Email Security — Protecting Your Business from Phishing Attacks

Email is the backbone of modern business communication. It's also the number one way cybercriminals break into your systems. Phishing attacks account for over 90% of data breaches, and South African businesses are prime targets.

What Makes Phishing So Dangerous

Phishing works because it targets humans, not technology. A convincing email from what looks like your CEO, your bank, or a trusted supplier can bypass even the best technical defences.

Common Phishing Types

Spear Phishing

Targeted emails aimed at specific individuals. The attacker has done their research — they know your name, your role, and maybe even your recent activities.

Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Attackers impersonate executives or suppliers to trick staff into transferring money or sharing sensitive data. BEC attacks have cost South African businesses millions.

Clone Phishing

A legitimate email you've received before is copied and resent with malicious links or attachments. Because you've seen a version of it before, you're more likely to trust it.

Smishing and Vishing

Phishing via SMS (smishing) or phone calls (vishing) is on the rise. Attackers pose as your bank, IT support, or a service provider.

How to Protect Your Business

Technical Defences

• **Email filtering** — Advanced spam filters catch most phishing attempts before they reach inboxes
• **DMARC, DKIM, and SPF** — Email authentication protocols that prevent spoofing
• **Link scanning** — Tools that check URLs in real-time for known threats
• **Attachment sandboxing** — Suspicious attachments are opened in a safe environment first

Human Defences

Train your team to spot the signs:

• Urgent or threatening language ("Your account will be closed")
• Unusual sender addresses (ceo@c0mpany.com instead of ceo@company.com)
• Requests for sensitive information via email
• Unexpected attachments or links
• Poor grammar and spelling (though AI-generated phishing is getting better)

What to Do If Someone Clicks

1. **Report it immediately** — Don't punish, encourage reporting
2. **Change the affected passwords** — Immediately
3. **Scan the device** — Run a full malware scan
4. **Notify your IT provider** — They can check for broader compromise
5. **Review account activity** — Look for unusual logins or data access