A memorable review process helps employees pause before acting: scrutinize the sender, examine the request, confirm through another channel, understand the consequence, report the message, and escalate quickly.
Key takeaways
What to know before you act
- S.E.C.U.R.E. gives employees a repeatable pause: Scrutinize, Examine, Confirm, Understand, Report, and Escalate.
- Confirmation through a separate, known channel is the step that stops most payment and credential fraud.
- The method only works if reporting is easy and employees are thanked—not blamed—for raising concerns.
Why it matters
What business leaders should understand
Security awareness works best when employees have a simple action they can use under pressure. The goal is not perfect detection—it is safer decisions and fast reporting.
The right response should reflect your environment, data, vendors, risk, and operational priorities. Use this guide as a practical starting point, then validate important decisions with the people responsible for your technology, cybersecurity, legal obligations, and insurance coverage.
Learn how Meta IT Pro can help with cybersecurity services and security awareness training.
Related reading: What is a phishing attack? and AI cybersecurity for small businesses.
The S.E.C.U.R.E. method in practice
Phishing succeeds by rushing people into a decision. A short, memorable routine gives employees permission to slow down and a clear sequence to follow when something feels off.
- Scrutinize the sender: check the full address, not only the display name, and watch for look-alike domains.
- Examine the request: hover over links, question unexpected attachments, and notice requests for credentials, codes, or payments.
- Confirm through another channel: call a known number or use an established workflow—never the contact details in the message.
- Understand the consequence: ask what happens if the request is fraudulent—money moved, data shared, or access granted.
- Report the message using the approved button or process, even if you are not sure.
- Escalate immediately if you clicked, entered a password, approved a prompt, or sent information.
Apply it to the highest-risk requests
The method matters most for requests that move money or grant access. Build confirmation into the business process itself: a vendor bank-detail change, payroll redirect, wire transfer, or new remote-access request should require verification by phone to a number already on file, and ideally a second approver.
Practice the method with realistic examples drawn from your own tools and workflows. When someone reports a suspicious message, close the loop quickly so they know it was useful.
- Publish a short list of requests that always require out-of-band confirmation.
- Make the reporting option visible in email and collaboration tools.
- Treat a disclosed click as an opportunity to contain, not a disciplinary event.
Practical action plan
Steps your business can take
Slow down when a message creates urgency, secrecy, fear, or an unusual opportunity.
Examine the full sender address, destination link, attachment, and requested action.
Confirm sensitive requests through a known phone number or established workflow.
Report suspicious messages and disclose clicks immediately so the security team can respond.
Recommended next steps
Continue from this article.
These pages expand the specific risks and decisions covered in this guide. Use them to move from general understanding to the service, tool, or related topic that best matches your next question.
Related guide
What is a phishing attack?
Review the forms phishing takes across email, text, phone, and QR codes.
Explore nextService
Managed email security
Add filtering and sender authentication behind the habits employees practice.
Explore nextRelated guide
AI cybersecurity for small businesses
Prepare for more convincing AI-written messages and voice impersonation.
Explore nextLearning center
Cybersecurity learning center
Explore more guides on phishing, identity, and employee awareness.
Explore nextWarning signs
Do not ignore these indicators
- A sender asks you to ignore established payment or approval steps
- The display name looks familiar but the address does not
- The message requests passwords, MFA codes, remote access, or confidential files
Frequently asked questions
Common questions, answered.
What does S.E.C.U.R.E. stand for?
Scrutinize the sender, Examine the request, Confirm through another channel, Understand the consequence, Report the message, and Escalate if you acted on it.
Which step stops the most fraud?
Confirming sensitive requests through a separate, known channel, such as a callback to a number already on file.
Should employees report messages they are unsure about?
Yes. Reports that turn out to be legitimate still help the security team understand what employees receive.
How Meta IT Pro can help
Related services and practical next steps
Explore the services connected to this topic. These links provide more detail about scope, safeguards, support, and how to start a conversation with our team.
Authoritative references
Sources and further reading
These primary sources support the guidance in this article and provide additional technical or consumer information.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Recognize and Report Phishing
Plain-language guidance for recognizing, reporting, and removing phishing messages.
Federal Trade Commission
How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams
Consumer guidance on common phishing messages, warning signs, and how to report them.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0: Resource and Overview Guide
A CSF 2.0 overview that includes employee training, suspicious-activity reporting, and other practical safeguards.
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