Phishing continues to be one of the most pervasive threats facing organisations
Cybercriminals are constantly refining their tactics to bypass traditional security measures. The need for more advanced defences has never been more critical. A dual-pronged approach is needed: leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and the collective strength of crowdsourcing.
This innovative approach addresses the limitations of legacy tools and allows organisations to proactively detect and mitigate phishing threats before they can cause damage.
Why traditional phishing defences fall short
Legacy security solutions, such as Secure Email Gateways (SEGs), were once the cornerstone of email security. However, phishing tactics have evolved significantly. Today’s cybercriminals are leveraging AI-driven attacks, generating highly convincing and sophisticated emails designed to bypass traditional defences. This trend has made phishing the top initial access method in most cyberattacks in 2024, particularly those targeting high-level executives.
It’s no longer a matter of “if”, but “when.” To stay ahead, organisations need to adopt a proactive approach that combines AI and crowdsourcing. AI allows organisations to quickly detect patterns, while crowdsourced intelligence from users helps bolster defences against newly emerging threats.
The power of crowdsourcing in defence
Crowdsourcing leverages the collective vigilance of trained users and security professionals to identify and report phishing attempts in real-time. This user-driven intelligence is only amplified when combined with AI. As phishing remains the primary attack vector, using human intelligence to crowdsource threat detection is an essential complement to the data AI processes.
Imagine a global network of users reporting threats in real-time. This data is then processed by AI, creating a feedback loop that continuously strengthens your organisation’s defences. With KnowBe4’s PhishER Plus, organisations can harness this global threat intelligence to prevent harmful emails from reaching their inboxes, benefiting from a real-time, crowdsourced blocklist.
Enhancing AI with human intelligence
AI excels at detecting patterns and automating responses, but human insight remains critical. Generative AI models, while useful, are increasingly exploited by bad actors to create phishing attacks that are more difficult to detect. By combining AI-driven analysis with human validation, organisations can ensure that these threats are accurately classified and neutralised.
Crowdsourcing strengthens AI by feeding it fresh, real-world data gathered by users across the globe. This collaboration between human intelligence and machine learning helps organisations proactively address threats before they cause harm.
Building a proactive defence culture
A successful defence strategy requires fostering a security-first culture within the organisation. Users must be empowered to identify and report phishing attempts, while security teams need tools to respond quickly. These threats, particularly those powered by AI, are becoming more sophisticated, making employee involvement even more critical.
Training plays a vital role in this process. Employees must not only learn to spot these kind of emails, but also understand the importance of their role in the organisation’s broader security framework. By fostering a culture where employees are active participants in cybersecurity, organisations can significantly improve their ability to detect and respond to threats in real-time.
The Gamma difference: PhishER Plus in action
Gamma’s approach to phishing defence is built around the belief that a combination of AI and crowdsourcing is needed. With PhishER Plus, we offer organisations a streamlined, powerful tool that orchestrates phishing threat response, blocklisting, and inoculation—all while benefiting from a globally sourced threat feed.
By embracing this proactive model, organisations can shift from a reactive stance to one that actively anticipates and mitigates threats. With PhishER Plus, malicious emails can be blocked before they ever reach users, reducing the risk of successful phishing campaigns and freeing up valuable resources for other security needs.
Looking forward
Cybercriminals are continuously adapting their tactics, and phishing will remain a persistent threat for the foreseeable future. However, with the right combination of technology and human intelligence, organisations can stay ahead of these evolving threats.
Gamma offers a cutting-edge solution to the challenges posed by modern cyber attacks. By combining AI-powered analysis with crowdsourced threat intelligence, we provide organisations with the tools they need to defend against phishing in real-time and create a more secure future.
If you want to do some further reading about phishing and how to defend against it, check out this piece by KnowBe4.
Learn more about Gamma and KnowBe4’s solutions:
Gamma’s Security Awareness solution
Phishing Security Test (knowbe4.com)
Further reading:
United Kingdom and Ireland 2024 Phishing Benchmarking Report | KnowBe4
The Number of Email-Based Cyber Attacks Detected Surge 239% in 1H 2024 (knowbe4.com)