Cybersecurity
The Psychology of Cyber Risk: Why Even Smart Teams Ignore Security Protocols
The Psychology of Cyber Risk: Why Even Smart Teams Ignore Security Protocols by Todd Moss
Why Do Smart Teams Still Ignore Security Best Practices?
If we’re being honest, most organizations—no matter how well-run—struggle with cybersecurity. It’s a frustrating puzzle: we all know the risks, but even in great teams, people cut corners, ignore reminders, and postpone cyber hygiene. Why, with so many headlines about breaches, does this persist?
As a team that partners with startups, nonprofits, and SMBs across the Bay Area, we see it firsthand. Operations Directors juggling three roles, CTOs racing to scale, and nonprofit leaders wearing every hat—everyone means to prioritize security. Yet logins are shared, passwords written on sticky notes, and essential updates pushed to “later.” It’s rarely about being careless. More often, it’s human nature at play.
In this article, let’s try to demystify that nature. If we want to future-proof IT and build secure organizations, we need to understand the psychology behind cyber risk—and why even the sharpest teams sometimes act against their own interests.
Understanding the Human Side of Cyber Risk
Every cyber risk scenario is fundamentally a human one. Technology is just a tool; our choices, habits, and instincts shape results. Even with advanced managed IT services, San Francisco organizations can find themselves firefighting the same incidents.
Let’s unpack the main psychological factors behind cyber risk:
1. Optimism Bias
We all secretly believe: "It won’t happen to us." Known as optimism bias, it helps us stay positive day to day, but it wreaks havoc on risk management. Teams see ransomware stories and still feel protected by anonymity or geography. The reality? Nonprofits are frequent targets precisely because attackers expect them to let their guard down.
2. Security Fatigue
Countless updates, password resets, MFA prompts, and caution warnings—no wonder even the most diligent users get tired. This fatigue often leads teams to ignore guidance or look for shortcuts.
3. Reward/Convenience Loops
The brain is wired for efficiency. An easy workaround, saved time, or quick access feels immediately rewarding. Robust protocols—long complex passwords, "Zero Trust" onboarding—add friction. In the moment, convenience usually wins.
4. Social Pressures and Habits
We mimic each other. If the team treats security casually or shares logins "just this once," that behavior becomes the norm. Habits are hard to break, especially in high-trust or mission-driven environments.
These aren’t failures in character or competence. They are universal tendencies—part of what makes us human.
What Happens When We Ignore the Psychology?
Consider a talented nonprofit staffer, who works long hours and cares deeply about the mission. She faces chronic app fatigue and watches her teammates stick passwords on monitors. Even though her organization just completed "Zero Trust onboarding," she’s tempted to do the same. If an attacker gets in, the impact ripples far beyond IT—grant funding, program delivery, and stakeholder trust are all at risk.
Future-proofing IT is less about technical controls and more about building resilient habits and mindsets. Culture trumps policy. Without this, even the best-managed IT services (in San Francisco or anywhere) can only react after the fact.
Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short
A lot of security advice lands with a thud: lengthy guidelines, scary emails, or blanket bans. People tune it out or look for loopholes.
The reasons are simple:
Overwhelm: Too much technical detail, not enough context.
Fear-based messaging: Raises anxiety but lowers real engagement.
Reactive thinking: Most providers push fixes after something breaks.
“One-size-fits-all” policies: Ignore the reality on the ground.
As a result, decision-makers are left uncertain. How do you motivate real change without more stress or hype?
Building Security Habits That Stick
After two decades in this field, we’ve learned that future-proofing IT starts with honest partnership and human design. Here’s what helps in practice:
Start with Why, not Just How
Explaining why a protocol matters—how it protects the mission, not just the tech—drives buy-in. We keep conversations practical, relevant, and jargon-free.
Make Security Easy, Not Painful
Remove as much friction as possible. Use password managers, single sign-on, and automate software updates. People are more likely to follow protocols when they don’t feel like daily obstacles.
Lead by Example
Culture is contagious. If leadership embodies security best practices, the rest will follow. It’s one reason we always strive to pick up the phone and address concerns in plain language.
Reward Good Security Behavior
Recognition matters. Encourage and publicly thank team members who follow security protocols—especially when nobody’s watching.
Communicate, Don’t Lecture
Regular, two-way conversations beat generic policy memos every time. When someone asks, “Can’t we just share this account?” take the time to explain the big-picture risks and listen to their concerns.
Putting People Before Technology
Many vendors treat security as purely technical—lock down everything, set it, and forget it. But we believe managed IT isn’t about removing human choice. It’s about empowering people with context, empathy, and better tools.
“People-first support” means a blend of:
Scalable controls in the background (modern Zero Trust onboarding, endpoint protections)
Clear expectations and ongoing education (without shame or fear)
Practical policies that flex for real-world situations
Ultimately, technology should work like good plumbing: solid, invisible, and reliable. When teams feel supported—not policed—security stops being a struggle and becomes just part of how things are done.
Action Steps for Building Cyber-Resilient Teams
If you want to move from firefighting to future-proofing IT, here’s where we recommend starting:
1. Reassess Your Policies with Empathy
Are your security controls practical, or just theoretical? Are they built for how your team really works, or just for audit checklists?
2. Automate Away the Drudgery
Leverage managed IT services to handle recurring security tasks—daily backups, patch management, user onboarding and offboarding—so staff can focus on the mission, not minutiae.
3. Elevate Security Conversations
Turn cybersecurity for nonprofits, startups, and SMBs into a regular, agenda-worthy topic. Invite questions. Share stories (from the news or lived experience). Make it a part of team culture, not just IT’s domain.
4. Invest in Smarter, Simpler Tools
From modern identity management systems to secure cloud platforms, aim for solutions that reduce friction while raising your baseline of security.
5. Measure and Celebrate Progress
Track improvements—fewer phishing clicks, faster incident response, smoother onboarding. Small wins matter, and celebrating them fosters a self-reinforcing security culture.
About 24hourtek
24hourtek, Inc is a forward thinking managed service provider that offers ongoing IT support and strategic guidance to businesses. We meet with our clients at least once a month to review strategy, security posture, and provide guidance on future-proofing your IT.