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08/18/2026
One Click Is All It Takes: Is Your Business Ready for a Phishing Attack?
Source: Federated Insurance, July 21, 2026
Protect Your Business From Phishing Attacks
Phishing is a common method cybercriminals use to try to infiltrate businesses. It’s often done via email, text messages, or fake websites to trick employees into opening harmful links or sharing sensitive information. A single click can lead to exposed passwords, financial data, or customer records, which can disrupt operations and lead to costly recovery efforts.
How Can You Help Prevent Phishing at Your Business?
Start with these steps to help your employees stay aware of how phishing works and what to watch for¹:
- Recognize Red Flags: Train employees to identify phishing red flags such as: unexpected requests, urgent language, misspelled words, unusual sender addresses, or suspicious links.
- Provide Training Exercises: Regular cybersecurity exercises can encourage employees to keep their guards up. It can help them learn to watch for potential phishing attempts, along with what to do if an attack occurs.
- Update and Back Up Systems Regularly: Ensure that your software is up-to-date and back up data often to secure offsite locations. Regular updates can remedy security gaps before attackers can exploit them.
- Continue to Build a Cybersecurity Culture: Reinforce secure online practices and ensure employees know how to report suspicious emails or possible phishing attempts.
Phishing attacks are often easily preventable if your employees know what to look for. Make sure they have the right tools and knowledge to watch for these threats to protect your operations. For more cybersecurity risk management resources, reach out to your local Federated Insurance® marketing representative.
Take Risk Management a Step Further
Protecting your business goes well beyond cybersecurity. From workplace safety and employee practices to operational risks and loss prevention, creating a strong risk management culture can have a direct impact on your people — and your bottom line.
GMA partner Federated Insurance is bringing its complimentary Risk Management Academy to two locations in our region this summer and fall.
- August 27 | Canton, Ohio — Manufacturing
- September 23 | Grand Rapids, Michigan
These one-day sessions are designed to provide practical strategies and actionable insights businesses can put to work immediately, while also giving participants an opportunity to connect with industry peers facing many of the same challenges.
Take advantage of this GMA partner resource and bring some new risk-management ideas back to your team.
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