IT Support & Email Security: Defending Against Phishing & Fraudulent Emails

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IT Support & Email Security: How to Defend Against Phishing & Fraudulent Emails

If you’re relying solely on spam filters, you might not be safe. In 2025, fraudulent emails (including impersonation, spoofing, and phishing) have become increasingly sophisticated. Cybercriminals are now using AI, lookalike domains, and human-style messaging to bypass defences.

Your IT support provider must evolve too, not just fix issues after they happen, but actively protect your business. In this article, we’ll walk through:

Why email threats are escalating
Common types of email-based attacks
What modern IT support should provide
How to choose a partner (especially for businesses in the North West)
And more… Let’s dig in.

Why Email Threats Are Getting Worse (2025 Outlook)

Email remains the leading attack vector. Consider these stats:

Over 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily in 2025.
73% of organisations report at least one successful phishing attempt in a year.
The UK’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 states 43% of UK businesses experienced some kind of breach or attack in the last 12 months.
Cybercriminals are increasingly using AI-polymorphic phishing—slight automated variations to evade detection.

These evolving threats demand more than traditional defences.

Common Email Threats You Should Know

Here are frequent risks to watch out for (and how they operate):

Threat	What It Is	Why It’s Dangerous
Phishing	Emails that trick recipients to click links, enter credentials, or download malware	Attackers may gain access to accounts or systems
Impersonation / Spoofed Senders	Email appears from someone internal or trusted (e.g. CEO, partner)	Leads to misplaced trust and dangerous actions
Lookalike Domains	Domains mimic yours (e.g. “yourco-ltd.com” vs “yourcoltd.com”)	Easier for attackers to pass casual inspection
Business Email Compromise (BEC)	Targeting executives to approve fraud or perform data transfer	Often highly damaging in financial or data terms
Malicious Links	Rather than attachments, links lead to credential capture or malware	Modern attacks increasingly use URLs to evade filters

Summary & Next Steps

In today’s environment, email is a major battleground. Relying solely on basic filters can leave you vulnerable to fraudulent emails.
You need a multi-layered strategy:

Configure and monitor authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
Deploy advanced gateways, encryption, and AI detection
Train your employees regularly
Choose an IT support partner that is proactive, responsive and, ideally, local to your region.

If you’d like us to review your email security posture (for free), we’d be happy to walk through your setup and identify gaps you can fix.

Book Your Free 30-Minute Security Review

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How to Pick the Right IT Support Partner

A strong IT support partner treats email protection as a foundational service, not an add-on. When evaluating providers, ask:

What tools and platforms do you use for email security?
Do you handle SPF / DKIM / DMARC configuration and ongoing compliance?
How often do you run phishing simulations and train staff?
Do you offer AI-driven threat detection or anomaly monitoring?
What is your incident response time for email-based threats?
Can you support on-site audits in the North West?
What dashboards / metrics will I see (blocked threats, trends, health)?
Do you include encryption, DLP, and secure messaging options?

How can I tell if a sender is impersonating one of my internal users?

Spotting an impersonation attempt starts with looking closely at the sender’s details. Always check the email domain; attackers often use lookalike domains that appear genuine at a quick glance. For example, “tech-ip.co.uk” could be faked as “tech-ip.co.com.”

Hover over any links before clicking. Fraudulent emails often hide dangerous URLs that redirect you to fake websites. Watch for small clues too, an unusual greeting, a slightly off tone, or unexpected urgency are common signs of deceptive emails.

Ask your IT support team to enable SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication. These tools verify if emails are really from your domain. Once set up, they automatically flag or quarantine suspicious messages before anyone opens them.

Can authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC) block all fraudulent emails?

These tools block most impersonation and spoofing attacks, but they can’t stop everything. If a hacker gains access to a legitimate account, the email looks genuine because it comes from a trusted source.

Combine authentication with advanced phishing protection that uses AI-based analysis. AI tools spot strange patterns or behaviour in messages and stop fraudulent emails that slip through traditional filters.

Treat authentication as your first defence layer and intelligent detection as your second. Together, they build a strong shield against modern email threats.

How often should phishing simulations run?

Run phishing simulations regularly to keep your team alert. Quarterly tests work well for most companies, while monthly or continuous training suits high-risk sectors like finance or healthcare.

Keep simulations friendly and educational. When someone clicks a fake link, guide them to a short lesson showing what to look for next time. Over time, staff build confidence spotting suspicious or malicious emails, while your IT support team sees where extra training helps.

Consistent simulations turn awareness into habit, and habits stop breaches.

Is AI detection better than traditional filtering?

AI detection doesn’t replace traditional filters; it enhances them. Traditional filters catch known threats, while AI looks for unusual patterns and writing styles that suggest deception.

AI tools learn how your team communicates. If an email suddenly appears from a new location or uses unfamiliar phrasing, AI flags it instantly. As the system learns from new data, its accuracy improves, and it reacts faster to new attack types.

The best approach combines both methods: filters for known threats and AI for emerging ones. That’s how you build future-proof email security.

What happens if an email account is compromised?

Act quickly. Your IT support team should immediately lock the account, reset the password, and remove any forwarding rules an attacker added. Then, they should check activity logs to find out what the intruder did, such as sending fraudulent emails or accessing files.

After the investigation, they fix vulnerabilities, patch the system, and enforce extra protections like multi-factor authentication. The faster you act, the less damage the attacker can cause.

A solid response plan transforms a crisis into a learning opportunity, strengthening your defences for the future.

Can a small business afford enterprise-level email protection?

Yes, absolutely. Modern email security solutions scale to fit any budget. Cloud-based tools offer enterprise-grade protection without expensive hardware or complex setup.

Even small teams can use AI-driven phishing protection, encryption, and real-time monitoring at a fraction of the cost compared to legacy systems.

Partner with a managed IT support provider who tailors services to your size and needs. That way, you’ll stay protected without overspending.

Do local IT providers give better service?

Often, yes. Local IT support providers can reach you faster, understand your business culture, and offer in-person support when needed.

They usually know regional industries and compliance requirements, which helps them prevent issues before they start. Local providers also build stronger client relationships through regular visits and clear communication.

While location adds convenience, focus on choosing a provider with proven expertise, transparent pricing, and proactive support — local or not.

Are malicious links more dangerous than attachments now?

Yes, and that shift has surprised many businesses. Attackers realised links are easier to disguise and harder for filters to detect than attachments.

Modern phishing emails often include malicious URLs that lead to fake login pages or instant malware downloads. The links can look completely legitimate, sometimes even mimicking trusted brands.

Train your staff to hover over links before clicking and use real-time link-scanning tools within your email protection system. With strong IT support and awareness training, you’ll drastically reduce your risk.