The goal is to trick the recipient into believing the email is genuine, with the intention of getting the target to either download malware, or hand over personal information.

Using cyber-attacks to steal sensitive information from businesses is nothing new. In fact, building and updating defences against data breaches is a standard requirement for IT departments around the world. However, as the methods of cyber criminals grow more sophisticated and persistent, the number of businesses being targeted is on the rise, with three quarters of organisations hit by phishing attacks in 2017 .

This form of data theft can be financially disastrous for businesses and their customers. Research by Accenture found that a successful cyber-attack costs businesses an average of $2.4 million and takes around 50 days to resolve the issue. In an environment where regulation such as GDPR is intent upon strengthening the protection of personal data, it is therefore vital that businesses protect against these threats.