Security should be a top priority for all businesses, especially since companies of all sizes now depend heavily on online operations. With millions now working remotely, email is one of the key ways in which people communicate. It’s a great business tool, but it’s also potentially vulnerable to attack by cybercriminals. For this week’s tip we’ll discuss some basic steps you can take to maximize your email security.
Your staff can protect your business
In a typical organization most or all staff members have access to work emails. That means that cybercriminals could take advantage of anyone who works for you. Don’t think of your employees as weak points in your business cybersecurity. Think of them as the frontline of defense, who can protect your business if they are well-trained in email security best practices.
Be alert to suspicious activity
Knowing what the cyberthreats that can damage your business look like is half the battle if you want to be optimize your business email security. Do your employees know what the hallmarks of a phishing attack are? Are they alert to the dangers of attachments within emails from unknown persons? Being aware of cybersecurity issues is the first step to preventing breaches of email security.
Examine email details closely
Cybercriminals are smart, but clued-up employees can easily spot the warning signs of suspicious emails when they know what to look for. One sure sign is spelling errors in the email address (often in the name of well-known companies). Links within emails, and attachments, are also something to be very wary of unless you’re 100% sure that the sender is legitimate. Any request for information should be viewed with caution and the baseline should be that information and data should not be shared unless the request is verified as genuine.
Protect yourself with automated defenses
For your employees to be fooled by an email scam the dangerous email has to get into their inbox to start with. Automated email security can help here. It works by identifying suspicious emails (and spam in general) so it doesn’t appear in the first place. Eliminating spam also cuts down on time-consuming distractions, so your staff can get on with the important stuff.
Use encryption for communications
Encrypt your data. Or – as it would appear when that phrase is converted using encryption: LBgC1fMWrctCfdypy/Oxu16VMJwhMzkhtyQhMTYwIQ==
To ‘read’ it, you need the key. Without it, even if your message is intercepted in cyberspace it’s not going to make any sense to a data thief. Encryption is a great cybersecurity tool to protect your emails and other communications, especially if you’re sending private information or sensitive data over the internet.
Quikteks can help you secure your emails, as well as other business communications and data. For more information on cybersecurity for your business, reach out to us at (973) 882-4644.