Phishing in 2026: Why Pittsburgh Businesses Are Still Getting Hooked—and How to Fight Back This February
February isn’t just about hearts and Groundhog Day, it’s Phishing Awareness Month, the perfect time for Pittsburgh-area businesses to double down on one of the most persistent cyber threats out there. As a veteran-owned managed IT provider right here in the Steel City, we at Sierra Experts see it every day: sophisticated phishing emails slipping past even cautious teams, costing local manufacturers, nonprofits, and service firms thousands (or worse) in downtime, data loss, or ransomware.
In 2026, phishing isn’t getting easier to spot, it’s getting harder. AI tools now craft hyper-personalized emails in seconds, mimicking your CEO’s writing style or referencing real recent events in Pittsburgh. According to ongoing trends from sources like CISA and industry reports, phishing remains the #1 entry point for breaches. But the good news? With the right awareness and defenses, you can slam the door on most of these attacks.
Here’s what Pittsburgh businesses need to know, and do, this month to stay ahead.
1. Understand the 2026 Phishing Evolution
Scams have changed over time and are now more complex and convincing. Today’s threats include:
• Spear-phishing targeted at your finance or HR team, using LinkedIn data or public company news.
• AI-generated deepfakes in voice/video calls (vishing/smishing hybrids).
• Business Email Compromise (BEC) that starts with a simple “urgent invoice” email.
Local angle: Pittsburgh’s manufacturing and tech growth means more remote/hybrid teams sharing files via email or cloud—prime targets. One compromised credential can lock up production lines or expose sensitive client data.
2. Spot the Red Flags (Even When They’re Sneaky)
Train your team with these updated checks:
• Hover over links (don’t click!)—does the URL match the displayed text?
• Check sender details closely—real domains don’t have weird misspellings like “micr0soft.com.”
• Urgent language + odd requests = pause and verify via phone (use known numbers, not the email signature).
• Attachments from unexpected sources? Run them through your antivirus or sandbox first.
Pro tip: February’s Safer Internet Day (Feb 10) is ideal for a quick team lunch-and-learn on this.
3. Build Layers of Protection (Beyond Just Awareness)
Awareness alone isn’t enough, so layer up:
• Email filtering & AI-powered detection — Block malicious links/attachments before they hit inboxes.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) everywhere — Especially on email and cloud apps.
• Regular simulated phishing campaigns — Test your team safely and train on real misses. We run these for clients monthly.
• Endpoint protection & backups — If a click happens, immutable backups (offsite, like our colocation options at Sierra Datacenters) let you recover fast without paying ransom.
• Employee training refresh — Make it ongoing, not once a year.
4. Pittsburgh-Specific Risks & Solutions
Our local scene, steel, healthcare, education, nonprofits, faces unique pressures: tight budgets, legacy systems, and supply-chain email risks. We’ve helped Pittsburgh firms recover from phishing-driven ransomware by implementing 3-2-1 backups and rapid incident response. As a veteran-owned team with roots in reliability and discipline, we bring that same no-nonsense approach to keeping your IT secure.
Take Action This February
Don’t wait for the next big local breach headline. Use Phishing Awareness Month to:
• Run a free phishing self-audit (we can share a quick checklist).
• Schedule a no-obligation security assessment from Sierra Experts.
• Clean out old devices too—tie in National Clean Out Your Computer Day (Feb 9) by decluttering files and updating software while you’re at it.
Ready to make 2026 the year phishing stops working on your team? Call us at (412) 722-0707 or visit sierraexperts.com for a free phishing risk check tailored to Pittsburgh businesses. We’ll simulate a campaign, review results, and map out quick wins with no strings attached.
Stay vigilant, Pittsburgh. We’ve got your back.
Sierra Experts – Veteran-Owned Managed IT & Cybersecurity, located in Western PA.
