Safeguarding emails with secure email gateways

Cybercriminals continuously target emails as a vector to deliver malware, launch phishing attacks, and steal sensitive information. By implementing a secure email gateway, you can protect your organization from email-borne threats, ensure compliance with regulations, and maintain a secure and efficient communication system. 

Email-borne threats

Statistics suggest that 75% of cyberattacks start with an email, with 250,000 malware samples created daily and 94% delivered by email.

Email-borne threats can pose risks such as phishing, malware, and spam. These threats often exploit human vulnerabilities, tricking recipients into revealing sensitive information, downloading malicious software, or inadvertently participating in cyberattacks. 

As cyber criminals improve tactics, robust email security measures, including the use of secure email gateways (SEGs), are essential to safeguarding organizations from these pervasive and damaging threats.

What is a secure email gateway?

A secure email gateway is a security solution designed to monitor and filter email traffic to protect against email-borne threats. SEGs act as a barrier between your email server and the external world, scrutinizing incoming and outgoing emails to ensure they are free from malicious content.

Go deeper: What is a secure email gateway (SEG)?

Key features of secure email gateways

• Anti-spam filtering: SEGs utilize advanced algorithms and machine learning to identify and block spam emails before they reach your inbox, reducing the clutter and risk associated with unsolicited messages.
• Anti-malware protection: These gateways scan email attachments and embedded links for malware, ensuring that malicious software does not infiltrate your network through email.
• Phishing protection: SEGs analyze email content to detect and block phishing attempts, protecting users from fraudulent emails that attempt to steal sensitive information.
• Data loss prevention (DLP): By monitoring outbound emails, SEGs help prevent sensitive information from being sent outside the organization, either intentionally or accidentally.
• Email encryption: SEGs can encrypt emails to ensure that sensitive information remains confidential and intact during transmission.
• Content filtering: These gateways block emails containing inappropriate or harmful content, ensuring that only legitimate communications reach users.
• Threat intelligence: SEGs use up-to-date threat intelligence to adapt to emerging threats, ensuring your email security is always current.

See also: HIPAA Compliant Email: The Definitive Guide

Benefits of using Secure email gateways

• Enhanced security: SEGs provide robust protection against different email threats, significantly reducing the risk of breaches and data loss.
• Compliance: By preventing data leaks and ensuring secure communications, SEGs help organizations meet regulatory requirements and avoid potential fines.
• Improved productivity: By filtering out spam and malicious emails, SEGs allow employees to focus on legitimate communications, boosting overall productivity.
• Reputation protection: Preventing your email system from being used maliciously protects your organization's reputation and builds trust with clients and partners.

Implementing a secure email gateway: Best practices

• Choose the right SEG solution: Evaluate the features, deployment options (on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid), scalability, and integration capabilities of different SEG solutions to find the best fit for your organization.
• Set up and configure the SEG: Follow the provider’s guidelines for installation and configuration. Define security policies for spam filtering, malware protection, phishing defense, and content filtering. Implement DLP rules and configure email encryption settings.
• Monitor and manage email traffic: Use the SEG’s dashboard to monitor email traffic and threats in real time. Establish procedures for responding to detected threats and incidents, and keep the SEG updated with the latest threat intelligence and software patches.
• Educate and train employees: Conduct regular training sessions on email security best practices and run phishing simulations to help employees recognize and report phishing attempts.
• Regular audits and assessments: Perform regular security audits to ensure the SEG is functioning correctly and policies are effective. Adjust policies based on audit results and evolving threats.

FAQs

How does a secure email gateway work?

SEGs analyze incoming and outgoing emails using advanced algorithms, machine learning, and threat intelligence. They scan for malicious attachments, links, and suspicious content, blocking or quarantining any detected threats. SEGs also apply policies for data loss prevention and email encryption.

What types of threats can a secure email gateway protect against?

SEGs protect against email-borne threats, including spam, malware, phishing attacks, spoofing, and data leaks. They also help enforce email policies and prevent the transmission of sensitive information outside the organization.

Are there any limitations to SEGs?

While SEGs provide robust protection, they are not infallible. Sophisticated threats may occasionally bypass SEG defenses, and user behavior (e.g., clicking on malicious links) can still lead to compromises. SEGs should be used in tandem with other security measures like endpoint protection, network security, and ongoing user education.

See also: Why do cyberattacks happen?