Protect Your Business Emails from Scammers
Your email system is a lifeline for your business, making it an irresistible target for cybercriminals. Here’s what you should know to safeguard it.
Business Email Threats Are on the Rise
Emails play a crucial role in business communication, but their widespread use also makes them a prime target for attacks. As a business leader, securing your email system isn’t just wise—it’s essential to protecting your data and reputation.
One of the fastest-growing threats is Business Email Compromise (BEC). Falling victim to a BEC scam could result in severe financial losses and data breaches.
What Is a BEC Scam?
BEC scams involve cybercriminals pretending to be high-ranking individuals, such as CEOs or IT managers, within your organisation. Their aim? To deceive your team into disclosing sensitive information or transferring funds. Research indicates that almost 90% of these scams use this impersonation tactic.
It’s easy to understand why employees might respond without hesitation, especially if they trust the apparent sender.
BEC: The Biggest Email Threat in 2024
Recent research reveals a surge in BEC attacks, with a staggering 208 million malicious emails identified among 1.8 billion analysed globally. More than half (58%) of these harmful emails were BEC attempts, making them the most significant email-based threat businesses face today.
Interestingly, these scams often target junior employees, who may feel pressured to comply with requests from higher-ups or lack awareness of cybersecurity risks.
While BEC attacks are prevalent, don’t overlook other tactics like phishing and spam. These scams are designed to extract personal details, such as login credentials, and are increasingly surpassing traditional ransomware and malware in frequency.
How to Protect Your Business
The good news? Defending your business doesn’t have to be costly or complex. Equip your team with the knowledge to critically assess emails.
Encourage employees to verify any email requesting sensitive information or financial transactions, particularly if the request seems urgent. A simple pause to double-check could prevent a costly mistake.
Don't Get Caught Out By Business Email Scams