People who triple-padlock their doors while leaving their windows open are ripe for burglary (and mockery), but ridiculing those folks is plainly hypocritical when so many businesses invest vast sums in endpoint protection solutions while neglecting a glaring gap in their cyber-defenses: effective email security.
Email is the primary tool that today’s organizations use to communicate with their internal and external stakeholders. Not surprisingly, that ubiquity has also made it the most utilized attack vector for cybercriminals. Despite using a variety of email security tools (e.g., authentication & encryption protocols, corporate information security policies, etc.), organizations still remain vulnerable to cyber threats that plague email, including hacking, malware, phishing, spoofing, and misdeliveries.
Notable Statistics on Email Security Threats
| 94% of detected malware was delivered via malicious email attachments | Email phishing is the #1 type of threat action in breaches |
| 84% of social media attacks featured phishing emails | 45% of malware was delivered by email attachments containing common Microsoft Office documents |
Source: Verizon’s 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report
Moving further into National Security Awareness Month this October, it’s apropos to highlight the often-overlooked category of email security solutions. Too many SMBs and MSPs mistakenly assume that typical endpoint security solutions can provide comprehensive protection from email-based attacks. Alas, that is just not the case. Only a purpose-built email security solution can safeguard against the multitude of email-based threats that cybercriminals regularly unleash.
FYI: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2020 is about taking proactive steps to enable lasting, positive cybersecurity behavior change at home and at work. Protecting against cyber threats is a critical challenge for organizations of all sizes in both the public and private sectors.
Choosing An Email Security Solution
Simply put, combating today’s zero-day threats and complex malware requires more than a strong endpoint security solution. Email is now the leading attack vector for cybercriminals intent on network infiltration, leveraging such tactics as phishing campaigns and bad URL links, as well as weaponized attachments.
As such, deploying a dedicated email security solution should not be seen as merely a prudent “add-on” to an effective protection strategy—it’s absolutely a necessity for today’s SMBs and MSPs who must prevent costly breaches.
When evaluating email security solutions, it’s a good idea to look for a multi-layered security platform that leverages powerful machine learning technology. This enables the solution to perform multiple levels of scanning that protect against both known and emerging email-based threats, including viruses, malware, spam, bulk mail, phishing, and spoofing.
It’s also sensible to seek out user-friendly technologies such as easy cloud-based deployment and a convenient browser-based portal. The ultimate goal is to find a solution that blends advanced protection with simple management tools:
• Central console providing instant dashboard visibility into all types of email threats, including spam, viruses, and quarantined messages
• Anti-spam, antivirus and anti-phishing technology that quells unwanted or malicious messages while increasing operational efficiency
• Always-on email continuity, so users can still access emails from a web browser on any device even when the email server, like Office 365, is unavailable
• End-user spam reports and robust email logs
• Platform independence plus support for any email client or server (Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Notes, Office 365 and Google Apps)
Learn More with Free Downloadable Content
VIPRE (#BeVIPRESecure) is a proud Champion of NCSAM, and dedicated to providing MSPs and SMBs with the cybersecurity training, awareness and tools they need to ensure a cyber-secure workplace. To help celebrate NCSAM this October, VIPRE Security is providing free downloadable content including solution briefs, case studies, tip sheets, learning videos and more.
Free Downloads:
VIPRE Email Security Suite Video
VIPRE Email Security Cloud Datasheet
VIPRE Email Security Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) Solution Brief
VIPRE Email Security Case Study
About VIPRE
For over 25 years, VIPRE Security has been a leading provider of advanced security products purpose-built to protect every major attack vector from today’s most costly and malicious online threats.
The post Email Security: How to Secure Your #1 Threat Vector appeared first on VIPRE.
