As technology becomes more mainstream, we have seen an increase in overall computer literacy among the population worldwide. The current generation of youth is more computer literate than the previous one was at their age, and it can be presumed that this will be a continuing upward trend.

As this computer literate generation enters the workforce, they take that skill with modern technology with them. Having a smartphone has gone from exotic to expected, with many workplaces designed entirely around this ability to instantly communicate with anybody and incorporating mandatory smartphone apps be installed to facilitate this. Technology is ubiquitous in the workplace and every individual is expected to have at least a casual understanding of its function.

With this democratization of technology comes increased opportunity for technology to be in the hands of malicious actors. To clarify, technology being more available does not turn employees into criminals. Rather, it makes more common one element of the BATS Crime Prevention Triangle, which theorizes that a crime occurs when three elements are found in a person: Ability, Opportunity, and Desire. Where previously employees might have has opportunity due to their close proximity, and occasionally desire due to a variety of variables ranging from mental illness to abusive employers, the ability has never before been so common. But in the modern-day, individuals in the workplace are increasingly finding themselves with both the ability and the opportunity to inflict damage on their employers. In these cases, technological experience combined with frequent access to company systems creates a dangerous malcontent should the ability and opportunity be combined with the crucial third element of the Crime Prevention Triangle, desire. Ensuring that the only thing truly stopping an employee from attempting to harm their workplace is the lack of desire to do so.