Phishing Assessment: How to Protect Your Organization From Email Fraud

Written By Ben Entwistle
Categories: Industry

Email is the most popular method hackers use to access organizations’ sensitive data, which is why a phishing assessment is so important for your organisations security.

As industry experts Rootshell explains (https://www.rootshellsecurity.net/phishing-assessments/), organizations need to take steps to prevent phishing attacks from stealing sensitive information.

This article will show you how to implement the best practices to protect your organization from phishing attacks. So, if you’re wondering how to prevent phishing attacks and how to protect your organization from email fraud, keep reading.

What is a Phishing Attack?

A phishing attack is where attackers launch cyberattacks against organizations by sending emails to trick personnel into divulging confidential information. The attackers may also trick the organization’s personnel into clicking on links containing malware for cyberattacks.

More often than not, most of these attackers use publicly accessible information about the organization to launch the attack.

What is a Phishing Assessment?

A phishing assessment is where an organization simulates the entire lifecycle of a phishing attack. This allows them to test their defense strategies at each stage.

Phishing assessment services use cutting-edge threat intelligence to demonstrate a real-life phishing attack and how attackers can exploit public information to plan a convincing attack. The assessment helps an organization understand its ability to protect itself against phishing attacks.

This way, they can train their employees on areas lacking. All this is achieved through a phishing assessment plan. Phishing assessments measure how many people opened the simulation email, engaged, and divulged personal information.

Components of a Successful Phishing Assessment Plan

Companies can also take their employees through phishing assessment plans as part of their information security program. A successful phishing assessment plan features the following components;

Testing

The first component is testing. Testing your employees via simulated phishing attacks helps heighten their awareness of threats. It also helps create a culture of security in your company.

Training

A good phishing assessment plan should also involve employee training. All your employees should be trained on areas to improve based on the testing process results.

Training your employees on areas to improve when handling phishing attacks and threats will help mitigate your risk of attacks. The training can be done in various ways, like computer-based security awareness training.

Repeat

A good phishing attack assessment plan also needs to be consistent. It should be an ongoing part of your company’s information security program. Therefore. Conducting testing and training once per year is not sufficient. It will help to take your employees through the process at least monthly.

Advantages of Phishing Assessment

Below are some motivations for companies to adopt phishing assessment plans and processes;

It strengthens your security posture

Phishing assessment is a powerful tool for helping improve your company’s technical defenses and processes. It does this by ensuring your employees and company effectively prevent phishing attacks.

It helps build an army against cyberattacks

Phishing emails are among the most common methods of cyberattacks. Phishing assessment ensures that your employees are in the front line of your defense model. This is achieved by raising your employees’ awareness of real-life attacks and what to expect from them.

This way, they can identify suspicious emails and apply the best security practices to protect your company and clients. This protects your company against cyberattacks.

It helps improve security awareness and training

A significant part of phishing assessment is training. This is where phishing simulation attacks are created, and the employees get to assess and respond to them.

This increases general awareness of security and allows you to measure how effective your security training and response are. During the testing and training processes of phishing assessment, you can identify areas that need additional focus.

It helps you understand your risk of compromise

Phishing assessment also helps understand your risk of compromise. This way, you can develop an approach for protecting your company from a potential attack. It also allows you to organize tailored training for your personnel against potential risks.

Phishing Assessment Wrap Up

Email phishing attacks have recently become predominant in various industries. Therefore, it is one of the universal forms of cyberattacks that criminals use to access business networks. This is why phishing assessment is essential in every company. Phishing assessment practices help employees become aware of phishing attempts and sharpen their response techniques.

Ben Entwistle