--- title: "Tip of the Week: Phishing Training Has to Be a Priority" description: "Tip of the Week: Phishing Training Has to Be a Priority" --- [![Ashton Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/c743380ebbe7d684f1311cdda436439824adad7e.png?width=200&height=81&name=c743380ebbe7d684f1311cdda436439824adad7e.png "Ashton Solutions")](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com) [![Ashton Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ashton_March2026/images/Ashton%20Solutions%20logo_color.png?width=200&height=81&name=Ashton%20Solutions%20logo_color.png "Ashton Solutions")](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com) - [Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services) - [Who We Support](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support) - [About](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about) - [Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services) - [Managed IT](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/managed-it) - [Co-Managed IT](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/co-managed-it) - [Security](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/security) - [Compliance](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/compliance) - [IT Projects](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/it-projects) - [Transaction Advisory](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/transaction-advisory) - [Networking](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/networking) - [AI Solutions](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/services/ai-solutions) - [Who we help](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support) - [Non-profit Organizations](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/non-profits) - [Financial Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/financial-services) - [Legal Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/legal-services) - [Professional Services](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/professional-services) - [Industrial & Manufacturing](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/industrial-manufacturing) - [Architecture, Engineering & Construction](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/architecture-engineering-construction) - [Real Estate & Development](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/real-estate-property-development) - [Life Sciences](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/life-sciences) - [Other](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/who-we-support/other-industries) - [About](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about) - [Meet the Team](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#meet-the-team) - [Our Approach](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about/our-approach) - [Our Story](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/about#our-story) [Client Help Desk ![download-1](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hubfs/download-1.png)](https://portal.ashtonhelps.com) [Talk to an Expert ![download-1](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/hubfs/download-1.png)](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/contact) [Client Help Desk](https://portal.ashtonhelps.com) [Talk to an Expert](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/contact) [Jim Abbott](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/author/jim-abbott) | 04.29.2020 | 2 Min Read # Tip of the Week: Phishing Training Has to Be a Priority # Tip of the Week: Phishing Training Has to Be a Priority When reading through Microsoft’s latest Security Intelligence Report, you will quickly get the notion that phishing attacks are some of the most prevalent cyberattacks. With a vastly increased remote workforce, this still holds true.  It, then, becomes extremely important that your business does a quality job of training your employees to spot phishing attempts before they become a problem. Let’s take you through some of the telltale signs that you have received a phishing message. ## 1. High Anxiety When reading a phishing email, the message often paints a picture of a situation that won’t end well for the reader unless they act immediately. For many people, this is enough to make them click on links and open attachments they have no businesses interacting with. The phishing attack is that much more effective when it is seemingly from a legitimate source. If the contents of an email don’t sit right with you, and you don’t immediately identify the address it is sent from, it may well be a phishing attack and should be reported to your company’s IT administrator. ## 2. It’s In Disguise Hackers are known to send attachments with their phishing attacks. These attachments, if interacted with, will often disperse malware. This can be completely devastating to a business’ network security. If you don’t immediately recognize the sender of the email, and aren't expecting the attachment, don’t click unless you first verify it came from a friendly sender. ## 3. Fake URLs If you couldn’t tell by the tone and content of the message, the best way to tell if you are dealing with a phishing attack is to check the URLs of the links embedded in the message. If you mouse over any hyperlink, you can quickly check the URL in the status bar. If you don’t recognize it, don’t click on it, and immediately report it to your IT administrator. ## 4. The Message is Impersonal Most marketing emails nowadays are crafted by trained marketers to give the reader the sense of importance. Since a company's brand means more now than ever, a legitimate marketing message will seem personalized and deliberate. A phishing email staged to look like a marketing email, however lacks this touch. So, if you get an email that looks like a marketing message, but the letter has grammatical errors, misspellings, or if the tone seems desperate, you're probably being phished. This isn’t a comprehensive list--there are plenty more ways to tell that an email is a phishing attempt--but it should help you get your staff in the right mindset to not engage with phishing attacks. If you would like more information about phishing and the security measures you can take to keep from being a victim, reach out to Ashton Technology Solutions today at 216 397-4080. By [Jim Abbott](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/author/jim-abbott) April 29, 2020 [Cybersecurity](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/tag/cybersecurity) --- ### You Might Also Be Interested In: [Jim Millican](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/author/jim-millican) | 07.14.2026 #### [Access Control is Key to Your Business’ Security](https://www.ashtonsolutions.com/the-ashton-solutions-blog/2018/04/06/access-control-is-key-to-your-business-security-2) Access Control is Key to Your Business’ Security Access control is an extremely useful way to... 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