Importance of Email Security (6 Benefits of Email Encryption)

Since the move to remote and hybrid work, communication platforms have become even more essential to our daily working lives. And email lives at the center of this. But the rise of cryptocurrency has ushered in an era of unprecedented cyber crime, with more advanced business email compromise scams and ransomware attacks. Your employees shouldn't have to sacrifice the mobility, reliability, and economy of their inboxes. That's why email-based authentication tools and solutions like encryption are so important in keeping your data secure.  

Here Are 6 Business Benefits of Email Encryption:

1. Avoid Business Risks and Remain Compliant

Most email encryption services function in the following way: an email message is converted from readable plain text to a scrambled cipher text. Only the message's recipient had the key necessary to convert this scrambled text back to its readable format. If the message was to be intercepted (either maliciously or accidentally), it will appear as indecipherable text. Usually, encryption can be set at the message, outgoing, and company-wide levels. 

Depending on your industry and governance framework, email encryption may be a mandatory element to keep your business compliant. Frameworks such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), MITRE ATT&CK, and the CIS 18 Security Control Framework require encryption. Failing to meet these requirements can leave your business vulnerable to fines and lawsuits from consumers whose data is compromised. Without encryption, strangers and competitors can access to the information which is contained in your mail. Email encryption prevents accidents from happening and aids in the prevention of data breaches.

2. Protect Confidential Information

From contract information to the latest sales reports, it's imperative that existing email data remains confidential when sending and receiving emails. A single wrong-click can cause a data breach by exposing top-secret company information, making known private financial statements, and exposing sensitive negotiations. Email encryption protects confidential information such as your credit card numbers and bank accounts, employee PII, and intellectual property.

In the event that your mail isn't encrypted, third parties can make use of this info for malicious purposes. Outgoing messages can also be altered in transit - resulting in compromised and scrambled content. This information can make its way onto the dark web, where it can be sold or traded. 

3. Nullify Message Replay Possibilities

You already know that the message you send can be modified, but there is one more thing that is possible with the messages you send. Messages can be saved, altered, and then re-sent later on. One can get an authentic message first, and then receive fake messages which appear to be official later on. The recipient cannot tell whether the email message has been altered. In case the message was just deleted they will not even know that it had ever been sent. Encryption services make use of expiration times and timestamps, ransom session keys, and one-time use passwords as they are immediately discarded to reduce the risk of message reply. 

4. Avoid Identity Theft

It's not abnormal to get emails that contain sensitive information from your employers. However, if the information is sent via unencrypted email, individuals are left extremely vulnerable to identity theft. If any person gets hold of your username as well as password which you use to get to your email servers, they can read the emails which you send and also send false email messages on your behalf. This is referred to as business email compromise and can be avoided if you go in for email encryption. 

5. Unprotected Backups

The messages you send are stored on SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) Servers - outgoing mail servers. The backups of server disks encompass text copies of your messages. These backups can be present for years. So anyone who has access to the backup files can read your messages and use the information to your disadvantage even while you are thinking that you have deleted the message. 

6. Cost Efficient 

Not only does email encryption protect user data with advanced security, these cloud solutions are often housed within your existing business subscriptions. Per-user pricing makes it easy to track spend, and account for growth down the line without sacrificing security. For additional insight on the benefits of email encryption, as well as other IT consulting solutions, contact an iCorps expert today for a free consultation!