A new survey reveals that 31% of office workers in Ireland use their work device for personal use.
The survey was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Irish IT company Auxilion and HPE.
It shows several risky behaviours among office workers that has the potential to put cybersecurity at risk, including clicking on a suspicious link or email at work (cited by 32% of respondents).
22% workers also admitted to using public wi-fi to access sensitive company documents.
The survey also reveals that 26% of respondents had input sensitive company or customer data into an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, while 33% have used unauthorised tools to get their work done faster.
But despite these behaviours, 73% of office workers said they are confident in their ability to spot a potential cyber threat.
Password protection was also highlighted as an area for concern, with 19% of office workers surveyed for the research admitting to sharing their work password with friends and family.
A further 14% have used the same password for both work and personal accounts.
Auxilion said that 23% of organisations have suffered a cybersecurity breach in the last 12 months, while 23% of office workers admitted that they did not report a known security breach.
With the prevalence of high-risk behaviours among office workers, 55% of companies have run simulated phishing tests to raise awareness about cybersecurity.
But despite this, 25% of respondents believe their organisation does not have adequate security and data loss prevention measures in place. 32% of office workers also revealed they do not receive regular cybersecurity training from their employer.
Martin Patterson, Head of Innovation at Auxilion, said that while it is unsurprising that many employees use work devices for personal tasks, the survey highlights a far greater concern – the ease with which everyday actions, such as opening a link in an email or using AI tools, can expose organisations to security risks.
"Human behaviour remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities in cybersecurity," he stated.
"That's why investing in ongoing training and building a culture of awareness are just as important as having the right technology in place. By equipping employees with the knowledge to spot and avoid potential threats, businesses can strengthen their first line of defence," he added.
