How to Bulletproof your Email Security in 2019


Did you know that the primary route for hackers to gain access to your business’s sensitive company and customer data is via email?

As long as your business has an online presence, you are basically a prime target for cyber criminals.

76% of companies experienced phishing attacks in 2017 and 97% of these organisations already had a spam / email filter in place!

Is this an area that you have reviewed recently, and is your organisation even using the right tools and mindset when it comes to email security?

Here are some tips for helping you to protect your business from this threat:



Anticipate Human Error

Although useful, spam filters alone are not enough to protect your company from all the different types of email risks. In many cases, email attacks can be the result of human error. A member of staff makes the decision to follow a malicious link, which in turn releases information to the wrong person, or results in loss of data.

While training is important, it is also wise to use security technologies with policy-based administration to prevent errors in cases that fit risk profiles.



Create an Information Retention Policy

In any business, it is necessary to make some key strategic decisions about how you process and archive data. You need to know which documents to keep and destroy at which times. You’ll also need to develop a system to determine who can and cannot access these records. Outsourcing records storage may be a better option if you can find the right provider.

Regardless of how you choose to implement your data retention strategy, it’s vital that you do. Information security is absolutely necessary, and will only be an advantage for your business.



Train Your Staff

It is crucial to educate all employees about the most common hacking methods that are used.  For instance, they may receive an email from what appears to be a department at your business (such as the IT department) requesting a password change.  The employee then opens the link in the email and provides their username and password, only to later realize that they’ve just fallen victim to a phishing scam.

Train your staff to perform some basic verification on the following aspects:

  • Domain name
  • Website address
  • Sender’s name

Minor typos in the name or sending domain of an individual associated with your company should flag up a warning.

One last hacking method that you should warn employees about is the possibility of opening malware contained in an attachment from a contact outside of their contact list. This malware could corrupt your network or provide an access point for hackers to steal your information.

Were you aware that 1 out of every 130 emails contains malware in it? 



Implement Email Security Software

It is well worth investing in some robust security software for your business. 

With hackers targeting the Office 365 suite through Microsoft Exchange at an alarming rate, Barracuda security and Email Sentinel are solutions we recommend.   

They detect and block email-borne attacks from the very first email, help prevent phishing attacks and can also provide secure backup of your critical emails. Giving you total protection and peace of mind for just £8 per user per month.

This is enabled by using its global intelligence and machine learning algorithms to predict patterns of new and emerging threats. The software bolts itself onto EOP to bolster email security without affecting the user experience, which is also an important factor in this day and age.



We support many organisations from small local businesses up to large corporations and tailor our solutions to your specific IT needs. 

Our team can look after your IT in a controlled and managed way, meaning you can focus on running your business and not worrying about technical headaches and security issues.

To talk to a member of the V12 Tech Team, just give us a call on 0330 445 0051 or email us on [email protected] 

www.v12tech.co.uk