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Threat Intelligence

Phishing & Business Email Compromise

Phishing attacks are the number-one cyber threat facing small businesses in the UK. Business email compromise (BEC) fraud costs UK organisations millions every year — and small businesses are disproportionately targeted. SOC in a Box detects, blocks, and responds to phishing and BEC attacks around the clock.

The Scale of the Problem

84%
of UK businesses that suffered a cyber attack in 2024 identified phishing as the attack vector
£1.6bn
estimated annual losses from BEC fraud in the UK alone
3 in 4
small businesses have no dedicated email security beyond default provider settings

What Are Phishing Attacks?

Phishing is a social-engineering technique where attackers send fraudulent emails, messages, or links designed to trick employees into revealing credentials, clicking malicious links, or downloading malware. Modern phishing attacks small business owners face in the UK are increasingly sophisticated — using spoofed domains, personalised content, and AI-generated text to bypass traditional spam filters.

What Is Business Email Compromise?

Business email compromise (BEC) is a targeted form of phishing where attackers impersonate a trusted person — a CEO, supplier, or solicitor — to trick staff into transferring funds or sharing sensitive data. BEC fraud is one of the fastest-growing cyber threats in the UK, and small businesses are particularly vulnerable because they often lack the verification processes larger organisations have in place.

How SOC in a Box Stops Phishing Emails and BEC Fraud

EmilyAI Threat Detection

EmilyAI analyses email-borne threats in real time, triaging alerts in under four minutes and eliminating 92% of false-positive noise so analysts focus on genuine phishing attempts.

24/7 Human Analyst Coverage

Our SOC365 analysts monitor for phishing indicators around the clock — investigating suspicious logins, credential harvesting attempts, and business email compromise patterns in real time.

Data Loss Prevention

DLP controls detect and block sensitive data leaving your organisation via email — stopping BEC-initiated data exfiltration before damage is done.

Dark Web Monitoring

Continuous scanning of dark web marketplaces for leaked employee credentials that attackers use to launch phishing campaigns and BEC fraud against UK small businesses.

DecoyPulse Deception Technology

Fake credentials and decoy assets across your network detect attackers who have already bypassed email defences — catching lateral movement with zero false positives.

Common Phishing Techniques Targeting Small Businesses

  • Credential harvesting — fake login pages for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or banking portals
  • Invoice fraud — spoofed supplier emails requesting payment to changed bank details
  • CEO impersonation — urgent requests from a director to transfer funds or buy gift cards
  • Solicitor impersonation — BEC attacks during property transactions or legal completions
  • Malware delivery — attachments or links that install ransomware, keyloggers, or info-stealers
  • Spear phishing — highly personalised emails using information gathered from LinkedIn and company websites

How to Stop Phishing Emails Reaching Your Business

1

Deploy multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Even if credentials are phished, MFA prevents attackers from accessing accounts. SOC in a Box monitors for MFA bypass attempts and alerts your analyst.

2

Enable DMARC, SPF, and DKIM

These email authentication protocols prevent attackers from spoofing your domain in phishing emails sent to your clients and suppliers.

3

Train staff to recognise phishing

Regular security awareness training reduces click rates on phishing emails. SOC in a Box includes guidance and can support phishing simulation exercises.

4

Monitor around the clock

Phishing attacks do not respect business hours. SOC in a Box provides 24/7 analyst coverage to catch and contain threats before they escalate.

Protect Your Business from Phishing & BEC Fraud

SOC in a Box gives your small business enterprise-grade phishing protection, 24/7 analyst coverage, and AI-powered threat detection — from £335 per month.