90% of attacks on companies start with phishing: what now?

Every entrepreneur, regardless of their company’s sector or size, has encountered phishing emails—those fraudulent messages disguised as legitimate communications.

However, even though they are constantly present in the daily routine of many companies, few brands see phishing as a real threat and develop effective strategies to combat it.

Proof of this is found in data revealed by Check Point Software’s research, which shows that 90% of attacks on companies worldwide start with a phishing email.

This number becomes even more significant and alarming when we consider the widespread use of this fraud method: over 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily, according to data from Techopedia.

Knowing this, how confident are you that your brand is secure?

How can phishing impact your results?

Between October 2023 and March 2024, Brazilian companies were targeted by an average of 1,817 phishing attacks per week. This number is significantly lower than the global total during the same period: 1,168, according to another survey by Check Point Software.

But how do these attacks affect the results and credibility of brands?

Direct and indirect financial loss

A successful attack can directly impact a brand’s results by redirecting legitimate traffic to fake sites or unscrupulous competitors. This happens when attackers use malicious links to deceive customers and partners, diverting traffic that should be directed to your company.

The result is the loss of qualified leads, a drop in sales, and reduced effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.

Reputational damage

Consumer and partner trust is an essential asset for any company. That’s why a phishing attack, by redirecting traffic to fake sites or competitors and converting visitors into customers, can deeply undermine that trust.

After all, the perception of vulnerability regarding data protection and security can lead customers to seek more reliable alternatives. This harms not only immediate financial performance but also jeopardizes future strategies for customer retention and acquisition.

Operational disruption

It is not uncommon for phishing attacks to result in the shutdown of operational systems, either due to direct blocks or as a precaution during attack containment. This can delay deliveries, interrupt sales, and significantly impact productivity.

But that’s not all: after an incident causes loss to a consumer, companies may need to compensate their customers and deal with potential legal actions.

In other words, we are not exaggerating when we say phishing is a threat capable of severely compromising both the financial health and reputation of a company. And worse: it happens silently, making it difficult to identify and resolve the problem before the damage becomes irreversible.

This is when having the support of a specialized partner can make the difference between recovery and the amplification of your brand’s losses.

Want to learn how to protect your business? Keep following the Branddi blog and find out how to stay protected with shield marketing!