Of all the ways a hacker can penetrate and violate your network, a lack of email IT security may be the easiest path to a full-blown cyberattack.
Face it, we’re living in an era of hacking on such a large scale that the United States was hacked into a massive gas shortage.
As technology evolves, so do the methods of hackers. Data breaches are all too common and can often be associated with expensive consequences. Our delicate, personal data is plugged into the eternity of the Internet.
More than ever, it is crucial for to understand the different levels of vulnerabilities our emails are subject to.
Your email is for personal use and running a small business. This means email security protocols are at the forefront of your financial safety. Vulnerable email accounts are subject to phishing, scams, and the abyss of the dark web.
Protecting an email account starts with having the right outsourced IT support in place to practice prevention and damage control. Let’s identify the major risks and learn how to avoid them with email security.
It Gets Dark
There are countless terms in our technology vernacular.
Over the last decade alone, we’ve taken technology as we know it and transformed it into artificial intelligence. One of those terms you may have heard along the way is the “dark web”.
The dark web is a network of private websites that can only be accessed with a specific browser.
While there can be a handful of adequate uses for that network, it mostly serves as a cesspool for illegal online activity thanks to its anonymity. The dark web harbors information that can be utilized to cause damage through nefarious means.
If you’re a Southern California-based business, the proper managed service provider in Los Angeles can swiftly monitor the dark web network to keep your company safe and secure.
An IT consulting firm can keep you informed of security breaches to protect your sensitive personal information. In the event that your organization has compromised data, your provider will identify the breach.
They will take immediate action to isolate and protect the rest of your information.
If your business handles your clients’ sensitive information, you want to protect that at all costs. This ensures that your customers can maintain their trust and confidence in you. And the act of successful prevention will keep loyal customers coming back and bringing their friends and family with them.
It may not seem like much at that moment, but your online reputation is one of the most common ways for prospective clients to connect with you.
The majority of web users look to reviews to determine if a business is a good fit for their needs. So when they click on your reviews for your business, ranking higher quality in your email security just might be exactly what they need to hear.
Two-Factor Authentication
In the same way that capture helps avoid bots and hackers, two-factor authentication is a pillar of identity verification. Cyber security breaches can occur through hackers accessing private networks through lucky guesses or mining for critical data.
When a user attempts to log in to their email or network, they will be required to type in an additional piece of data to confirm and verify their identity. That user will receive a push notification that will spit out a code to enter into their device.
That code is never the same for anyone. So after 30 seconds of stalling, a hacker will struggle to infiltrate even though they may know the user’s password. While two-factor authentication tucks a security blanket around our critical data, it is not bulletproof. It would be a rare occurrence to hear about someone successfully hacking two-factor authentication usernames and passcodes.
While this process is relatively low maintenance and easy to integrate, it’s not uncommon to receive employee pushback. You may receive feedback that this layer makes the login process far more complex. And while it does take a little extra time, the trade-off for protecting their and your business’s data is invaluable. You can walk your staff through tutorials provided by your email security support.
Prevention in Email Security
The Internet is capable of unimaginable things, from crowdfunding surgeries to gifting someone a new home. And with all of that good intention, there are still risks between the lines.
We never want to assume the worst about someone, but the Internet provides a thick veil of anonymity that plenty of people have learned how to take advantage of. Phishing attacks run rampant through all areas of the Internet. It’s one of the easiest ways to manipulate a person online, especially if that person is not well-versed in email security.
It is estimated that 3.4 billion scam emails are sent each day phishing for your sensitive data. And as the Internet and technology evolve, so do the approaches of phishers and hackers. Spear Phishing is probably one of the most alarming versions of email scams.
Viruses are a specific version of a program that can infiltrate and take over your business’s network systems by manipulating its payload, otherwise known as malicious codes.
These emails will mirror an organization’s tone and language and might even plagiarize your letterhead or logo. These minute details are so hard to catch, making email security measures even more appealing. The other piece of this terrifying puzzle comes from downloading hyperlinks and viral attachments.
This type of malware has a broader range and can look like any type of link or document. In true hacker fashion, it appears legitimate to the naked eye for a reason. Certain malware programs will passively collect information and bounce that back to you on a private server for a hacker to inconspicuously collect down the road.
The good news is, as cyber-attacks and scammers get smarter, so do security systems. When you implement the proper framework, your business’s network will be able to filter and block malicious attempts like never before.
