Have you ever wondered just how many phishing scams your employees come across in a typical day? The answer may be more alarming than you think.
Over the past year, the number of employees clicking on phishing links has tripled. That’s a staggering rise – and it’s putting businesses of all sizes at serious risk. From data breaches to financial losses, the fallout can be devastating.
Let’s take a step back and understand why this is happening, and what your business can do to stay one step ahead.
What is Phishing – and Why is it So Dangerous?
Phishing is a type of cyber attack where criminals impersonate trusted organisations or individuals in an attempt to steal sensitive information – such as login credentials, personal details, or payment information.
For example, an employee might receive an email that appears to come from Microsoft, asking them to log in to their account. But the link takes them to a fake page. The moment they enter their details, those credentials are handed directly to the scammers.
That simple mistake can give cyber criminals the keys to your systems, data, and business operations.
Phishing is Evolving – and It’s Harder to Spot Than Ever
Here’s the truly concerning part: phishing attacks aren’t just becoming more frequent – they’re becoming more sophisticated.
While email phishing remains a major issue, scammers are now branching out beyond the inbox. Fake links are being planted in:
- Search engine results
- Online adverts
- Social media platforms
- Website comment sections
They know employees have been trained to look out for dodgy emails – so they’re exploiting less obvious avenues to get through.
The result? More people are falling for scams, simply because they don’t expect to find phishing attempts in these new places.
Why Are More Employees Being Caught Out?
There are a few reasons behind the surge in successful phishing attacks:
- Alert fatigue: Employees are bombarded with so many phishing attempts that it becomes hard to stay vigilant all the time.
- Realistic impersonation: Scam emails and fake websites now look nearly identical to the real thing.
- Targeting trusted platforms: Tools like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace – which store vast amounts of business-critical data – are prime targets for attackers.
Even a momentary lapse in judgement can have major consequences.
Your Employees: Your Greatest Risk – or Your First Line of Defence?
The truth is, your people can either be your business’s biggest cyber security risk – or your strongest shield.
A well-informed, cyber-aware team can identify and report phishing attempts before they cause harm. But an untrained workforce is much more likely to fall victim to these attacks.
That’s why education is your most powerful tool.
How to Protect Your Business from Phishing Attacks
1. Educate and Train Regularly
Cyber security awareness isn’t a one-time exercise – it needs to be ongoing. Make sure your employees know:
- What phishing looks like across different channels (not just email)
- How to double-check links and sender details
- When to be suspicious of unexpected login requests or file attachments
- How to report suspicious activity quickly
Regular refresher sessions and simulated phishing tests can help keep this top of mind.
2. Strengthen Your Defences with Technology
While employee awareness is crucial, it shouldn’t be your only line of defence. Strengthen your cyber security posture with tools such as:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Even if a password is compromised, MFA adds an extra layer of protection.
- Email filtering and threat detection: Block malicious emails before they reach your team.
- Endpoint protection and patch management: Keep your software up to date and secure.
3. Create a Culture of Cyber Awareness
Encourage a workplace culture where it’s normal to ask questions, double-check requests, and report concerns without fear of embarrassment. The more confident your team feels about recognising and responding to threats, the safer your business becomes.
Don’t Let Your Business Become the Next Victim
Phishing scams aren’t going away – in fact, they’re getting smarter, sneakier, and more convincing by the day. But with the right mix of education, technology, and culture, you can dramatically reduce your risk.
Need help strengthening your cyber security strategy or training your team to recognise phishing threats?
We’re here to help.
Get in touch today to find out how we can protect your business and your people.
