Phishing attacks continue to be one of the biggest cybersecurity threats facing UK businesses – and once again, Microsoft has been named the most impersonated brand used by cybercriminals.
For many organisations, Microsoft 365 sits at the centre of daily operations. Emails, files, Teams chats, calendars and collaboration tools all rely on it. That makes it an attractive target for attackers looking to gain access to business systems, steal information or commit fraud.
The problem is not just the volume of phishing emails being sent. It is how convincing they have become.
Cybercriminals tend to imitate brands people recognise and trust. Microsoft is used by businesses of every size, meaning employees are familiar with genuine notifications relating to:
Password resets
Security alerts
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requests
Shared files and documents
Teams invitations
Subscription renewals
Voicemail notifications
Because these messages are so common in day-to-day business life, fake versions can be difficult to spot – especially when staff are busy or distracted.
Modern phishing attacks are also far more professional than they once were. Many now closely mimic genuine Microsoft branding, language and login pages.
Common examples include:
“Your password expires today” emails
Alerts about suspicious sign-in attempts
Fake OneDrive or SharePoint document shares
MFA verification requests
Messages claiming your account will be suspended
Fake invoices or billing notifications
The goal is usually to persuade the recipient to click a malicious link and enter their Microsoft 365 login details into a fake website.
Once attackers gain access, they may attempt to:
Access sensitive company data
Send phishing emails from genuine accounts
Intercept invoices and payment requests
Target suppliers or customers
Install malware or ransomware
Monitor communications quietly over time
A single compromised account can create significant disruption for a business.
Attackers increasingly focus on cloud accounts because they can provide access to multiple systems at once. Email accounts alone may contain:
Financial information
Customer details
Password reset links
Internal conversations
Supplier contacts
Confidential documents
In many cases, attackers do not immediately reveal themselves. Instead, they quietly monitor communications and wait for opportunities to commit fraud or escalate access further into the business.
Although phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated, there are still some warning signs to look out for:
Unexpected security alerts
Messages creating urgency or panic
Links leading to unfamiliar web addresses
Slightly unusual sender addresses
Poor formatting or grammar
Requests to bypass normal processes
However, businesses should avoid relying solely on staff spotting phishing attempts manually. AI-generated phishing emails are becoming more convincing and often contain few obvious mistakes.
There is no single solution, but a layered approach can significantly reduce the likelihood and impact of attacks.
Key protections include:
MFA adds an extra layer of protection beyond passwords and is now considered essential for business accounts.
Conditional access rules, device compliance policies and suspicious sign-in monitoring can help detect and block risky activity.
Employees remain one of the most targeted parts of any organisation. Regular training helps staff recognise phishing attempts and feel confident reporting concerns.
Advanced spam filtering, anti-phishing protection and attachment scanning can reduce the number of malicious emails reaching inboxes.
Weak or reused passwords continue to be a major risk factor in account compromise.
Unexpected login locations, impossible travel alerts and suspicious forwarding rules can all indicate compromised accounts.
Phishing attacks are no longer just an IT problem. A successful attack can affect operations, finances, customer trust and business continuity.
As more businesses rely on cloud platforms such as Microsoft 365, protecting user accounts becomes increasingly important.
The reality is that attackers are targeting familiarity. The more trusted a platform is, the more useful it becomes to cybercriminals attempting to exploit that trust.
For SMEs especially, taking proactive steps now can help avoid significant disruption later.
Talk to us if you would like to know more about protecting you and your business from cyber attack.