On the surface, the water looks calm.
That’s what makes Shark Week so interesting every year. Danger often stays out of sight. It moves below the surface while staying quiet and patient.
Cybercriminals work in much the same way. In fact, many business risks look like normal daily work at first. But problems hit fast when you move money, when systems drop offline, or when a client asks, “What happened?”
During the summer, risk goes up fast. People travel, schedules change, and reviews slow down. Because of this shift, attackers press harder. So, they target firms that pay less attention.
Here are three major threats to watch right now.
1. Business Email Compromise (BEC): Fake invoices and vendor impersonation
Attackers don’t always break into a system. Instead, they often just need one good email.
In a BEC attack, a crook pretends to be a vendor or boss. So, the message looks normal. It usually asks for a quick payment or a bank detail update. But if your team sends the money, you lose those funds forever.
This creates a real risk for law firms, accounting firms, and financial advisors. Teams send wires daily, pay vendors often, and trust a familiar name in the inbox.
Also, summer makes these tricks easier for scammers. When the main approver takes time off, a backup person steps in. But that cover person may not know what a real request looks like. Then, attackers exploit that gap.
What to do:
- Set a firm rule for any money requests sent by email.
- Call the sender back using a known, verified phone number.
- Confirm every change to bank details before you press send.
2. Phishing attacks that target busy employees
Phishing works because people rush.
For instance, an employee sees a password reset email and clicks fast. Or, someone gets a text that seems to come from IT. In other cases, a fake message arrives right before a key meeting.
In every case, the attacker wins by using pressure. Then, they count on speed to do the rest.
Therefore, your best defense is simply to slow down.
It helps to build a team culture where people pause to verify:
- An unexpected login prompt
- A link they did not ask to receive
- A payment request that feels odd or urgent
Above all, remind your team: it is always okay to ask, “Is this real?”
3. Supply chain risk: Third-party access that spreads fast
When hackers hit a vendor, that security risk can quickly move into your business. Specifically, the breach spreads through the tool connections you share.
We call this supply chain risk. Most firms carry far more of it than they know.
Think about all the tools connected to your network. Think about outside vendors holding admin logins. Or think about past workers whose access you never cut off. As a result, each spot can become an open door.
Remember, outsourcing a service never outsources your own accountability.
To gain clarity on supply chain risk, you should be able to answer:
- Which vendors can reach our data or systems?
- What parts can they access?
- Who owns that vendor relationship inside our firm?
If you can’t answer those three questions today, you have a big gap.
By the time you see it, it’s already moving
Sharks don’t announce themselves before they strike, and cybercriminals don’t either.
Many firms take a hit simply because nothing looked wrong at the time. Plus, summer makes that risk higher as schedules shift and focus drifts. So, the surface stays calm right up until the attack.
We actively help law firms, accounting firms, and financial advisors spot weak points early. Our team checks vendors, user activity, and daily processes to keep your firm safe.
If you don’t know where your business stands, schedule a 10-minute discovery call.
