When discussing privacy and security awareness, organizations often focus on campaigns, simulations, and mandatory modules. But the most underestimated opportunity lies right at the beginning: the onboarding of new employees. During the first few weeks, everything is new: the work, the systems, the colleagues, the expectations. People are open, curious, and want to understand how the organization works. In this phase, the willingness to listen and adjust their behavior is far greater than at any other time.
“Awareness doesn't start with e-learning, but with the first face a new employee sees.”
Yet, awareness in onboarding is often reduced to an e-learning link. A mandatory element. Something that's "on the side," but no one is enthusiastic about. A welcome video can make all the difference. And then managers sometimes say: "A video from the director? No way, he never does that." But let's be honest: as if employees are eager for a security awareness e-learning course? The point isn't whether the director wants it. The point is that this phase is the opportunity to set the tone. To demonstrate leadership.
When a director or executive explains in their own words why digital security is important, on camera, in images, visibly, something happens. The topic becomes human. It gains meaning. And new employees immediately feel: this topic is part of how we work here.
Video works because it feels real and because people follow people.
It's important to humanize awareness. People don't learn from policy documents, but from stories. Not from protocols, but from faces. A message delivered via video by someone from the organization: a director, a team leader, a CISO, even an experienced colleague, acts as a catalyst. Not because the content is so brilliant, but because it feels real. Human. A new employee who sees an executive explain personally why security is important doesn't think, "What a great speech." But: "Okay, this topic really matters here."
Video from within the organization works so well because it does something no generic e-learning can: it brings the topic closer to the employee. When a new colleague sees someone from their own organization talking about security, the message becomes more personal and easier to trust. The message doesn't come from an anonymous voice or a stock actor, but from someone they might encounter tomorrow at the coffee machine. This immediately makes the message more human and credible.
Another important thing happens: leadership becomes visible. No abstract policies or impersonal guidelines, but real people who demonstrate that digital security is part of how the organization works. This provides direction. It conveys a feeling of "We consider this important." And precisely because they are our own people, connection is created. Employees experience being integrated into a culture, instead of having to take a separate course. The topic is given context, a face, and meaning.
That's precisely why stock videos and generic modules make so little impression. They lack soul, recognition, and authenticity. A simple, imperfect video from your own organisation has all of that, and that's why it resonates.
Onboarding becomes the driving force behind your entire awareness program.
When you use onboarding as a starting point for awareness, you do more than just transfer knowledge; you lay the foundation for behavior. New employees learn not only what to do, but also why it matters and how the organization handles it. This makes all subsequent campaigns far more effective. Because the topic no longer feels like something "made up" later, but rather something that's part of the organization from day one.
A director on camera doesn't have to deliver a perfect message. It's about visibility. About exemplary behavior. About showing that the organization itself is taking the first step. And that's precisely what makes onboarding so powerful: it's the moment when employees haven't yet developed established behaviors. You can engage them in a story that doesn't need to be fixed later. In this way, a simple video becomes not just a welcome, but the foundation stone for a culture of safe behaviour.