Phishing emails are fraudulent messages designed to trick your staff into revealing sensitive information or clicking harmful links. Stopping these emails before they reach your employees' inboxes is crucial to protecting your business from cyberattacks, data breaches, and operational disruptions.
Why this matters for Australian SMBs
Phishing can lead to serious consequences such as data loss, ransomware infections, and compromised customer information. For a small or mid-sized business, even a single successful phishing attack can cause costly downtime, damage your reputation, and create compliance headaches under privacy regulations like the Australian Privacy Act. Preventing phishing emails reduces these risks and helps maintain staff productivity and customer trust.
A typical scenario and how IT support helps
Imagine a 50-person Australian consulting firm using Microsoft 365 for email and collaboration. They start noticing an increase in suspicious emails that bypass their basic spam filter. One employee almost clicks a link that would have installed malware, but the IT provider intervenes by configuring advanced email security features in Microsoft 365 Defender. They also run staff training sessions to help employees spot phishing attempts. Over time, the volume of phishing messages reaching inboxes drops significantly, and the business avoids costly incidents.
Practical steps to reduce phishing emails
- Ask your IT provider: What email filtering and anti-phishing tools do you use with Microsoft 365? Do you enable features like Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and anti-spoofing policies?
- Review your Microsoft 365 security settings: Ensure multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled for all users and that spam filtering policies are properly configured.
- Check your domain's email authentication: Confirm that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are set up correctly to prevent spoofed emails from pretending to come from your business.
- Implement user training: Regularly educate staff on how to identify phishing emails and what to do if they receive suspicious messages.
- Monitor and report: Use Microsoft 365's reporting tools to track phishing attempts and adjust filters as needed.
- Test your defenses: Consider simulated phishing campaigns to assess staff awareness and improve your security posture.
What to look for in an IT partner
Choose an IT provider experienced with Microsoft 365 email security who can tailor protections to your business size and industry. They should proactively manage your email environment, keep security settings up to date, and support ongoing staff training. Avoid providers who offer only basic spam filtering without deeper anti-phishing measures.
Phishing threats evolve constantly, so regular review and adjustment of your email security is essential. Working with a trusted managed IT service or advisor can help you stay ahead of these risks and keep your business communications safe.