What is an effect of poor security awareness among employees?

Poor security awareness among employees can lead to decreased company reputation. When employees lack understanding of security protocols and best practices, they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as falling for phishing scams, mishandling sensitive data, or failing to follow established security measures. Such incidents can result in data breaches, loss of customer trust, and negative media attention, all of which can significantly tarnish the company’s reputation.

In contrast, the other options suggest positive outcomes which do not correlate with the implications of poor security awareness. Increased collaboration among staff typically arises from effective communication and teamwork, rather than stemming from security issues. Similarly, higher employee satisfaction and more efficient operations are tied to a secure and supportive work environment, which can falter when security concerns take precedence and create undue stress or complications. Therefore, decreased company reputation is the most direct and plausible effect of poor security awareness among employees.