With cybercrime on the rise in Ireland, preventing phishing attacks should be top of the priority list for companies seeking to bolster their security efforts. Ranked as one of the top three types of attack in a corporate context, phishing remains a prevalent threat to Irish businesses of all sizes.
For business owners and IT security teams, there is a clear solution to this very pressing issue: creating and adopting a layered, proactive strategy to prevent these attacks from becoming a serious problem.
In this article, we explore how to do exactly that, discussing how you can both detect and prevent phishing attempts before it’s too late.
What does a phishing attack look like?
To prevent a phishing attack, you must first be aware of the various forms it can take:
- Email phishing – an email sent using a fake domain that closely replicates that of a trusted brand or business.
- Smishing – fraudulent text messages which appear to be sent from a trusted institution or organisation.
- Vishing – an attempt to extract sensitive information during a phone call.
- Spear fishing – a targeted attack that mimics internal colleagues and uses psychological tactics to obtain confidential data like passwords and financial information.
- Whaling – communications sent by an attacker assuming the identity of a senior member of staff with instructions for their employees to follow.
- Quishing – the use of false QR codes designed to dupe users into revealing personal data.
No matter what type of phishing attack you come into contact with, they all have similar characteristics:
- The message may urge immediate action to avoid certain consequences, such as your account being locked or your subscription getting cancelled.
- It may contain malicious attachments or links.
- The sender may request sensitive data by mimicking the identity of a trusted source.
In the event of a phishing attack, there is significant potential for human error, meaning your team should act as a critical line of defence for your company.
Preventing phishing attacks: Key strategies to consider
When it comes to preventing phishing attacks, a proactive approach is the only approach. Here is what a winning proactive cybersecurity strategy should entail:
1. Develop a workplace culture built on security awareness
Given the vital role of employees in defending against a wide range of cyberattacks, it is integral to invest in cybersecurity awareness training for your team.
The point of this training is to ensure that each member of the workforce can easily spot red flags when they receive communications from both inside and outside the organisation. This will empower them to avoid clicking unknown links or sharing confidential information, as well as inform them on the steps to be taken when a phishing attempt is suspected.
2. Prevent phishing attacks with layered threat protection
While training is essential, it will be of little use without the foundation of layered, technology-based protection. To ensure your efforts are effective in this area, your managed IT services provider should ideally implement:
- A fully managed firewall setup
- Advanced gateway security to facilitate real-time protection
- Advanced threat protection with automated remediation
- Comprehensive anti-spam services
- Content filtering services
The addition of patch management and compliance support will also ensure that your data is not only secure but also adheres to industry requirements.
3. Stay informed on evolving threats
Phishing tactics are constantly evolving. To keep pace, it’s vital that your organisation – and those that work within it – are also moving with the times with the help of updated training and security practices.
This means coordinating regular training sessions for teams so they are prepared to deal with new and advanced threats. It also involves implementing cybersecurity maturity assessments, which will enable you to review your overall readiness in the context of preventing, detecting, containing and responding to cyber threats.
4. Carry out simulated phishing tests
Phishing tests (or phishing simulations) represent one of the most effective ways to assess your organisation’s resilience in the face of a cyberattack. These are controlled tests that mimic real-world phishing attempts, without the consequences.
These simulated exercises form a vital part of any company’s cybersecurity strategy, as not only do they help to identify high-risk users, but they also track improvement over time. The idea behind these important “trial runs” is that they reinforce learning among employees surrounding the dangers lurking around every virtual corner.
5. Learn from incident reports
Another vital component of your cyber protection efforts should be incident reporting.
A thorough report will describe what happened and detail next steps, giving all company personnel insight into how phishing attacks can be intercepted and handled in real-life scenarios.
This information is invaluable to business owners as it provides a holistic view of the entire organisation and its individual and collective response to an attack scenario.
Why preventing phishing attacks is vital for your bottom line
In 2024, research revealed Ireland as the most phished country in the world, with the rate of phishing attacks here reaching almost twice the global average. This shocking statistic should be enough to encourage business owners to keep their guard up at all times – and with good reason.
Phishing attacks represent a serious business risk. The fallout of such incidents can include:
- Data breaches
- Operational downtime
- Financial loss
- Reputational damage
Each can have a devastating effect on a company’s bottom line, making prevention strategies a vital component of business success.
Prevent phishing attacks with the help of Calnet IT
At Calnet IT Solutions, we understand that protecting your organisation against phishing is about empowering your team to safeguard your business from the inside.
Our Cyber Security Awareness Training does just this, teaching your workforce to detect and avoid attacks before they cause harm:
- We provide proactive, people-focused support, prioritising prevention to catch issues early, before they escalate.
- From managed IT support to full-scale cybersecurity, we offer comprehensive IT support, delivering solutions tailored to your needs.
- We’re ISO 27001 certified, a Microsoft Solutions Partner, and a SonicWall Secure First Silver Partner, so you can trust in our security credentials.
- Whether you’re a small team or a large enterprise, our solutions grow with your business.
With over 20 years in the industry and a 98% customer retention rate, we’re proud of the long-term relationships we’ve built with Irish businesses.
Protect your business
Phishing attacks aren’t going to vanish, but with the right approach, you can prevent them from threatening your business. With the help of our tailored Cyber Security Awareness Training, your team can become the strongest part of your cybersecurity defence. Contact us today to learn more.
