Phishing is a cyber attack technique using deceptive emails, text messages or other communications designed to trick recipients into revealing credentials, transferring money, or installing malware. It remains one of the most common starting points for serious security incidents, including ransomware attacks, because it targets human judgement rather than relying solely on technical vulnerabilities. Defending against phishing combines technical filtering through Microsoft Defender for Office 365 with regular phishing simulation and staff training.
How layered phishing defence works in Microsoft 365
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 filters inbound email for known phishing patterns, malicious links and dangerous attachments before they reach a user's inbox, with Safe Links and Safe Attachments re-checking content at the point a user actually clicks rather than only at the moment of delivery. Because sophisticated phishing is specifically designed to bypass automated filtering, this technical layer is most effective when combined with regular phishing simulation campaigns and staff training, helping employees recognise the warning signs of an attack that has slipped through technical controls.
Phishing defence in practice
- A business runs quarterly phishing simulation campaigns, tracking click-through rates by department and targeting additional training at teams showing higher susceptibility.
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365 quarantines a spear phishing email impersonating a senior executive before it reaches the finance team's inbox.
- An employee recognises the warning signs of a business email compromise attempt, a supplier's bank details supposedly changing via email, and verifies the request by phone before making any payment.
- A finance team implements a policy requiring telephone verification for any change to supplier bank details, regardless of how convincing the email request appears.
How Advantage helps businesses defend against phishing
Advantage configures Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to filter and flag phishing attempts before they reach end users, and runs phishing simulation and training programmes to build staff awareness of the techniques attackers use. We help businesses combine technical and human layers of defence, recognising that neither alone is sufficient against modern phishing techniques.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about phishing for UK businesses.
What is the difference between phishing, spear phishing and business email compromise?
Phishing refers to generic, mass-sent deceptive messages aimed at a broad audience. Spear phishing is a targeted variant aimed at a specific individual or organisation, often using personal or company details to appear more credible. Business email compromise is a more sophisticated form where an attacker impersonates a known contact, such as a supplier or senior executive, typically to redirect a genuine payment to a fraudulent bank account, and tends to involve significant research into the target organisation beforehand.
How does Microsoft 365 help defend against phishing?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 scans inbound email for known phishing indicators, suspicious links and malicious attachments, and can flag or quarantine messages before they reach a user's inbox. Safe Links and Safe Attachments features check URLs and files at the point of click rather than only at delivery, catching threats that may have appeared safe when the email first arrived but were later weaponised.
Why does technical filtering alone not fully solve the phishing problem?
Sophisticated phishing and spear phishing attacks are specifically designed to evade automated filtering, using convincing language, spoofed sender details and legitimate-looking links that technical controls may not flag as malicious. Regular phishing simulation and staff training remain essential alongside technical filtering, since the final decision to click a link or act on a request often comes down to human judgement in the moment.
