Email Phishing: The #1 Cyber Threat Facing Montreal Businesses
91% of all cyberattacks start with a phishing email. For Montreal SMBs, a single clicked link can lead to ransomware, data breaches, and financial losses averaging $120,000 per incident. Yet most small businesses rely on basic email security that hasn’t been updated in years.
At ClicPomme, we see phishing attempts targeting Quebec businesses daily. Here’s how to protect your company with practical, affordable email security measures.
Common Phishing Attacks Targeting Quebec Businesses
1. Fake Invoice Emails
Attackers send emails that look like invoices from Hydro-Quebec, Bell, Videotron, or popular suppliers. The PDF attachment or payment link installs malware or steals credentials.
2. CEO Fraud (Business Email Compromise)
An email that appears to come from your boss or company president, urgently requesting a wire transfer or gift card purchase. These attacks caused $2.7 billion in losses globally in 2025.
3. Microsoft 365 Credential Harvesting
Fake Microsoft login pages that steal your Microsoft 365 credentials. Once attackers have access, they can read all your emails, access SharePoint files, and impersonate you to your contacts.
4. Bilingual Phishing
Unique to Quebec, some phishing campaigns now send emails in both French and English, making them appear more legitimate to bilingual businesses. They may reference Quebec-specific services like Desjardins, Revenu Quebec, or RAMQ.
7 Essential Email Security Measures for Your Business
1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA blocks 99.9% of automated attacks. Every employee should have MFA enabled on their email account. Use an authenticator app (Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator) rather than SMS codes, which can be intercepted.
2. Implement DMARC, SPF, and DKIM
These email authentication protocols prevent attackers from spoofing your domain to send phishing emails that appear to come from your company:
- SPF (Sender Policy Framework) – Specifies which servers can send email from your domain
- DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) – Adds a digital signature to verify email authenticity
- DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication) – Tells receiving servers what to do with emails that fail SPF/DKIM checks
Without DMARC, anyone can send emails that appear to come from your@yourcompany.com. Setting up DMARC is free and takes about 30 minutes with the right expertise.
3. Use Advanced Email Filtering
Built-in spam filters catch obvious threats but miss sophisticated phishing. Consider adding a dedicated email security layer:
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365 – Best for Microsoft 365 users ($2-5/user/month)
- Barracuda Email Protection – Cloud-based, works with any email provider
- Proofpoint Essentials – Enterprise-grade protection for SMBs
4. Train Your Employees
Technology alone cannot prevent phishing. Regular security awareness training reduces successful phishing attacks by 75%. Key training topics:
- How to identify suspicious emails (hover over links, check sender address)
- Never open unexpected attachments
- Verify unusual requests by phone, not by replying to the email
- Report suspicious emails to IT immediately
- Run simulated phishing tests quarterly
5. Set Up Email Backup and Archiving
If an attacker compromises your email, you need to recover quickly. Automated email backup ensures you never lose important communications. Solutions like Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365 or Datto SaaS Protection back up your entire mailbox, calendar, and contacts.
6. Implement Conditional Access Policies
Control when and where employees can access email. Block access from risky locations or unknown devices. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes conditional access policies that let you:
- Require MFA when signing in from new devices
- Block sign-ins from countries where you don’t do business
- Require compliant devices for email access
- Automatically detect and respond to impossible travel scenarios
7. Create an Incident Response Plan
When (not if) a phishing attack succeeds, you need a plan:
- Immediately reset the compromised account password
- Revoke all active sessions
- Check for email forwarding rules (attackers often set these up)
- Scan for malware on affected devices
- Notify affected parties if data was exposed
- Document the incident for regulatory compliance
How ClicPomme Secures Your Business Email
We provide comprehensive email security services for Montreal businesses:
- DMARC/SPF/DKIM setup and monitoring
- Microsoft 365 security hardening
- Advanced email filtering deployment
- Employee security awareness training
- Email backup and disaster recovery
- 24/7 monitoring and incident response
Related Articles
- Cybersecurity for Montreal SMBs
- IT Disaster Recovery Plan for Montreal SMBs
- Ransomware Protection for Montreal Businesses
- Our Cybersecurity Solutions
Don’t wait for a phishing attack to take action. Contact ClicPomme for a free email security assessment. Call 1-877-622-3658 or visit clicpomme.com.