Looking for tips on how to secure your business email?
It’s time to take email hosting security seriously. If you think spam filters are enough, then this blog post is for you.
Business email is the most targeted attack point in all companies. According to research, 94% of organizations experienced phishing attacks in the last 12 months.
I’m sure you don’t want to be a statistic. So let’s get right into it.
The Problem:
Many business owners believe their default email configuration is secure enough for work. This is a big mistake.
Cybercriminals are advancing their tactics every day. So your business email is likely to become the weakest link in your security chain.
In this post, we will take a close look at:
- The Cost of Email Security Attacks to Small and Medium Businesses
- The Must-Have Security Features For Business Email
- The Key Factors to Choosing Secure Email Hosting
- Daily Email Protection Habits
The Cost of Email Security Attacks to Small and Medium Businesses
Here’s something you may not know…
Business email attacks are costing companies billions of dollars. In 2024 alone, business email compromise attacks have already costed a total of $2.9 billion so far, averaging at $137,132 per incident.
Cybercriminals use advanced tactics to target businesses. The most common attacks we see are phishing scams, malware and ransomware infections, business email compromise (BEC), and data theft.
Here’s a quick overview of the most common threats for businesses:
- Phishing emails that steal your login credentials
- Business email compromise (BEC) scams
- Malware attachments
- Ransomware attacks
- Data breaches
But the truth is most people don’t know this…
The majority of these attacks are successful because businesses haven’t invested in secure email security. When you are shopping around for email hosting services, security must be the number one priority.
Why Standard Email Security is Not Enough
Do you think your free email provider will keep you safe?
Think again.
Most free or basic email platforms offer very little in terms of security. Sure, they will filter out the more obvious spam. But more sophisticated email attacks will easily make it through. And this is very dangerous when you’re running a business and handling sensitive customer data.
Professional hosted email services have multiple layers of security built in to protect against these modern threats. They have advanced filtering, encryption, and threat detection built into the service. But basic providers simply can’t match these.
The problem is standard security measures just aren’t cutting it anymore.
Research has found that 84.2% of phishing emails pass DMARC authentication (one of the most commonly used security tools used by email providers).
This means you need to have more than the basics in place.
Essential Email Security Features Every Business Must Have
So what do you need in email hosting security?
We’ve compiled a list of five must-have security features for every business email.
1. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA is the first line of defense.
If a hacker is able to steal your password, they won’t be able to log into your account without that second factor of authentication. It’s also very simple to set up and will significantly lower your risk.
2. Advanced Spam and Phishing Filters
Basic spam filters are no longer enough.
You need an intelligent filtering system that can recognize sophisticated phishing attempts. These modern systems use AI and machine learning technology to identify threats that normal filters are missing. Check that email hosting services you are looking at update their threat databases in real-time.
3. End-To-End Encryption
Encryption is very important…
Encryption ensures your emails are scrambled so only the intended recipient can read them. It protects financial data, customer data, proprietary business information, and employee records from being intercepted.
4. Automatic Backup and Recovery
This is one thing most businesses overlook…
Automatic email backups are a must. If you are hit with ransomware or your data becomes corrupted, you want the ability to quickly restore everything without losing important business communication.
5. Real-Time Threat Monitoring
Security doesn’t just work in the background anymore, it works actively.
Real-time monitoring systems are watching for suspicious activity 24/7. They can detect anomalous login attempts, mass email sends, or other things that would indicate that someone has compromised an account.
How to Choose Secure Email Hosting Services
Choosing the right email hosting provider is key to business security.
Don’t just choose the cheapest option or the one with the most storage. Your decision needs to be based around security features.
Verify Their Security Standards
Ask them about their security certifications.
They need to be complying with industry security standards like ISO 27001 and other data protection legislation. If they aren’t able to give you clear information about how they handle security, it’s a red flag.
Check their Track Record
How long have they been in business for? Do they have a good uptime guarantee?
A provider with a good track record and a solid reputation is much more likely to have good security measures in place. Look for reviews that mention security and reliability as well as the average uptime.
Check their Support Options
You need support when a security issue arises.
Security issues happen when you least expect them, so having 24/7 support is essential. Check the different options each provider has – do they only offer phone support, live chat, or just email tickets. Email only support could mean you are left vulnerable for hours or days while waiting for a response.
Daily Habits To Improve Your Email Security
Technology is only part of the equation.
Your team must also adhere to best security practices on a daily basis. These small habits can stop most email attacks in their tracks.
- Never click suspicious links in emails
- Verify the sender’s address before taking any action
- Use strong unique passwords
- Report phishing attempts
- Keep all software and apps up to date
Train your team regularly
Security training doesn’t end with a single course.
Cyber threats change all the time and your team needs to be updated on the latest scams and tactics on a regular basis. Monthly security reminders keep everyone on their toes.
Implement Clear Email Policies
Every business should have documented email security policies.
These should include acceptable use, how to handle sensitive data, and what to do in the event an employee suspects their account has been compromised.
Advanced Protection Measures
If you want even more protection, then you should set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your domain.
These protocols make sure that emails being sent are actually from you and prevents people from spoofing your business email address.
Consider email archiving solutions for an easy to search record of your email communications. Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) uses behavioral analysis to spot zero-day threats that signature-based systems will miss.
Your Next Steps
Evaluate your current email hosting provider. Do they have the essential security features we’ve discussed above? If not, now is the time to make the switch to a more secure provider.
- Audit your current email security setup
- Enable multi-factor authentication
- Schedule security training for your team
- Research email hosting providers with a focus on security
Don’t wait until after an attack to take email security seriously.
Wrapping Up
Email security is no longer an afterthought – it is a requirement for every business.
With phishing attacks on the rise and business email compromise attacks already costing billions, there is no excuse not to take email security seriously. With the right email hosting services and some smart security practices, you can protect your business from these threats.
It starts with choosing a provider that takes security seriously. Look for multi-factor authentication, advanced filtering, encryption, and real-time monitoring.
The investment you make in email security today could be what saves your business from a huge loss tomorrow.
