Understanding The 5 Pillars Of Email Security

Learn about the pillars of email security and why they are crucial for small businesses

As cyber attackers are increasingly exploiting emails to break into corporate networks, email security becomes critical. When it comes to network security, emails are an unreliable communication service that should not be trusted. Businesses need to adopt a more robust set of email security practices to reduce the risk of attacks.

We have summarized the best practices that can strengthen your email security. Let’s explore them in detail.

Avoid Reusing Passwords

• Using stronger passwords is one of the best email security practices. However, one password should not be reused for another account. If an account is compromised, the attacker can easily access the other account using the same credentials. This is especially true when employees use the same password for personal and corporate accounts.

To prevent this, it is essential to encourage employees to use unique passwords for every account. When there are dozens of passwords, it is difficult to remember them. A password manager or single sign-on is the best solution for this.

Employ Multifactor Authentication

• Another must-have for email security is multifactor authentication. Different methods authenticate a user trying to gain access to the corporate network. This usually involves using a fingerprint biometric combination with a username and password.

The more methods of authentication you add, the stronger the security defenses become. The additional layers of security defend against common email security threats, including brute force attacks, password cracking, etc. Therefore, companies must use MFA as a mandatory practice to protect their corporate network.

Phishing Awareness Training Programs

• Email phishing is becoming increasingly advanced and realistic. Although email security practices can prevent spam emails from reaching the inbox, several emails containing phishing schemes still get through. Employees should watch out for phishing scams, including spear phishing or whaling attacks.

Any potential malicious email should be opened with caution. Avoid responding to or opening attachments and links in suspicious emails. Include phishing awareness in employee training programs. These security awareness programs can help employees identify suspicious emails and teach them the methods to avoid clinking on the wrong links.

Open Email Attachments With Caution

• Many email attacks depend on attachments that contain malicious executable code. Antimalware software can be used to detect malicious sources and block malicious attachments. However, cyber attackers can also exploit trusted sources to send malicious attachments.

Therefore, employees should be careful while opening any email attachment regardless of its source. Some of the suspicious extensions include .exe, .jar, and .msi. Word documents and PDF files may also contain malicious codes, so scan them with antimalware software before opening.

Avoid Connecting To Public Wi-Fi

• Public Wi-Fi is a blessing for employees, allowing them to continue their work from any location. However, cyber attackers can use public Wi-Fi as bait to gain access to a corporate network. When an employee logs in to a business email using public Wi-Fi, anyone using that network can gain access to their email.

Malicious attackers can access critical information through emails, Wireshark, and other open-source packets. Most systems are set to automatically update inboxes when connected to a network. Even if the users don’t check their inboxes, connecting to public Wi-Fi can put their account credentials at risk.

If you want to protect your business from email-related security threats, call us at 973-638-2722. Schedule your following risk assessment with our experts at Out Source My IT. We will provide you with a comprehensive email security solution that best fits your budget and needs. We are located in New Jersey.