Email remains the main attack vector for cyberattacks
Learn why protection is essential
Emails are still the most important point of attack for cyber criminals. According to recent studies and reports, more than 90% of cyberattacks originate from email communications. This shows that email remains as popular an attack vector as ever, even in times of advanced threats and constantly evolving cybersecurity defences. Attacks targeting platforms such as Microsoft 365 (O365) to take control of business infrastructures are particularly dangerous.
Comprehensive protection for your email communication
Email-Security
Email-Security involves more than just protection against viruses and spam. Modern security solutions offer multi-layered protection that safeguards your emails at all levels – from preventing spam and phishing to encrypting sensitive data, archiving and complying with legal requirements. Effective email security not only protects against external threats, but also prevents unauthorised access to internal communications and ensures the confidentiality and integrity of your data.
Use our Email-Security audit to assess the current state of your email security measures and identify potential vulnerabilities. Together, we will develop a tailored solution that ensures your email communication is secure, efficient, and compliant with legal requirements.
Trust the experts when it comes to the security of your emails – protect your business from the risks of digital communication.
Ransomware still poses a threat
Ransomware is one of the most dangerous and widespread threats to modern businesses. This type of malware encrypts files on the victim’s systems and demands a ransom for the release of the data. Despite its long existence, ransomware remains one of the biggest threats, as it continues to cause significant damage, both financially and in terms of a company’s reputation.
As with most cyberattacks, ransomware typically relies on someone being tricked into taking a specific action, such as opening a malicious attachment or clicking on an infected URL. Cybercriminals increasingly exploit email as an entry point for these attacks, as it provides a direct link to end users. More than 90% of ransomware attacks begin via email, where the recipient unknowingly opens a dangerous message that injects the malware into the corporate network.
The targeted distribution of ransomware through emails is a key factor driving the need for businesses to implement additional security measures to protect against such attacks. A multi-layered protection strategy, including advanced email security solutions, employee training, and regular audits, is essential to minimize the impact of ransomware attacks and safeguard operations.
Why?
Ransomware remains one of the most dangerous cyber threats today and has proven to be extremely persistent for several reasons:
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Easier payment methods: Ransomware attackers can easily collect their ransom payments thanks to digital currencies such as Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. These payment methods enable anonymous transactions, making it more difficult for perpetrators to be tracked.
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Variety of transmission channels: Attackers use a variety of transmission channels, such as existing network compromises or email-based attacks. These channels increase the likelihood of a successful attack, as they lead attackers directly to their targets with fewer obstacles.
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Weak security measures: Many businesses have outdated or inadequate cybersecurity defenses, particularly in areas such as data backup and disaster recovery. These weaknesses make them particularly attractive targets for ransomware attacks, as attackers know that the victim often lacks sufficient means to recover their data in the event of an attack.
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Targeted attacks and sophisticated tactics: Ransomware attackers are increasingly selecting their victims carefully and using more sophisticated tactics to build trust and deceive the victim. This strategy leads to higher success rates and makes it more difficult to identify and defend against such attacks.
These factors contribute to ransomware continuing to be one of the most dangerous and profitable threats to businesses. Effective protection, therefore, requires not only technological solutions but also continuous employee awareness and training, as well as regular security audits.
Access to Microsoft 365 and company data
The attackers’ target
Microsoft 365 has become an integral part of the day-to-day work of companies worldwide. But it is precisely this widespread use that makes the platform a sought-after target for cyberattacks. A successful attack on Microsoft 365 can have serious consequences: Access to emails, documents, calendar entries and even business-critical data can be completely compromised.
Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities in the system – whether through inadequate security measures, a lack of user awareness or a lack of security guidelines. Once attackers gain access to an email account, they can steal sensitive information, spread ransomware or even take control of the account.
The security of Microsoft 365 is therefore not only a technical challenge, but also a strategic necessity for every company.
Multi-Layered protection for email systems
Protection is not enough
The basic protection provided by Microsoft 365 to many organizations is important, but it is not sufficient to fully protect businesses. The integrated security features of Microsoft, such as Defender for Office 365, offer a fundamental layer of protection against spam, phishing, and malware. However, many threats go undetected because attackers are constantly developing new tactics to bypass security measures. A multi-layered protection approach is crucial to further secure email communication and access to Microsoft 365. This includes additional layers of protection that go beyond the standard security, such as:
- Advanced Email Filtering: Specialized tools that detect and block malicious attachments, links, and phishing attempts in real-time.
- Ransomware Detection and Protection: Ransomware is increasingly spread through email attachments and links. Protection mechanisms that detect ransomware and other types of malware in attachments or through URL analysis are critical.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): An additional layer of protection that ensures access to the system is blocked even if a password is compromised.
- Security Policies and User Training: Training employees to recognize potential phishing attempts plays a crucial role in protecting against email-based attacks.
The importance of an Email-Security audit
Another important element in protecting your email infrastructure is a regular security audit. A detailed audit of your email security and Microsoft 365 configurations helps identify vulnerabilities that you may have overlooked.
As part of the audit, you can review the following aspects:
- Email-Security Policies: Are your anti-phishing and anti-malware rules up to date and comprehensive?
- Access Rights: Do unauthorized users or compromised accounts have access to sensitive emails?
- Email-Encryption: Are confidential emails protected by encryption to maintain their integrity?
- Authentication Methods: Are all employees using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), is the implementation correct?
A professionally conducted audit not only identifies vulnerabilities but also provides concrete recommendations on how to sustainably improve the protection of your email communication.
Protect your email communication
To effectively protect your business from the growing threats of email-based attacks, a multi-layered security approach is required. This includes advanced filtering technologies , continuous user education and regular security audits. A comprehensive protection strategy must not only strengthen technical barriers but also raise user awareness, enabling them to recognize suspicious emails and phishing attempts.
Comprehensive protection requires solutions that cover all attack vectors, enable automatic detection and response, and actively involve the end user in the protection process. Proofpoint is the only provider offering an integrated solution that meets these exact requirements. Their solution combines user-centered transparency into the threat landscape, protects against all common attack tactics, and provides features for automatic threat detection.
With this comprehensive security strategy, businesses can effectively combat the threats posed by email-based attacks and protect their data and IT infrastructure in the long term.
With our free Email-Security audit
Five building blocks for secure Email-Communication
Security incidents often start with a single malicious email. One compromised message can be enough to paralyze the entire operation.
With our free CYQUEO Email-Security audit, we check your email infrastructure for vulnerabilities and develop specific recommendations for action.
The five components of the audit are:
- Protection against malware, spam, and advanced threats
- Email-Fraud-Prevention
- Encryption and Digital Signatures
- Email-Archiving
Benefit from our expertise and use the opportunity to identify vulnerabilities at an early stage in order to proactively secure your IT infrastructure. Strengthen the resilience of your systems against cyber risks and create a reliable basis for a secure IT environment.
Request your free CYQUEO Email-Security audit today and protect your company sustainably!
Request your Email-Security audit now
Optimal solutions for your Email-Security
