A Mimecast survey has found that more than 50% of organizations say phishing attacks have increased over the past year.
Respondents to Mimecast’s second annual State of Email Security report also highlight a rise in impersonation attacks, a specific kind of phishing in which a crook masquerades as a colleague or business contact and attempts to trick people into transferring sensitive information or company funds.
Cybersecurity should start at the top
Phishing attacks continue to rise because people consistently fall for them. Mimecast says this is ultimately the fault of senior staff, who aren’t doing enough to make sure the organization is secure.
“Email-based attacks are constantly evolving and this research demonstrates the need for organizations to adopt a cyber resilience strategy that goes beyond a defense-only approach. This is more than just an ‘IT problem,’” said Mimecast CEO Peter Bauer.
“It requires an organization-wide effort that brings together many stakeholders, puts the right security solutions in place and empowers employees – from the C-suite to the reception desk – to be the last line of defense.”
Staying safe
The most effective way to handle the threat of phishing is to teach your staff how to spot and respond to malicious emails. If you’re unsure how to do this, IT Governance can help.
Our Phishing Staff Awareness Course covers everything your employees need to know in an easy-to-understand e-learning module. It explains the types of phishing emails they are likely to face, the consequences of a successful attack, how to identify a scam, and how to avoid an attack.
You might also be interested in our Phishing and Ransomware – Human patch e-learning course, which emphasizes the threat of scam emails that contain malware. Ransomware attacks are increasingly common and can result in huge delays – not to mention financial damage if you go against most advice and pay the ransom.
Another simple solution is to decorate your workplace with Phishing Awareness Posters. These won’t lead to a drastic turnaround in your organization on their own, but they are a perfect complement to your training courses, giving staff quick reminders of the lessons they’ve been taught.
