Phishing can affect all kinds of businesses and is one of the most common forms of cyber attacks. In fact, around 9 in 10 successful data breaches start with some kind of phishing attempt. So how can we prevent phishing?
It’s clear that being able to prevent phishing is vital for keeping your business secure online. But how can you assure your business doesn’t fall victim to phishing?
We’ve put together a list of some of our top tips on how businesses can protect themselves from scammers and prevent phishing attempts.
Our Advice
Organise your accounts appropriately
Phishing attempts are more likely to target those in an organisation who have access to administrator accounts and sensitive data. Ensure that varying levels of access are granted appropriately in relation to each staff member’s position at the company.
Know the most common tricks
If you are on the lookout for tell-tale signs it can often be relatively easy to spot a phishing attempt. This can include poor spelling and grammar, vaguely-written emails, and requests to act urgently. If in doubt, remember the golden rule: if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is!
Report an attack if it happens
In the unfortunate event that one of your staff does fall victim to phishing, they should know how to report it and feel comfortable in doing so. This helps to minimise the impact of the attack and prevent it from happening again. Punishing staff for falling victim to phishing is a sure-fire way to discourage them from reporting.
Be aware of how much information you are sharing online
How much information about your business is publicly available online? Phishing attempts may include references to existing information in an attempt to build up trust. Check the settings on your business’s social media profiles and remove any unnecessary details.
Put yourself in the mind of a scammer
If you were going to make an attempt at phishing your business, what would you do? Thinking in this way can make you consider your business practices from a different perspective, and identify any areas that scammers might be most likely to target.
Read more of our thoughts here.
Contact us to discuss the best security solutions to protect you, your customers and the future of your business.