Email remains the primary route attackers use to compromise businesses. If you assume your built-in spam or email filtering system takes care of the risk, you may be dangerously mistaken. Recent industry data shows that threat actors are systematically bypassing standard filtering on major platforms like Microsoft Outlook and Google Gmail, and the implications for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are serious.
A recent report reveals that over 90 percent of phishing attacks now target Outlook and Gmail, and many malicious messages evade traditional defenses entirely. For SMBs in Michigan and beyond, this means relying solely on “standard” or built-in email filtering is a major cybersecurity vulnerability.
In this article, we’ll explore:
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How attackers are evolving their email tactics
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Why standard spam filters fall short
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What modern businesses must deploy instead
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How Cyber Protect LLC helps you stay ahead
Attackers Have Shifted Strategy
The days of obvious email malware (large attachments, suspicious senders) are gone. Attackers are now using clean-looking messages, links hosted on trusted domains, or simple content-based threats that slip past filters.
Some noteworthy insights:
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Security researchers analyzed 1.8 billion emails in the first quarter of this year and found a 13 percent year-over-year increase in malicious messages, despite widespread filtering. Roughly 148,000 previously unknown malicious attachments bypassed standard filtering in that period.
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Over 67,000 previously unseen malicious links were used.
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Nearly 79.4 percent of phishing URLs used compromised websites rather than newly registered domains, taking advantage of the domain’s existing reputation to evade detection.
What these figures show is that attackers are less concerned with flashy malware and more focused on the quiet compromise, credential theft, business email compromise (BEC), redirect chains, and trusted-looking links that fool both users and basic security filters.
Why Traditional or Built-in Spam Filters Fall Short
Many SMBs assume their built-in filters (provided by Outlook, Gmail, or their ISP) are “good enough.” But here’s why that assumption is flawed:
1. Limited detection of novel threats
Traditional filters rely on known threat signatures (attachments, spam domains). But when attackers use zero-day links, redirect chains, or compromised legitimate websites, those filters don’t catch them.
As the report showed, even advanced threats slipped through.
As the report showed, even advanced threats slipped through.
2. Domain-based filtering is outdated
When phishing URLs use a compromised high-reputation site rather than a suspicious one, many filters allow them. Attackers exploit that gap.
3. Minimal behavioral analytics
Built-in filters often don’t track complex user-behaviour patterns, credential misuse, login anomalies, or lateral movement after initial compromise. Filtering attachments alone isn’t sufficient.
4. Lack of human + machine intervention
Email security today needs layered tools: sandboxing attachments, analysing link redirection, behavioural heuristics, and user warning systems. Standard filters don’t provide this depth.
5. Small businesses are overlooked by sophisticated criminals
SMBs are increasingly targeted because cyber threats now scale. Built-in filters might be enough for personal emails, but business email, BEC, and credential theft require more rigorous defences.
Indicators that an SMB’s Email Defences Are Inadequate
Here are warning signs your email filtering may not be up to the task:
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You receive phishing emails that look unusually convincing, with proper branding, legitimate sender names, and “trusted” domains.
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Users complain they clicked on a “normal” link that later resulted in credential prompts, not obviously malicious attachments.
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You receive alerts for suspicious sign-in attempts or unknown device access after email access.
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Your spam folder is full of “commercial spam,” but you rarely see advanced threat detection or remediation reports.
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Your business uses built-in filtering only, without any additional monitoring, user education, or response plans.
If any of these apply, your business is exposed.
What Modern Email Security Requires
To protect your business email environment effectively, you need more than a standard spam filter. Here are the key capabilities you should be ensuring:
A. Advanced Link & Attachment Analysis
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Scan and sandbox previously unseen attachments before delivery.
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Analyze full redirection chains, not only the landing domain.
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Block links hosted on legitimate domains if redirect paths are malicious.
B. Identity & Credential Monitoring
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Monitor for compromised credential access using email sign-in logs, new device alerts, and unusual geographic access.
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Enforce strong multi-factor authentication (MFA), particularly for administration and business-critical accounts.
C. Behavioural and Anomaly Detection
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Detect anomalous sending patterns, such as external emails forwarding internally, or sudden large attachments.
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Issue warnings or block when users receive or send large volumes of email, or when emails originate from unusual IPs or devices.
D. User Awareness & Training
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Train staff on the evolving nature of phishing: links, redirection, “trusted domains”, credential-harvesting pages.
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Simulated phishing exercises help ensure users remain alert, even when the email looks “normal.”
E. Response & Remediation Capabilities
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Have a clear plan when a malicious email slips through: isolate the account, check for compromise, and monitor cloud-based services for lateral movement.
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Ensure logging and reporting are available for compliance, investigation, and audit purposes.
Why Your Business Must Act Now
Cyberspace is not slowing down; attackers are adapting, scaling, and using automation. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 outlook found that nearly 72 percent of organizations see cyber-risks increasing, and nearly half cite social-engineering and generative AI based attacks as top concerns.
Without upgrading your email defences, your built-in spam filter may become the weakest link in your cybersecurity chain.
Failing to act puts you at risk of:
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Business email compromise (BEC) that costs you thousands or more.
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Credential theft that leads to lateral network access and data exfiltration.
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Regulatory exposure (for example, if you manage sensitive client data under confidentiality obligations).
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Damage to reputation and client trust, especially if you have to notify a breach or compromise.
For small and medium businesses in Michigan, this is not just a technical issue; it is a strategic one.
How Cyber Protect LLC Can Help
At Cyber Protect LLC, one of Michigan’s most honest and trusted names in cybersecurity for small and mid-sized businesses, we believe in transparent, effective protection, not hype or unnecessary complexity.
Here’s how we help you secure your email environment with advanced, cutting-edge technology:
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Deploying AI-Driven Spam & Phishing Filters – Our solutions go beyond built-in tools. They analyze attachments, links, redirection chains, and user behavior to block threats that standard filters miss.
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Identity Protection & Monitoring – We monitor for credential misuse, unusual sign-ins, and threat indicators, and help enforce strong MFA and secure access.
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User Training & Simulation – Our programs educate staff about the evolving risk landscape, so they’re not just recipients, but defenders.
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Incident Response Integration – If a malicious email gets through, we have processes in place to isolate the threat, conduct a forensic review, and remediate as needed.
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Ongoing Reporting & Compliance Support – For businesses handling sensitive data, we provide visibility and audit-ready reports, helping you demonstrate proactive security to clients and regulators.
When you partner with Cyber Protect LLC, you’re not just adding another vendor; you’re gaining a cybersecurity ally that treats your business like its own and stays ahead of threats rather than falling behind them.
Final Thoughts
Email remains the most relied-upon communication channel for your business, and also the most exploited by attackers. Built-in spam filters are no longer enough. The threat landscape has evolved, and so must your defences.
By investing in advanced email security, you protect your business, your data, and your reputation. Let Cyber Protect LLC be your partner in that mission.
📞 Don’t wait for the next phishing campaign to target your inbox. Reach out today at www.cyberprotectllc.com to schedule your Email Security Assessment and arm your business with the protection it deserves.
