Gen Z’s digital-first life poses a threat to MSP clients

Born between 1997 and 2012, Generation Z is the fastest to adopt new applications and technology. They are also the biggest users of popular social platforms such as TikTok, Discord and Snapchat. From project management to houseplant watering reminder apps, Gen Zers’ tech-savvy culture embraces new tools in every aspect of life. 

However, their pragmatic approach is creating IT challenges. Younger professionals have resorted to using more convenient apps and technology they feel most comfortable with, and employers and businesses keenly understand the importance of introducing technology familiar to Gen Z to maintain productivity. 

But is this dangerous? Gen Z often blurs the lines between their work and personal lives. They are likely to bypass traditional IT best practices; for example, using unapproved applications in the workplace. This problem only exacerbates the weakest link in cybersecurity — human error. 

As businesses onboard a younger workforce, MSPs face mounting challenges to protect their clients’ IT environments. Providers need to effectively communicate these risks to clients who are welcoming Gen Z professionals and their technophilic curiosity. 

In a survey by PEW Research Center, half of 18- to 29-year-olds in the United States say they have some or a lot of trust in the information they get from social media.  

Gen Z spends more time on social media websites than any other generation. Endless hours spent online make this generation more susceptible to engaging with nefarious content and cybercrime. Young professionals are scrolling social media on corporate networks, using work devices and clicking dangerous links. This opens the door to cyberthreats targeting organizations.

From Instagram and Facebook to Google search results, phishing and malvertising is everywhere, and Gen Zers are falling for scams at an all-time high. Cybercriminals are also targeting young professionals with fake text, email and direct messages disguised as real sources and well-known companies.  

Malicious advertising has taken dupe culture by storm. As young professionals continue to scroll online, malicious ads for designer-like items appear on legitimate sites. 

The saying that social media is only a highlights reel could not be truer. Unfortunately, a lot of young professionals feel compelled to “keep up with the Joneses” and maintain a glamorous lifestyle. Yet, the desire to make money fast is getting Gen Z into trouble. They are more inclined to make personal investment decisions based on social media. Thus, more young professionals are getting roped into online financial scams. 

The organizational problem is two sided. On one side, half of Gen Zers admit to taking cybersecurity protection on their personal devices more seriously than on their work devices. On the other side, young workers lack the experience to recognize signs of scams than other generations. 

The CEO of a company asks an employee to buy gift cards for a client or makes an urgent, unusual demand – well, it might not be the CEO. Sadly, a lot of inexperienced workers fall for social engineering schemes that involve cybercriminals impersonating senior and executive-level leadership.  

New graduates are eager to land their first job. This makes Gen Zers vulnerable to job recruitment scams on popular websites, including LinkedIn and Glassdoor. Attackers prey on job hunting individuals in the hope of coaxing and exploiting the applicant’s personal information. From bogus job listings to odd payment requests, hiring scams are claiming inexperienced professionals as victims. 

Just about everyone has been guilty of reusing passwords. But for Gen Z workers, the temptation to reuse passwords is glaring. Research reveals that they are the most prone to recycling passwords in comparison to other generations. Many people jump to the conclusion that Gen Z is “lazy.” But the bottom line is that they are overconfident. Young professionals understand password best practices. They grew up with the internet, were lectured by their parents about online safety, and have become numb to digital security recommendations. Consequently, the younger generation is raising the stakes for their employers and the MSPs that protect them.  

“Rizz” is short for “charisma,” and it is a popular term used by teens and young adults online. It is just one example that differentiates Gen Z from other generations. Another is the ongoing debate between the Gen Zers clad in mid-calf socks and their older ankle-sock-loving Millennial and Generation X rivals. But the generational differences do not stop there. The alarming cultural disconnect between IT professionals, cybersecurity strategies and young workers is keeping business leaders up at night — and it is up to MSPs to help bridge the gap.  

According to Zippia, the average IT professional is 42 years old — a Millennial. The challenge is that Millennials and Gen Zers have different experiences and attitudes toward technology in the workplace, and it is creating a rift. It is not only a divide in the tools that Gen Z uses, but also a cultural phenomenon that is driving misalignment between IT, employers and young people, which elevates cyber risk.  

MSPs are strategically positioned to help their clients effectively communicate cybersecurity best practices to entry- and junior-level staff, despite the cultural clash.  

Considering the generational differences among young professionals active in the workplace is critical to developing effective cybersecurity awareness strategies. MSPs and their clients need to shift the focus to making cybersecurity awareness training engaging. Instead of traditional in-person training exercises and mundane corporate initiatives, cybersecurity education needs to resonate with your clients and their young employees, particularly with modern training platforms.  

The National Cybersecurity Alliance has free resources and toolkits to help organizations spread cybersecurity awareness more effectively. Think of creative ideas to customize educational assets in a way that resonates with young professionals. This could be through trendy social media posts, graphics and virtual backgrounds. 

Gen Z loves content, and that is an MSP’s greatest weapon. MSPs that successfully make cybersecurity awareness training and initiatives memorable and relatable to young professionals will help their clients reduce cyber risk. Businesses can empower Gen Z workers to make smarter IT security decisions in the workplace, get in front of human error and prevent costly cyber incidents — ultimately saving MSPs from future security headaches.