Guardz, a cybersecurity vendor, has unveiled a new AI-powered phishing protection solution designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and managed service providers (MSPs) avoid phishing attacks. The platform uses artificial intelligence to offer SMBs and the MSPs that support them automatic phishing detection and remediation capabilities. The solution combines email security, web browsing protection, perimeter posture, and awareness in one native solution, according to Guardz.
The release of this platform comes amid Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, which stated phishing as the second most prevailing way threat actors infiltrate organizations, behind stolen credentials. The report mentioned that three-quarters of all data breaches in the observed period involved some form of human element, and records showed that business email compromise (BEC) attacks had doubled. The advent of sophisticated generative AI chat technology built on large language models (LMMs) has significantly changed the phishing game, with researchers having demonstrated how OpenAI’s ChatGPT could boost phishing attacks.
Guardz’s platform has been designed specifically to combat such advanced threats. It automatically verifies emails for authentication protocols such as DMARC, SPF, and checks for malicious forwarding rules. By doing so, there is a greater chance of detection through AI-powered anti-phishing and anti-malware engines. The risky emails will be removed from users’ inboxes and automatically sent to quarantine. Guardz has also included other critical features that will provide active cyber awareness training and tailored phishing simulations for employees to help cultivate a culture of caution and vigilance. The platform monitors internet browsing to detect potential phishing attempts, providing real-time alerts for system administrators.
The Verizon report reveals that phishing makes up 44% of social engineering incidents, thereby stressing the fact that social engineering remains one major threat to businesses globally. Therefore, there should be a departure from the usual approach, which has harped on the “phishing exercises will continue until click rates improve” stance, and adopt a more collaborative approach to security. Due to the strong human element associated with this pattern, a lot of controls pertain to helping users detect and report attacks and protecting their user accounts in the case of successful phishing lures.
The platform unveiled by Guardz provides a unified solution to various cybersecurity challenges facing SMBs and MSPs. “After evaluating various cybersecurity products, we choose Guardz. Their solutions help us to protect our customers’ assets and simplify management while giving us a competitive advantage against other MSPs,” said Kyle Parry, the owner of Bridge19, an MSP focused on providing SMBs with technology assistance across the mid-west US. Guardz’s platform is a timely response to the emerging and increasingly sophisticated threats facing SMBs and MSPs in an ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.