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Email Security
What is Email Security?
Email security refers to the tools, techniques, procedures, and software used to defend against malicious attempts to access and compromise sensitive data.
Unwanted parties may attempt to steal sensitive data in several ways. These include, including sending an email posing as a member of upper management. forwarding links and/or attachments containing malware or ransomware, or sending URLs in the email body that enable phishing for login details. No company is immune from these threats, which often cause damage.
Back in 2015, cyber criminals assumed some of Sony’s employees’ identities and sent malware-ridden emails to unsuspecting colleagues. The result? Over 100 TB of data was stolen, costing Sony over $100 million. Even tech giants Google and Facebook fall prey to email security attacks. Between 2013 and 2015, hackers sent convincing counterfeit invoices to both companies, collecting over $100 million in their 2-year stint.
Why Prioritise the Security of your Emails?
Your company may be equipped with a secure email gateway. Additionally you may have strict encryption policies, and phishing awareness training to boost your readiness for an attack. But with ever-evolving email threats, how prepared are you and your employees really?
Email security requires a proactive approach to threats, which may mean it’s time for you to take a hard look at your business email security stack. Discover why email security should be a high priority for all companies. Learn how to spot advanced email threats, what essentials for email security providers, and which tips to follow to start bolstering your current email security strategy today.
Common Business Email Threats
So what threats does your company need to prepare for? Let’s take a closer look:
Phishing
In Phishing attacks, emails are designed to trick people into providing sensitive personal or professional information. Often by establishing a sense of urgency. Reports show that 80% of security incidents are a result from phishing attacks. E-mail phishing scams are cheap, so attackers can cycle through thousands of versions on an e-mail to figure out which copy works best.
Whaling
Whaling, a subtype of phishing targeted at an company's senior leadership. Since the scammer's end goal is convincing targets to deposit money into fake accounts, whaling requires research and preparation. The sophistication of scammers need to be enough to impersonate and/or deceive people at the board or C-suite level.
Business Email Compromise
With business email compromise (BEC), criminals impersonate corporate email accounts or vendors and send messages to employees, clients, or partners. These messages are designed to trick people into providing credentials that make wire transfers. Between 2018 and 2019, there was a 100% increase in global exposed losses due to BEC.
Malware
Malware is any software aimed at destroying, compromising, or accessing an operating system. When a computer is exposed to malware, it’s at risk of losing data, core functionality, and privacy. Some malware spies on people’s activity without them knowing. Worms, Trojan horses, viruses, and spyware are common types of malware.
Ransomware
Ransomware uses malware to obstruct access to a victim’s system until a certain amount of money is deposited in the scammer’s account. Typically, a ransom is requested in the form of untraceable Bitcoin. This makes it easier for attackers to get away with the crime. Recent ransomware attacks have simulated antivirus software. They then threaten to publicly disclose harmful information or simply locked victims out of their computers altogether.
3 Best Practices of Email Security
The following email security, best practices can help create a solid base for protection. Against malware, phishing, business email compromise. Successful approaches often blend several tactics together. Protecting yourself proactively will require a multi-faceted approach.
1. Business Email Security Platform
Encryption, spam filters, and secure email gateways, don’t stand a chance against modern attacks. Phishing threats are ever-evolving, with new tactics like SaaS phishing, homoglyphs, and pharming. A secure email platform needs to anticipate these changes by detecting anomalies. An advanced email security platform uses API integrations to study communications patterns from the inside out at the mailbox level.
Encryption, spam filters, and secure email gateways, don’t stand a chance against modern attacks. Phishing threats are ever-evolving, with new tactics like SaaS phishing, homoglyphs, and pharming. A secure email platform needs to anticipate these changes by detecting anomalies. An advanced email security platform uses API integrations to study communications patterns from the inside out at the mailbox level.
2. MFA/2FA
Multi-factor (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA) offers extra layers of protection to any business. To access a workplace app, employees must enter their password and a code they received in an authentication app or over text or both. Having multiple checkpoints makes it harder for criminals to access sensitive data.
The downside to MFA/2FA is that it’s inconvenient. Instead of being able to access information right away, users have to take the time to check another device and enter a code. As a result, many employees fail to actually use it, unless required by the company. And even more importantly, MFA and 2FA don’t protect against account takeover attacks either, since the attacker has access to the email account already.
3. Employee Education
Multi-factor (MFA) or two-factor authentication (2FA) offers extra layers of protection to any business. To access a workplace app, employees must enter their password and a code they received in an authentication app or over text or both. Having multiple checkpoints makes it harder for criminals to access sensitive data.
The downside to MFA/2FA is that it’s inconvenient. Instead of being able to access information right away, users have to take the time to check another device and enter a code. As a result, many employees fail to actually use it, unless required by the company. And even more importantly, MFA and 2FA don’t protect against account takeover attacks either, since the attacker has access to the email account already.
Advanced Email Security Threat Protection
Typically, endpoint security software will include these key components:
Our service combines several point solutions into a single platform. So your company benefits from top-of-the-line prevention, detection, and remediation solutions. Out-of-the-box BEC, ransomware, and malware protection defend against both known and unknown types of cyber attacks.
Don’t take any chances!
