, technology offers powerful solutions used to eliminate common inefficiencies. Today, we want to go through five ways you can use technology to drive real results.

Have a project in mind?

Start with our free consultation for VA, DC and MD companies. We will provide a detailed proposal and firm quote based on your specific IT support needs. All at a predictable monthly cost per seat.
Free Consultation - Sign Up Here