A Real-World Example: Trust Exploited

Picture this: you receive an email from a trusted external contact you regularly deal with. They want to share a file through a reputable source i.e. SharePoint. You weren’t expecting anything, but the email address checks out as genuine, and it has passed through all your organisation’s Microsoft 365 security filters into your Outlook inbox.

You decide it looks fine and click the link.

It opens a site that looks legitimate, complete with trusted branding and logos, prompting you to enter your login details. Trusting the familiar feel of the site, you submit your credentials, unknowingly handing over access to any data you are authorised to see within Microsoft 365.

In recent examples we have seen, users have sensed something was not right after entering their details and quickly contacted the original sender or IT support. However, often action comes after the damage is already done.

Why Do These Attacks Work?

Looking back, it is easy to ask:

• Why didn’t the user check with the sender before clicking?

• Why enter credentials into an unexpected prompt?

The reality is simple. These attacks deliberately exploit trust. Cybercriminals know that even experienced users rely on visual familiarity and everyday habits, particularly within trusted platforms like Microsoft 365. Human error remains one of the leading causes of data breaches worldwide, and phishing attacks are designed to take advantage of exactly that.

Reducing the Risk. What Organisations Can Do

1. Strengthen User Awareness

• Encourage users to verify unexpected emails, even from known contacts, before clicking any links or entering login details.

• Reinforce that credentials should never be entered after clicking a link from an external email, even within Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook.

• Invest in security awareness training and phishing simulations to help users recognise key warning signs.
  

2. Build Technical Defences Around Trust

• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding an extra verification step protects Microsoft 365 accounts even if credentials are compromised.

• Implement Conditional Access Policies: Restrict Microsoft 365 login attempts based on trusted locations or devices, and require additional checks for unusual activity.

• Activate Advanced Threat Protection: Ensure inbound emails, links, and attachments are scanned in real time before users click or download. Solutions such as Proofpoint can provide enhanced detection and protection against phishing threats.

• Enhance Visibility with Alerting: Set up advanced alerting to flag suspicious login patterns or unauthorised credential use early.

Technology Plus Awareness Equals Stronger Security

While no single solution can completely eliminate phishing risks, combining smart user education with strong technical controls dramatically reduces your organisation’s exposure, especially within platforms like Microsoft 365 where so much business-critical activity happens.

At Netprotocol, we work alongside you to strengthen both fronts. Helping you build a more secure, resilient environment where your people, systems, and data are protected.

These are some of our additional recommendations for ongoing protection:

• Security Awareness Training (e.g. via Proofpoint): Regular training and phishing simulations help users recognise threats early and reduce the overall risk to your organisation.

• Annual Microsoft 365 Security Review: An in-depth review ensures your environment continues to follow Microsoft’s latest best practices and that critical security configurations remain up to date.

If you would like support implementing these measures or reviewing your current setup, our team is here to help.