Cybercriminals don’t just target systems—they target people.
That’s what makes social engineering such a dangerous and effective form of cyberattack. Instead of hacking your network, attackers manipulate your employees into handing over confidential data or access—often without realising anything is wrong.
At CPiO, we help businesses protect their systems, software, and people from these types of threats every day. In this blog, we’ll explain how social engineering works, the red flags to watch out for, and what procedures we’ve put in place to help safeguard your business.
Social engineering is a form of psychological manipulation used by cybercriminals to trick people into revealing sensitive information—like passwords, access credentials, or other protected data.
It often comes in the form of:
A phone call from someone claiming to be your IT provider
An email that appears to be from a colleague or trusted organisation
A request that appears urgent or official, asking you to “verify” credentials or reset passwords
The goal is always the same: gain access to systems or information that can be exploited.
While no one can prevent a social engineering attempt from reaching your organisation, we’ve implemented strict procedures to help minimise risk and give you confidence in the support you receive from CPiO.
Here are some of the key ways we protect our clients:
1. We don’t call out of the blueCPiO will never contact an end user without a support ticket being raised by a known contact within the business. If someone claiming to be from CPiO Support calls unexpectedly, ask for the ticket reference. No ticket, no call.
Our official support number is: 0344 880 6155. Any support call from a different number should raise caution. When in doubt, hang up and call us directly.
CPiO consultants will never ask for passwords or sensitive login credentials. We won’t pressure anyone into sharing secure information.
If you're ever unsure, ask the consultant to confirm their name and ticket reference, or request a verification email from CPiO before continuing.
Requests for password resets, access changes, or user permissions are treated with the highest level of scrutiny. We don’t action these requests on the spot.
Instead, we escalate them internally and require validation from an authorised contact in your organisation—typically via email confirmation. While this adds a small step, it’s an essential safeguard against both external attacks and internal misuse.
Social engineering attacks are preventable—with the right awareness and procedures.
Here are three things every organisation should do:
Educate your team – Make sure all employees, especially those likely to receive IT-related calls or emails, know what to look out for.
Report anything suspicious – If something feels off, stop the conversation and verify with your trusted provider directly.
Watch for pressure tactics – Any use of urgency or fear to rush your response is a major red flag.
Security isn’t just about firewalls and antivirus software—it’s about people, processes, and awareness.
If you’re looking for a more secure IT partner or want to improve your team's cyber awareness, get in touch with CPiO. We’re here to help your business stay safe, stay alert, and stay protected.
Let’s stay secure, together.