Cybersecurity · 5 min
Phishing and social engineering: protecting your staff
Phishing and social engineering are attacks that, instead of breaching systems, manipulate people to obtain information, credentials or payments. They are among the most widespread threats because they bypass technical defences by targeting the most vulnerable link: human trust. The main defence is not software, but people's awareness.
Key points
- Phishing and social engineering manipulate people, not systems.
- They exploit urgency, authority and trust to make people act without thinking.
- Typical signs: urgency, unusual requests, suspicious addresses and links.
- Training and verification processes are the most effective defence.
How these attacks work
Social engineering exploits urgency, authority and trust to push the victim to act without thinking: an email that looks like the boss asking for an urgent transfer, a fake supplier changing the IBAN, a message inviting you to enter your credentials on a fake site. Phishing is the most common form, via email or messages.
The signs to recognise
Many attacks share warning signs you can spot with a little attention.
- Urgency and pressure to act immediately.
- Unusual requests for payments or data.
- Addresses and links slightly different from the real ones.
- Errors, tones or requests that are out of the ordinary.
Training and processes that protect
The most effective defence combines awareness and procedures. Training staff to recognise attempts, and introducing simple processes — verifying IBAN changes through a second channel, confirming urgent requests by phone — neutralises most attacks. Trained people become the first line of defence.
FAQ
Is an antivirus enough to stop phishing? +
No. Technical tools help, but these attacks target people. Awareness and verification processes remain the decisive defence.
What is CEO fraud? +
A scam in which the attacker poses as an executive to request urgent transfers or confidential data. It is prevented by always verifying unusual requests through a second channel.
How often should staff be trained? +
Regularly and continuously, not as a one-off. Periodic updates and simulations keep attention high over time.
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