Email security is a crucial part of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy. With the rise in phishing attacks and email-based malware, it’s important to understand the options available for securing email and choose the right solutions for your needs.
What are the main email security threats?
Some of the top email security threats include:
- Phishing – Fraudulent emails sent to trick users into revealing sensitive information or installing malware. Phishing is a prime vector for cybercriminals.
- Malware – Malicious software like viruses, worms, and trojans spread through infected email attachments.
- Spam – Unwanted junk email that clogs up inboxes, including phishing emails or emails with malicious attachments.
- Email spoofing – Forged sender addresses on emails to appear as someone trusted.
- Data leaks – Sensitive data sent via email getting into the wrong hands through misdelivery, interception or lack of encryption.
What are the core features of email security solutions?
Robust email security solutions typically provide a layered defense with core features like:
- Perimeter security – Blocking unwanted connections to email servers through tools like firewalls and VPNs.
- Authentication – Verifying sender identities using standards like SPF, DKIM and DMARC to detect spoofing.
- Reputation screening – Blocking IPs and domains with bad reputation scores indicative of spam or phishing.
- Behavioral analysis – Looking at communication patterns to identify anomalous or risky behavior.
- Antivirus engines – Scanning attachments and links for known malware signatures.
- Sandboxing – Detonating suspicious attachments in a safe, virtual environment to analyze behavior.
- Machine learning – Advanced techniques to detect new and emerging email threat patterns.
- Data loss prevention – Policies and controls around sensitive data sharing over email.
- Encryption – Securing email content and communications channels through encryption.
- Reporting – Detailed visibility into email security events and trends.
What are the leading enterprise email security solutions?
Some of the top enterprise-grade email security solutions include:
| Solution | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Cisco Email Security | Advanced malware protection, data loss prevention, encryption, robust reporting. |
| Barracuda Email Security | Link and URL protection, impersonation detection, archiving and backup. |
| Proofpoint Email Security | Threat detection with machine learning, targeted attack protection, compliance capabilities. |
| Mimecast Email Security | Perimeter security with sync and recover, brand exploit protection, security awareness training. |
| Microsoft Exchange Online Protection | Built-in antimalware and anti-spam filtering, integrates with Office 365 email. |
How does Google Workspace stack up for email security?
Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) provides robust email security through Gmail and integrated cloud apps. Key capabilities include:
- Advanced phishing and malware detection powered by machine learning.
- Automated sandboxing of attachments.
- DMARC email authentication and spoofing prevention.
- Spam filtering with quarantines.
- Email encryption for sensitive messages.
- Two-factor authentication for user accounts.
- Audit logging for email events and changes.
- Custom sensitive data loss prevention policies.
For most organizations, the native Gmail protections are sufficient. Google’s security is state-of-the-art and their machine learning models are trained on billions of data points.
How does Microsoft 365 compare for securing email?
Microsoft 365 provides multilayered email security through Exchange Online Protection and Advanced Threat Protection capabilities including:
- Anti-spam and anti-malware filters.
- Known malware and phish detection.
- Zero-hour autoremedy for emerging threats.
- Anti-spoofing and anti-phishing.
- Impersonation and domain protection.
- Link and URL reputation screening.
- Behavior monitoring and machine learning models.
- Rich reporting and visibility.
For organizations invested in Microsoft technologies, Microsoft 365 integrates nicely for robust email defense.
What about email security solutions for small businesses?
Small businesses have different needs and tighter budgets. Some top email security options for SMBs include:
- Cisco Email Security Essentials – Affordable Cisco solution focused on spam blocking and virus protection.
- Barracuda Essentials for Email Security – Cloud-based protection against phishing, malware, and spam.
- Proofpoint Essentials – AI-powered malware and spam defense tailored for small businesses.
- Microsoft Exchange Online Protection – Basic Exchange Online plan providing cloud-based email filtering.
- G Suite’s Gmail security – Robust security from Google at just a few dollars per user monthly.
Should we rely solely on Google or Microsoft for email security?
While both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 provide solid email security, relying solely on their built-in protections has some potential drawbacks:
- Less flexibility compared to standalone solutions when customizing security policies and controls.
- Access to email data is dependent on Google or Microsoft.
- Built-in reporting and monitoring capabilities may not be as rich.
- Tighter vendor lock-in and integration complexity if you switch platforms.
- No layered defenses – a single point of failure if Google or Microsoft protections fail.
For many organizations, the pros of lower cost and convenience outweigh those cons. But for improved security posture, governance, and flexibility, adding extra email security solutions is recommended.
What are the top considerations when selecting an email security solution?
Key criteria to consider when selecting an email security solution include:
- Threat prevention – Anti-spam, anti-malware, anti-phishing capabilities.
- Breadth of features – Authentication, encryption, DLP, archiving, and more.
- Accuracy – Low false positive and false negative rates.
- Ease of use – User experience and administrator management.
- Data privacy – Where email data is stored and processed.
- Integration – How well it fits with existing infrastructure and workflows.
- Reporting – Quality of visibility into email security activity.
- Support and customer service – Availability of technical support resources.
- Business model – Pricing models like per user, volume tiering, etc.
Organizations should analyze their unique needs, priorities and constraints to determine which solution checks the most boxes for their environment.
Should we have multiple layers of email security defenses?
Layered email security with multiple complementary controls is considered a best practice for defense-in-depth:
- Native email platform filtering by Google, Microsoft or other provider.
- Perimeter email gateway security appliances or services.
- Internal network security tools like firewalls and proxies.
- End-user security through eduction on phishing risks.
- Policy and technology controls around data loss prevention.
Multiple solutions working together provide broader protection. If one layer misses a threat, another layer may catch it. However, more layers increase cost and complexity.
Should we invest in special email isolation technologies?
Email isolation technologies like those from Abnormal Security, Egress and Meta Networks offer innovative protection by isolating and executing all email content away from production networks and mailboxes before allowing delivery. Benefits include:
- Prevention of zero-day, ransomware, and other sophisticated attacks spread through email.
- Allowing risky content detonation without impacting users.
- Not needing to block or quarantine suspicious emails, increasing protection while maintaining productivity.
The downside is added cost. But for high-risk organizations, isolation technology provides valuable reinforcement of email defenses.
How can we determine if our email security is working effectively?
Ways to monitor the effectiveness of email security include:
- Review email protection reports for trends on spam, policy violations, malware, phishing, etc.
- Audit log searches for anomalies indicative of threats getting through.
- Set up test phishing emails to gauge block rates.
- Check user feedback and help desk tickets related to email security issues.
- Conduct simulated external penetration tests targeting email.
- Monitor email server workloads for irregular spikes.
- Compare against industry email threat statistics.
Proactive monitoring and testing will ensure your solutions are working optimally and highlight areas needing adjustment.
Conclusion
Protecting email from modern advanced threats requires a concerted strategy using the right mix of tools and techniques. Solutions from vendors like Google, Microsoft, Cisco, Barracuda, and Proofpoint all offer compelling capabilities. But no single product can do it all. The specifics of each organization’s email environments and risks inform the ideal email security stack. With proper planning and monitoring, companies can keep email communications secure from cybercriminals exploiting this crucial communication channel.
