Why 'My IT Guy Handles That' Isn't Enough Anymore

"We have an IT guy. He handles security."

I hear this constantly from small business owners. And I get it. You hired someone to manage technology. Security seems like technology. Therefore, security is their job.

But here's the uncomfortable truth: IT alone cannot protect your business from modern threats.

It's not that your IT person isn't skilled. It's that the nature of attacks has changed, and the solution isn't purely technical anymore.

The Attack Has Shifted

Twenty years ago, hackers focused on breaking through technical defenses. They'd probe networks, exploit software vulnerabilities, and try to overwhelm systems. Stopping them was primarily a technical challenge.

Today? The easiest path into most organizations isn't through the firewall. It's through the people.

Why spend days trying to hack a network when you can send an email that tricks an employee into giving you the keys?

Modern attacks target humans because humans are easier to manipulate than well-configured systems. Your IT person can build the best technical defenses in the world, and a single successful scam email can bypass all of them.

What IT Can and Can't Do

IT can: - Set up firewalls and security software - Configure email spam filters - Implement multi-factor authentication - Manage backups and recovery systems - Monitor for technical intrusions - Patch software vulnerabilities - Control access permissions

IT cannot: - Stop an employee from clicking a malicious link - Prevent someone from responding to a scam email - Keep people from reusing passwords across sites - Make employees verify suspicious requests - Force staff to report security concerns - Change human behavior through technology alone

See the gap? Technical controls can only do so much when the attack targets human judgment.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Research consistently shows: - 80-95% of successful cyberattacks involve some element of human error - Social engineering (tricking people) is the number one attack vector - Employees click on 2-3% of targeted attack emails - In organizations without training, the click rate can be much higher

Your IT person can reduce the number of malicious emails that reach inboxes. But some will always get through. When they do, the outcome depends entirely on whether your employees know what to do.

The "IT Handles It" Mindset Problem

When employees believe "IT handles security," something dangerous happens: they stop feeling responsible.

They think: - "IT will catch bad emails" - "The firewall protects us" - "If it were dangerous, IT would have blocked it" - "Security isn't my job"

This mindset is exactly what attackers exploit. They specifically target employees who don't think security is their concern.

When security becomes "IT's problem," it creates a false sense of safety that makes your organization more vulnerable, not less.

IT Needs Help

Talk to any IT professional, and they'll tell you: they can't do this alone.

The best IT people don't just want better technology—they want employees who: - Report suspicious emails promptly - Use strong, unique passwords - Don't share credentials - Verify unusual requests - Follow security procedures

Every security-aware employee makes IT's job easier. Every untrained employee is a potential entry point that IT has to worry about.

The Team Sport Reality

Security isn't a solo position. It's a team sport.

Think of it like this: IT builds and maintains the stadium. They install the lights, maintain the field, secure the perimeter. That's essential.

But when the game starts, everyone on the team needs to play their position. The best stadium in the world doesn't help if the players don't know the rules.

Your IT person is part of the team—an important part. But they're not the only player.

What This Means for You

As a business owner, you need to:

Support your IT person's efforts by ensuring the whole organization takes security seriously.

Invest in training so every employee understands their role in keeping the business safe.

Create a culture where security is everyone's responsibility, not just IT's department.

Lead by example by following security practices yourself.

Budget appropriately for both technical security AND human security (training).

The Conversation With Your IT Person

If you haven't already, have a conversation with your IT person about security. Ask them:

• "What threats worry you most?"
• "Where do you see gaps in our security?"
• "What could employees do to make your job easier?"
• "What would help you protect us better?"

I guarantee the answer will include something about employee training or awareness. Because every IT professional knows that technology alone isn't enough.

The Good News

Here's the upside: training employees is one of the most cost-effective security investments you can make.

Technical security tools can be expensive. Enterprise firewalls, advanced monitoring systems, dedicated security staff—these cost serious money.

Training your existing team to recognize threats? Much more affordable. And often more effective because it addresses the human vulnerabilities that attackers actually target.

A Shared Responsibility

Your IT person is a crucial part of your security strategy. Value them. Support them. Give them the resources they need.

And recognize that they can't do it alone. Modern security requires everyone in the organization to be part of the defense.

When security becomes a shared responsibility—when every employee understands their role—that's when your business becomes genuinely harder to attack.

Build a complete security team

PrymoSec trains your employees to be active participants in your security, not passive bystanders. We help build the human layer of defense that your IT efforts need to be effective.

Give your IT the support they need. Train your whole team.

Start building your defense →