Email threat training reduces common threat markets
We all receive dozens of emails a day, but could these essential communications be exposing your business to online threats? According to 80% of businesses surveyed by Microsoft earlier this year, the answer is yes.
Malicious emails are becoming one of the biggest cybersecurity threats facing businesses around the world. While firewalls and antivirus software offer a degree of protection, the last line of defence against email-based digital threats is user training.
Let’s take a look at the email-driven data security threat landscape and how you can train your staff to detect and deal with suspicious communications.
think before you click: why you shouldn’t just open that email
According to recent research, an astounding 80% of organisations report having experienced an email security breach over the past year.
When you consider that most companies have at least entry-level antivirus and email security software in place, it’s clear that these messages aren’t enough to keep malicious emails at bay.
Fortunately, there’s a low-tech solution to this high-tech problem: training your staff to detect, delete and report malicious emails when they arrive.
Here are some pointers to share with your team.
- If it looks weird, be suspicious. Emails with subject lines full of grammatical mistakes are a definite red flag, especially if they come from someone who usually doesn’t make language errors. The best strategy is to flag them as suspicious, report them, and delete them.
- Open attachments you’re expecting and no others. If you receive an unusual email from someone you know with a request to open a strange looking file or click a link, proceed with caution.
- Double check before you send. Best Email security practice isn’t just about the emails you open but also the ones you send. Employees should ensure that they send sensitive information only to the recipient it’s intended for and correct any sending mistakes immediately.
- Check the email address. Phishing emails have become increasingly more sophisticated and often appear to be from a reputable company or financial services company, perhaps even one you bank with. Always check the senders address and domain name (the name after the @symbol) as no reputable company will use @gmail which is a big giveaway.
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