The Evolution of Email Security: Embracing a Multilayered Approach?

The Evolution of Email Security: Embracing a Multilayered Approach?

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, it’s no secret that email continues to be one of the largest cybersecurity risks for organizations. In fact, a recent report by Verizon found that email was involved in 94% of all 2022 data breaches. Companies are continuously navigating the delicate balance between robust protection, reducing costs, and maintaining operational efficiency. One notable trend that has gained momentum is the movement away from traditional physical or on-premise secure email gateways (SEGs) and towards embracing cloud-native solutions offered by industry giants like Microsoft and Google. This shift, combined with the integration of third-party API-based Integrated Cloud Email Security (ICES) tools, marks a strategic leap forward for organizations aiming to simplify their security stack while maintaining effective security and controlling costs.??

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Limitations of Traditional Secure Email Gateways?

Traditional SEGs have long been the standard of email security, standing guard at the perimeter to filter out spam and malicious emails before they reach users' inboxes. However, the threat landscape has evolved significantly, and these legacy systems are struggling to keep up. Advanced phishing attacks, spear-phishing campaigns, and sophisticated social engineering tactics have rendered conventional SEGs less effective.?

Moreover, the operational overhead of managing and maintaining complex configurations with traditional SEGs can be cumbersome. These systems often require dedicated hardware, constant updates, and skilled personnel to ensure continuous optimal performance for email deliverability. As organizations seek greater agility and flexibility, the shortcomings of traditional SEGs become increasingly apparent. In addition, an organization may have multiple email entry vectors that could circumvent traditional SEG’s.?

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The Rise of Cloud-Native Email Protection?

Today, most companies have either turned to or are turning to cloud-native solutions provided by Microsoft or Google. As a result, the cloud giants have recently made significant investments into their cloud native security tools positioning them to be more strategic and effective tools. Microsoft's Exchange Online Protection (EOP), Defender for Microsoft 365 and Google's Workspace Security Center are prime examples of cloud-native email protection platforms that offer advanced threat detection, phishing prevention, and data loss prevention similar to traditional third-party SEG offerings.???

By moving to these cloud-based protections, organizations can benefit from reduced systems administration, seamless scalability, simpler management, time savings, and enhanced threat intelligence. The cloud-native approach also reduces the total cost of ownership by eliminating the need for a redundant third-party SEG and utilizing what is already available as part of an organization’s Microsoft or Google license. While Microsoft’s licensing can be a bit complex, the overall email protection capabilities from M365 reflect that of a traditional SEG by offering traditional email security, URL & attachment protection, manual investigation and response, and/or DLP functionalities. It’s recommended to thoroughly evaluate the different licenses Microsoft offers to ensure your needs are properly met.??

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Embracing Integrated Cloud Email Security Tools?

Despite Microsoft and Google making improvements, their native protections (nor traditional SEGs) alone aren’t enough to stop today’s threats. To further fortify email defenses, companies are integrating third-party API-based Integrated Cloud Email Security tools into their email security arsenal. These tools are implemented in a matter of a few clicks to quickly harness the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze email content, sender behavior, and contextual information to identify and thwart phishing attempts. Think of it as not just analyzing the content of a message, but also the INTENT of the message, reflecting the rise in social engineering attacks.?

By integrating these tools into the broader security stack, organizations can achieve multilayered protection without changing MX records while proactively detecting and blocking phishing threats in real-time. The API-based approach also allows for rapid adaptation to emerging threats, providing a dynamic layer of defense against ever-evolving attack vectors. In addition to these benefits, most ICES solutions help enhance your security and awareness training by picking out key indicators within a malicious email that evaded the first line of defense and making those indicators known to the end user in the form of a MEANINGFUL banner without the banner fatigue most users suffer from today.?

From a SOC perspective, implementing an ICES tool ultimately leads to a significant reduction in Security Operations Center (SOC) analyst time. By leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms and AI, such a tool can autonomously analyze and detect sophisticated email threats with a high degree of accuracy. This rapid threat identification allows SOC analysts to focus their expertise and time on more complex and strategic tasks, rather than the routine and time-consuming email threat investigations. As a result, the efficiency gains in threat detection and response translate into a notable reduction in workload for SOC analysts, leading to cost savings and a more resource-efficient cybersecurity strategy.??

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Simplified Cost Savings?

The move towards cloud-native email protection with ICES tools such as, Ironscales, Tessian, and Abnormal Security, enables organizations to simplify their security stack while maintaining security efficacy. Consolidating security measures into integrated platforms reduces complexity, streamlines workflows, and enhances overall visibility into the threat landscape. Additionally, the cost savings associated with cloud-native solutions are significant. Eliminating the need for on-premises hardware, reducing the reliance on dedicated personnel for maintenance, and leveraging the efficiency of cloud-based services contribute to a more cost-effective security model.?

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The Future of Email Security?

By embracing the capabilities offered by industry leaders such as Microsoft and Google, organizations can not only enhance their defenses against evolving threats but also pave the way for a more streamlined, efficient, and cost-conscious approach to email security. The future of email security is undeniably in the cloud and incorporating AI, where innovation and adaptability converge to create a fortified defense against the ever-present risks of the digital world. Couple this multilayered approach with implemented email authentication protocols in SPF, DKIM, and DMARC and you’re setting your organization up for strong protection against the number one threat vector today.????