WatchGuard report highlights employee behavior risks for SMBs

As reported by Channel Insider, new research from WatchGuard Technologies reveals that employee behavior is creating significant and often undetected cybersecurity risks for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

The 2026 Cybersecurity Hygiene Report indicates that 64% of employees use unauthorized AI tools, expanding "shadow AI" and creating visibility gaps. Compounding this, 76% of employees admit to password reuse across multiple accounts, and 30% share passwords, leaving SMBs vulnerable to account takeover and data exfiltration. Remote work further exacerbates these issues, with 70% using public Wi-Fi and 50% accessing corporate resources without VPN protection, increasing exposure to man-in-the-middle attacks and credential theft. Additionally, 55% use work devices for personal activities, raising the risk of malware and phishing.

Marc Laliberte, director of security operations at WatchGuard, noted that while organizations invest in tools, they often lack insight into employee actions. Recommended steps include enforcing password managers and MFA, establishing AI policies, and implementing continuous training.

Source: Channel Insider