Email Security

Email security encompasses technologies and practices to protect email communications from threats like phishing, malware, and business email compromise.

Email security is critical because email remains the primary attack vector for most breaches.

Email threats: - Phishing and spear phishing - Business Email Compromise (BEC) - Malware attachments - Credential harvesting - Account takeover

Email security controls: - SPF/DKIM/DMARC: Email authentication - Secure Email Gateways: Filtering and scanning - Advanced Threat Protection: Sandboxing, URL rewriting - Encryption: TLS in transit, S/MIME or PGP for content - MFA: Protect email accounts - DLP: Prevent sensitive data leakage

Email security best practices: - Implement DMARC with reject policy - Enable MFA for all email accounts - Use secure email gateways - Train users on phishing recognition

Why It Matters

Email remains the #1 attack vector, responsible for over 90% of successful cyberattacks. Business Email Compromise alone caused $2.7 billion in losses in 2022. Without proper email security—DMARC, MFA, secure gateways, and user training—organizations are exposed to phishing, malware delivery, and credential theft that can bypass all other security controls.

Key Points

Email is the #1 attack vector

DMARC prevents email spoofing

MFA is essential for all accounts

User training reduces phishing success

Advanced threat protection for malware

Applicable Compliance Frameworks

SOC 2 ISO 27001 HIPAA

Related Terms

Phishing

Phishing is a social engineering attack that tricks victims into revealing sensitive information or taking harmful actions through deceptive emails, messages, or websites.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA is a security mechanism requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

DLP is a set of tools and processes that detect and prevent unauthorized transmission or storage of sensitive data outside the organization.