Email phishing is one of the most common — and effective — ways cybercriminals gain access to business systems. With just one wrong click, your entire network could be exposed to ransomware, data breaches, or financial loss.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how phishing works, why small businesses are prime targets, and most importantly — how to protect your business from email phishing attacks.
📧 What Is Email Phishing?
Phishing is a type of cyberattack where attackers send fake emails pretending to be legitimate entities — like a bank, vendor, or even a coworker — to trick recipients into:
- Clicking malicious links
- Downloading infected attachments
- Entering login credentials on fake websites
🎯 Why Small Businesses Are Targeted
Many small businesses don’t have enterprise-level security, making them low-hanging fruit for attackers. Common phishing tactics include:
- Fake invoices
- Password reset requests
- “Urgent” CEO impersonation emails
- Shipping confirmation scams
Even savvy employees can fall for a well-crafted phishing email.
🚨 Real-World Impact
- 91% of cyberattacks begin with a phishing email
- The average cost of a successful phishing attack on a small business: $50,000+
- 60% of SMBs go out of business within 6 months of a cyberattack
🛡️ 7 Ways to Protect Your Business from Phishing Attacks
1. Train Your Employees Regularly
Your team is your first line of defense.
✅ Conduct phishing awareness training quarterly
✅ Teach staff to recognize red flags (e.g. typos, urgent tone, mismatched URLs)
✅ Simulate phishing emails to test their knowledge
2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Even if a password is stolen, MFA adds a critical second layer of protection.
✅ Require MFA for email, cloud storage, CRMs, and admin access
✅ Use apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Duo for secure token delivery
3. Use Business-Grade Email Security Tools
Spam filters aren’t enough anymore.
✅ Implement advanced email security solutions that detect:
- Spoofed sender addresses
- Suspicious links or attachments
- Unusual sending behavior
🛠 NodeONE offers managed email security built for Canadian businesses.
4. Don’t Click on Links or Open Attachments Blindly
If something feels off, it probably is.
✅ Hover over links to preview the destination
✅ Contact the sender through a known method before clicking
✅ Avoid downloading unexpected attachments — even if they appear to come from someone you know
5. Verify Requests for Sensitive Information
Scammers often pretend to be executives, vendors, or banks requesting urgent wire transfers or login credentials.
✅ Double-check any email that asks for:
- Banking info
- Passwords
- W2s or employee data
✅ Use a “verify by phone” policy for high-risk transactions
6. Keep Software and Devices Updated
Outdated apps and browsers can expose your team to malware from phishing attacks.
✅ Enable auto-updates for operating systems and email clients
✅ Regularly patch firewalls and antivirus software
✅ Use device management to enforce update policies across remote teams
7. Backup Your Data (and Test the Restores)
If a phishing attack leads to ransomware, backups are your last line of defense.
✅ Use secure, offsite backups with version history
✅ Test recovery procedures quarterly
✅ Store backups separate from your main network
💡 Bonus: Create a Phishing Incident Response Plan
Don’t wait until disaster strikes. A good plan includes:
- Who to notify (IT, management, vendors)
- Steps to isolate infected systems
- How to reset credentials and restore data
- Reporting obligations (e.g., privacy regulators)
🔐 Protect Your Business with NodeONE
At NodeONE, we help small businesses across Canada stay ahead of cyber threats with:
- Phishing simulation & staff training
- Email filtering & threat detection
- MFA setup and enforcement
- Secure backup & disaster recovery
- 24/7 support and incident response
📞 Ready to protect your inbox — and your bottom line?
👉 Schedule a free cybersecurity consultation
