For many companies, email remains the most vulnerable element of an otherwise strong security policy. Due to the ubiquitous nature of email communication in the modern workplace, it’s a common target for hackers and is the number one route they use to steal sensitive data.
With the right approach, it’s easy to improve your business’s email security. We’ve compiled four tips that will help any business strengthen their defenses against online attacks.
Train personnel in best email practices
No security policy is 100% effective without staff members brought fully on board. Whether you decide to hold a seminar or send out regular briefings, training employees greatly decreases data leakage simply by reducing risky behaviors from occurring in the first place.
Teach employees how to identify suspicious emails. Under no circumstances should they open such mail, and they should also avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments. If your company currently uses email to send sensitive documents, consider using a cloud-based service instead, as they’re often more secure and less prone to outside intrusion. Finally, encourage employees to use a strong password for their email and to change it regularly.
Schedule regular software updates
Bugs and exploits are unavoidable in software. They can allow a savvy hacker to dodge security measures and access seemingly secure mail servers and user inboxes. Software companies release updates of their programs in order to combat such security flaws.
It’s impossible to predict when and where exploits can pop up. In order to prevent an attacker from utilizing one against you, make sure to regularly monitor your email software suite for updates and install them whenever they become available.
Reduce the amount of information stored
If your email is ever compromised, then it’s a good idea to reduce what the attacker can gain from it. Even though your mail server might have plenty of storage, there’s no need to store years and years of correspondence.
Make sure to note important information elsewhere and periodically purge old emails from the system. You can use encrypted email to slow an attacker down and prevent them from being able to access the information easily.
- Hire an expert to diagnose IT security issues
It’s wise to outsource IT services to experts that deal specifically with email security. Not only will they address security for mail servers and employee practices, but they’ll also work to improve related areas such as network, application, and even physical security, all of which contribute to the continued safety of your data. Additionally, they can help you craft policies to mitigate the damage in case an attacker ever does get through.
It is vital for companies to take email security into consideration and put measures into practice that protect against data breach. Secure correspondence is both important and necessary for your business; contact us if you’d like more information on how to assess the strength of your business’s security policy.