Have you ever asked yourself why businesses block phishing scams, malware, and spam from filling their inbox? That’s where secure email gateways (SEGs) come in. SEGs are email security solutions that work like a filter, scanning incoming and outgoing emails for threats before they reach your inbox. Think of them as your email bodyguard – blocking harmful emails while letting the good ones through.
But wait, isn’t this what spam filters do?
Not quite. While spam filters hold up rubbish emails, SEGs go one step beyond – preventing ransomware, phishing, and business email compromise (BEC) attacks from even occurring.
Shocking stats you need to know
- 83% of organizations were phished through an email attack in 2023.
- Business email compromise (BEC) scams cost over $50 billion globally.
- 94% of malware is distributed through email.
- A data breach in 2023 cost $4.45 million on average.
The expert weighs in
Email is the security’s weak point, but secure email gateways turn it into a fortress by pre-emptively keeping out threats before they even enter your inbox.
David gets it – email security isn’t just about damage control; it’s about prevention.
How companies blocked email attacks
Coca-Cola, a global brand handling massive amounts of sensitive data, was targeted by a sophisticated phishing attack against its top management. Through the deployment of a secure email gateway, the organization was able to block thousands of phishing attacks daily, reducing its exposure to breaches and financial crime.
On the other hand, The UK National Health Service (NHS) was also hit by a ransomware attack in 2017, bringing its system to a standstill. It implemented the lesson learned and installed an SEG on its systems, greatly restricting phishing and malware attacks. Its email-based attacks have declined more than 70% since then on their network.
False positives
Challenge:
Sometimes, SEGs block legitimate emails, interrupting workflows.
Resolution:
Fine-tune whitelists and blacklists regularly, use AI-based SEGs, and implement real-time end-user feedback for email classification.
Shield your emails before it’s too late!
- Look for anti-phishing, anti-malware, and encryption features.
- Customize filtering rules to balance security and usability.
- Train employees – even the best SEG won’t be effective if employees click on dangerous links.
- Keep your security protections up to date against new dangers.