Protecting an Email Account
As a local business, when you connect with an IT security services company in Los Angeles or surrounding areas, you will be setting your business up to weather the toughest cyber intruders.
Having proper email security support and practicing prevention hygiene is one of your best practices. You can utilize a broad range of measures to keep your privacy high and tight. Endpoint security protection is a brilliant method that can help detect malware.
Its framework is a well-oiled machine that navigates configuration and surveillance coordination. Endpoint plays both offense and defense by highlighting threat detection device management and response time. The security program is controlled by a central host server installed throughout your network.
Detecting malicious activity and offering immediate remedy gives businesses flexibility and actionable results.
E-mail attacks can be prevented through Endpoint security tools. Allowing your IT security provider to equip your business with Endpoint software and other malware and antivirus tools helps siphon malware and spam emails into a specific route. It prevents these emails from accessing a direct gateway to your entire network.
Your business monitors its devices. Endpoint can identify and confirm that your staff members’ devices are meeting or exceeding security protocols and expectations. Taking advantage of the encryption services they offer can add an extra layer of protection to beef up your email security.
The content of your messages, including attachments, will remain encrypted as they’re sent out to their receivers. There are plenty of gaps in upper-level email security. A proper safeguard can mean the difference between losing revenue and compromising an entire project.
Email servers themselves are also susceptible to harm from criminals hiding out in the cyber security world. Your IT support team can protect you with securing the servers and limiting the chance of risk by adding restrictions.
Action and Awareness
While some of this information might sound brand new and almost like a foreign language, your managed IT security services system will help train your team and equip them with the knowledge necessary to fine-tune prevention practices. There are plenty of best practices that you were already familiar with and probably use in your day-to-day outside of the office.
Making sure that your malware prevention, firewalls, and other levels of security are current can help illuminate bugs, glitches, and gaps. The more current your software, the easier it is to filter even the sneakiest scams and vulnerabilities.
The right MSP will guide your team on how to monitor their account activity. Knowing what suspicious activity looks like in your network is the first step to illuminating any risks of exploitation. Once you know those risks, you can work on encryption, making strong passwords, and being able to catch a phishing scam in its tracks.
Identify these fraudulent spam messages that might slip through other security measures. When it comes to data leaking prevention, we dive deeper into keywords. We explore subcategories or other types of markers that can spot confidential information.
Your IT security team can offer the proper route to take in the event of that sensitive data falling through the cracks. A common example would be your support team blocking sent emails with any type of personal information. This includes Social Security numbers, financial information, and other vulnerable pieces of the human puzzle.
And all of this brings us right back to why encryption can be one of the greatest layers of external protection against viruses and malware. Your business uses email to accomplish endless tasks throughout the day today. Corporate email security is an invaluable resource that companies of any size can benefit from.
Quick Tips for IT Security in Los Angeles
Even though there are no shortcuts in life, there are a few quick tips that might help you spot a scam before it happens.
When it comes to dangerous download links specifically to malware sites, take a look at the URLs before you open them. Many malware websites cut URL links to keep the truth about the page you’re going to veiled. Many people blindly click on any and everything, especially if there are words around it to trick you into thinking it’s important.
If you see bit.ly, that should raise your eyebrows at the very least. It is a common method used by invaders, so connect to your IT team to have them check it out if you have any questions. Your email security software can offer you precautions around scanning attachments.
This comes in handy in the event that a virus is attached when you execute an appendage. And the simple act of using a set standard of criteria for passwords can make all the difference. A mixture of uppercase, lowercase, and special characters in a scramble to order can always make it harder for a hacker to infiltrate.
Frequently changing your passwords is also an important preventative measure. We talk about preventatives a lot because it is one of the easiest control methods in the game. It’s sort of similar to the way you can’t be mad at your puppy for eating your sock that you left on the floor.
When you manage your environment better, you keep your belongings from being subject to risk.
Cyber attack criminals will scan for patterns. If they pick up on patterns in your password changes, it makes it easier for them to hack and tear accounts. Using different combinations of passwords can also offer an extra layer of protection.
A Leg Up on Outsourced Technical Support
With a third-party prevention team, hindsight doesn’t have to exist.
Your business can flourish in the now, running with efficacy and the security it deserves. Leading by example and showing your team how important these practices are will encourage them to feel confident in protecting their personal information.
If you’re interested in learning more about email security and email account vulnerabilities, connect with our website to learn more and keep your business safe.
