Phishing remains one of the most common and damaging cyber threats facing businesses today. Despite significant improvements in cyber security technology, phishing continues to succeed because it targets people rather than systems. One convincing email, text message or phone call is often all it takes to cause serious disruption.

Criminals rely on deception rather than technical skill alone. By pretending to be trusted organisations, suppliers or even colleagues, they create a false sense of legitimacy that encourages people to act quickly without questioning what they are seeing.

Phishing is a form of cyber attack where a criminal impersonates a legitimate person or organisation to trick someone into taking an action they normally wouldn’t. This might involve clicking on a malicious link, opening an infected attachment or sharing sensitive information such as login credentials or payment details.

These messages are designed to look genuine and often copy the branding, tone and formatting of well-known companies. As a result, phishing attacks can easily blend into normal day‑to‑day communications, making them difficult to spot at a glance. A single successful attempt can lead to data breaches, ransomware infections or significant financial loss.

Not all phishing looks the same. These are the most common forms we see affecting UK businesses:

The classic version. Fake emails that appear to come from banks, software providers, delivery companies or internal staff, urging you to “act urgently”.

More targeted attacks aimed at specific individuals, often senior staff or finance teams. These emails are personalised, making them much harder to spot.

Phishing via SMS text messages – often claiming you’ve missed a delivery, need to pay a fee, or must verify an account.

Phishing over phone calls, where attackers impersonate IT support, banks or even company directors to pressure staff into giving information.

Although phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated, most still contain subtle clues that suggest something is wrong. Messages often try to create a sense of urgency, warning that an account will be suspended or that immediate action is required. This pressure is deliberate and designed to stop people from slowing down and thinking things through.

While phishing emails are getting more convincing, there are still red flags that regularly appear:

• Urgent language – “Act now”, “Your account will be locked”, “Immediate action required”
• Unexpected attachments or links, especially if you weren’t expecting them
• Email addresses that don’t quite match the sender’s name
• Poor spelling or odd wording (common, but not always present anymore)
• Requests for passwords, payment details or MFA codes – a huge warning sign

If something feels off, it usually is.

Phishing works because it exploits everyday behaviours and pressures. People are busy, distracted and trying to be helpful. Criminals understand this and design their attacks around common scenarios such as unpaid invoices, missed deliveries or urgent requests from managers.

Rather than breaking through technical defences, attackers aim to bypass them by manipulating people. This is why phishing is not just an IT issue but a wider business risk that affects every department.

There is no single solution that will completely prevent phishing, but organisations that take a layered approach significantly reduce their exposure. Staff awareness plays a critical role, as people who know what to look for are far less likely to fall victim to an attack. Technology such as email filtering, endpoint protection and multi‑factor authentication adds additional layers of defence and limits the damage if credentials are compromised.

Equally important is creating a culture where employees feel comfortable reporting suspicious messages without fear of blame. Early reporting often prevents one phishing attempt from becoming a company‑wide incident.

Phishing attacks are not going away. In fact, as artificial intelligence makes messages more convincing and personalised, they are becoming harder to detect. However, businesses that combine the right technology with ongoing education and clear internal processes are far better prepared to defend themselves.

Understanding phishing and recognising the warning signs can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major security incident. Taking the time to review your current protections now can save significant cost and disruption later.