Fighting Malicious Email Attacks (Mimecast Security Report)

Email remains the number-one application used to communicate in the workplace. This is surprising when you consider that 94% of businesses will experience an email-borne malicious attack this year. And that's not the only alarming statistic from Mimecast's latest State of Email Security report. 54% of global organizations have seen an increase in phishing attack volume, while 53% have experienced a "business-disrupting" ransomware attack. All things considered - is your inbox in need of a security refresh? 

Here's How to Fight Malicious Email Attacks

Who's the Weakest Link?

While everyone is susceptible to malicious email content, members of the C-suite have been historically desirable targets for cybercriminals. Of companies surveyed, Mimecast found that: 

• 40% regard their CEO as a security weak link

• 40% believe their CEO undervalues the impact of email security

• 31% of C-level employees had sent sensitive data to the wrong person

For companies that suffered a malicious email-based impersonation attack, they reported the following consequences:

Image courtesy of Mimecast.

Malicious Intent or Human Error?

There has been a consistent upswing in malicious activity, year over year. Mimecast found an increased volume of fraud (particularly wire transfer requests), requests for confidential data, impersonation of third-party vendors, and malicious email attachments. A further 71% of organizations experienced email-based malicious activity spread by an infected user. 

Surely, these suspicious attachments would have raised a red flag for end-users? Unfortunately, that was not always the case. Mimecast found that only 25% of companies regularly train their employees to spot cyberattacks. Of the training taking place, the most common methods include:

• 62% - group sessions

• 45% - interactive videos

• 44% - formal online testing, reference tips, and one-on-one sessions
  
  

Strategic Threat Protection

Those businesses affected by email-based ransomware faced an average of 3 days of downtime. 26% suffered reputational damage, and 29% experienced direct financial loss following an email impersonation attack. But these consequences are avoidable with a full-stage protection solution that:

• has proactive security services in place well before a security event occurs
• will maintain email and business operations during an attack or failure
• can quickly recover data and corporate IP if an incident occurs
  
  

And while email security is foundational to a strong cybersecurity posture, it should be one of many integrated strategies. iCorps’ Managed Security solution was designed with this in mind, for a "Defense in Depth" model that provides network-wide layered security. iCorps' Managed Security features:

1. Web content filtering

2. Strong two-factor authentication

3. Intrusion detection and prevention

4. Firewall with deep packet inspection
   
   

Learn about iCorps' Managed Security offerings, including anti-virus email software, today.