Protecting your organisation: The vital role of reporting suspicious emails

With our lives dominated by digital communication, the risk of a phishing attacks is high. These deceitful attempts to extract sensitive information pose significant risks to organisational security. Understanding why it’s crucial to report suspicious emails and fostering a security-conscious culture within your team are essential steps in combating this threat.

Why report suspicious emails?

Phishing attacks continually evolve, becoming more sophisticated and harder to identify. Reporting suspicious emails is the first line of defence in mitigating these threats. It aids security teams in analysing potential risks, patterns, and trends, enabling proactive measures to counteract attacks.  

Cultivating a security culture:

Creating a culture of security awareness is paramount. Educating your team about the dangers of phishing and empowering them to recognise suspicious signs not just in emails but text messages (smishing) and voice calls (vishing). Regular training, simulations and reminders about the importance of reporting are key elements in nurturing this culture. Ensuring a train not trick philosophy that drives empathetic learning can also help your team become champions of the cause.

Tips for vigilance:

Sudden urgency: Be cautious of emails that create a sense of urgency, demanding immediate action. Phishers often use this tactic to prompt rash decision-making.

Check the source: Scrutinise the sender's email address and domain. Verify if it matches the claimed organisation or individual.

Attachments and links: Avoid clicking on attachments or links from unknown or unverified sources. Hover over links to preview the URL before clicking.

Sensitive information: Legitimate entities won't ask for passwords, financial details, or personal information via email. Be wary of such requests.

Stay updated: Keep your software, antivirus, and security systems up-to-date to defend against evolving threats.

Reporting suspicious emails:

When in doubt, report!  

Most email platforms provide options to report suspicious emails. Encourage your team to use these features diligently when they spot something that isn’t quite right. Highlight the importance of reporting even if they’re uncertain. It's better to investigate a harmless email than ignore a potentially damaging one.

Using a tool like Phriendly Phishing’s Phish reporter coupled with Phish Focus, our email triage product can really enhance the results – prioritising the likely scam emails for IT to focus on, and also improving your MS O365 email filter if you use it.

The battle against phishing attacks needs a collective effort. Emphasising the importance of reporting suspicious emails, fostering a security-conscious culture, and arming your team with the tools to recognise and report phishing attempts are pivotal in safeguarding your organisation’s integrity and data.

Remember, vigilance and a proactive stance against suspicious emails are your best defences in the fight against phishing attacks.

Do you need security awareness training for your organisation that cultivates a positive security culture that encourages self-reporting? Contact the Phriendly team for a demo today!

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