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By Cian Fitzpatrick | 13th May 2025
Cybersecurity isn’t just IT’s job. Every department plays a role in protecting your organisation from modern threats.
Email security is the biggest part of cybersecurity. But once upon a time, if someone mentioned “cybersecurity” in the office, all eyes would turn to the IT team. After all, they were the ones setting passwords, configuring firewalls and dealing with the scary stuff.
No one else gave a thought to cybersecurity.
But that time is long gone.
Today’s cybersecurity landscape is broader, faster-moving and far more cunning than ever before. Cyberattacks don’t just target servers. No, they actually target people. And the consequences can be devastating: reputational damage, financial loss, regulatory penalties and shattered trust.
Which is why modern cybersecurity has evolved to no longer be the exclusive responsibility of the IT department. It’s a business-wide issue, and it’s everyone’s job.
Let’s take a closer look at how each department plays a role. And why cybersecurity needs to be woven into the fabric of the entire organisation.
Marketing holds some of the most sensitive data in the business. Just think of the customer contact information, behavioural insights and campaign analytics the marketing team of any organisation holds. Big warning lights should be flashing! If this data is mishandled or exposed, the fallout goes beyond fines. It strikes at your reputation.
That’s why marketing teams must take ownership of how they collect, store and use customer data. Ensuring GDPR compliance and practising secure data handling aren’t “just” legal requirements. They’re essential trust-builders that will feed directly into your customer’s experience.
But marketing’s influence doesn’t stop there.
Internal comms and awareness campaigns are often led by marketing professionals, which makes them uniquely positioned to champion a cybersecurity culture across the business. And externally? They’re the ones who protect the brand narrative after a breach. Or, better yet, help prevent one in the first place by making security a visible, valued part of the company’s messaging.
Alarmingly, Human error is still one of the biggest causes of security breaches. In fact, recent research by Stanford University has found that human error accounts for 88% of the cybersecurity breaches we see today.
However, no team is better placed to reduce that risk than HR.
From the moment a new hire joins the company, HR can set the tone for security. HR is key to embedding security into the employee lifecycle. This includes everything from onboarding processes with cyber training to policies on device usage and clear protocols for reporting suspicious activity.
HR teams also handle highly sensitive employee data, from medical information to bank details, making them frequent targets of phishing and social engineering attacks. Working closely with IT to manage access controls and ensure data is only available on a need-to-know basis helps keep that information safe.
And cybersecurity can’t be an afterthought when an employee leaves either. HR must ensure offboarding procedures include revoking access to systems and retrieving company devices to prevent lingering vulnerabilities.
Cybercriminals love going after finance departments. And the reason why is not difficult to understand. Finance has direct access to payment systems, invoices, and sometimes even entire payrolls. This is gold dust for a bad actor with malicious intent.
Finance professionals need to stay especially alert to spear-phishing attacks, fraudulent payment requests and fake vendors. A seemingly minor mistake, like clicking on an invoice that isn’t real, can lead to six-figure losses.
In addition to technical safeguards (such as two-factor authentication and role-based access), finance teams should be trained to spot behavioural red flags. Does this supplier email seem a bit off? Is that payment request slightly out of character? When in doubt, double-checking saves money.
Cybersecurity in finance is about more than defence. It’s about vigilance, healthy scepticism, and strong collaboration with IT.
Security can’t be something you bolt on at the end of a development cycle. If you want to work smartly and prevent future problems, it has to be built in from the start.
Product development teams need to think like attackers. Where are the weak points? How might someone exploit this feature? Regular threat modelling, code reviews and penetration testing are crucial. So too is a mindset shift.
Developers working closely with cybersecurity experts can ensure products meet industry standards, are regularly patched, and protect user data by design, not by accident. Regulation is increasing, and buyers are more security-conscious than ever. Demonstrating strong security practices is both good hygiene and a competitive edge.
Sales teams sit right at the intersection of company and customer. They exchange emails, share proposals and negotiate deals. In doing so, they often access sensitive financial and personal information.
This makes them a common target for impersonation, phishing and credential theft. But salespeople are also natural communicators. With the right training, they can become powerful ambassadors for the company’s security posture. By clearly explaining how your organisation protects customer data, they help build trust.
Admin staff often play an unsung role in cybersecurity. From managing visitor access and handling physical documents to logging deliveries and supporting exec teams, they’re in constant contact with systems and spaces that matter.
They’re also the ones who often notice when something’s not quite right. An uncollected pass, an unfamiliar name, a stray USB left behind – all of these incidents can trigger a question mark. With a bit of cybersecurity training, their natural attention to detail becomes a frontline defence.
Administrative teams also help maintain device inventories, enforce clean-desk policies, and coordinate secure document disposal. These day-to-day activities reduce risk more than most people realise.
The bottom line is that cybersecurity isn’t just a technology issue. It’s a people issue. And like any team sport, success depends on everyone playing their part.
When every department, from marketing to admin,takes ownership of their role in keeping systems and data secure, organisations become more resilient. Not just against big, dramatic attacks, but also against the everyday risks that chip away at security over time.
You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to make a difference. You just need awareness, ownership and a willingness to ask, “What can I do to keep our organisation safe?”
One of the ways you can dramatically improve your organisation’s cyber safety is by working with a managed service provider for email security. Our client case studies are available here for you to see how our team has helped different organisations across the world. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you too.
