One of the most vulnerable entry points to your data network security that hackers and cybercriminals use is email. Emails are widely used among businesses, which makes them a prevalent avenue for hackers to attack and access sensitive data.

According to the SlashNext State of Phishing Report for 2022, attackers ramped up their activity by 61% in 2022. To come up with this figure, SlashNext conducted a thorough survey of URLs, attachments, and messages sent through email, mobile and browser channels over six months in 2022 and identified 255 million attacks. This is a significant rise compared to the number of attacks in 2021.

How Do Hackers Use Email to Attack Your Organization? 

Phishing uses social engineering techniques to deceive victims into providing personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information. It usually takes the form of an email or text message imitating a legitimate source, such as a bank or other financial institution.

The message will often contain a link that leads to a fake website that looks legitimate but is designed to collect personal information. Sometimes, the message may contain malicious attachments that can install malware on the victim's computer. Phishing attacks are widespread and can have severe consequences if successful.

It only takes one mistake from anyone in your organization to compromise your data. Here are five ways to make your business emails more secure.

1. Use Multi-Factor Authentication

One of the most effective security practices against phishing is multi-factor authentication (MFA). According to Microsoft, MFA alone can block 99.9% of attempts to infiltrate your data by requiring two or more pieces of identification to verify your identity before granting access. This could be a password and a one-time code sent via SMS or generated by an authentication app. 

2. Implement Access Controls

Implementing access controls on your email accounts will help protect sensitive information. This includes setting up user roles and granting access based on these roles. You can also set up two-factor or single sign-on authentication to protect your accounts. 

3. Train Your Employees

Your employees should know the security risks associated with email and how to protect themselves from malicious emails. Make sure to provide regular training and updates on email security best practices. Remember that over 82% of data security breaches are due to human errors, making your people the most significant vulnerability attackers can exploit.The good news is that people learn when you give them ample opportunity to understand the security risks that come with emails.

4. Monitor Your Email Accounts

Monitor your email accounts for suspicious activity and look for any suspicious emails. Make sure to delete any emails you don't recognize or appear malicious. Additionally, make sure to delete any emails that contain sensitive information.

5. Work with Managed IT Services

Managed IT services can enhance email security by providing companies with the latest antivirus software and firewall protection to help protect against malicious attacks. They can also monitor email traffic and accounts to detect any suspicious activity and configure email settings to ensure that emails are only being sent to trusted users. 

Additionally, managed IT services can help train employees on proper email security practices to ensure that they follow best practices to keep their emails secure.

Make Your Email Security a Priority

Hackers are targeting businesses, regardless of your industry, size, or prominence in the industry. By incorporating these five practices, you can keep your company safe from malicious attackers that seek to profit from your data.

Entre Technologies is a managed IT company that provides services in infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity and network security, employee and technology support, and more. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced staff.