5 Effective Methods To Defend Against Email Security Threats

Mastering email defense – 5 effective methods to combat email security threats

Email security is a critical component of business network security and includes various processes and technologies that aim to protect email accounts and communications. Email represents a large attack surface, given its extensive use in organizations, making it a primary target for phishing attacks and other forms of cyber-attacks. Keep reading to learn effective methods to defend against email attacks.

Implement Multi-Factor Authentication

• A multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides an additional layer of security to your email account. MFA involves using a second factor, such as a code sent to your phone, a security token, or a biometric factor like a fingerprint. This makes it much harder for attackers to access your account, even if they have the password.

This is particularly important for email accounts containing sensitive or confidential information, as it can help prevent unauthorized access. Many email providers and services offer MFA as an option, and it is generally a good idea to enable it if available.

Activate Your Email’s Spam Filter

• Another crucial step in protecting your email account and network from spam, phishing scams, and other malicious emails is enabling a spam filter. The spam filter program is designed to detect and block spam and phishing emails before they reach your inbox, providing an additional layer of security.

Utilizing a spam filter can strengthen your defense against email threats and significantly reduce the risk of compromising your email account. In addition, you can customize settings according to your specific needs and preferences.

Enhance Email Account Security With Sender Authentication

• Sender authentication protocols are a powerful defense against phishing attacks, email spoofing, and Business Email Compromise (BEC). It helps protect your emails from attacks by verifying the sender’s authenticity.

Major email authentication standards include:

Sender Policy Framework (SPF)

• It is an open standard that effectively prevents sender address forgery.

Domain Keys Identified Mail (DKIM)

• It provides encryption keys and digital signatures to ensure emails remain unaltered and not forged.

DMARC

• Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) combines SPF and DKIM mechanisms so domain owners can specify actions to take if an email from their domain fails authentication tests.

Scan Attachments

• It’s not unusual to receive emails from unknown sources. And often, these emails contain attached files that employees click open without a second thought. This makes it harder and harder for businesses to protect their networks from breaches. The only way to mitigate this issue is to set up fool-proof security practices.

Latest security measures should be implemented to keep ahead of hackers. Email attachments should always be scanned by using antivirus software. If the software tells you a problem, delete the message.

Accessing Emails From Public Wi-Fi

• Most of us know public Wi-Fi is unsafe, especially for email access. But we use them anyway. This allows hackers to have access to your network. What attackers need is just a loophole to bypass all the security measures.

The risk increases if the network is unencrypted or a virtual private network is not used. To prevent this issue, it is essential to encourage your employees to use mobile data when they are outside the office. It may not be as fast as Wi-Fi, but it is safer than public Wi-Fi networks.

If you are looking for reliable email security services, call us at (973) 638-2722. Outsource My IT is a recognized IT services company that can help you deal with threats. We have an experienced team of IT specialists working at our firm in New Jersey. Take action now to secure your emails!