How Businesses Can Strengthen Their Email Security Against Cyber Threats
Email: The Weakest Link
in Business Cyber security
A well-established financial firm recently fell victim to a business email compromise (BEC) attack. A cybercriminal, impersonating the CEO, emailed the finance department requesting an urgent wire transfer to a “trusted vendor.” The email appeared legitimate—it had the CEO’s email signature, the correct formatting, and even internal project references.
Believing the request was genuine, the finance team transferred $500,000—only to realise later that the CEO had never sent the email.
This type of email security failure happens daily to businesses of all sizes. Cybercriminals using sophisticated AI attacks are creating near-perfect impersonations, bypassing traditional security filters and tricking employees into making costly mistakes
Why have strong
email security measures?
Without strong email security measures, businesses remain vulnerable to:
- Phishing attacks that steal credentials and financial dat
- Malware-laced attachments that infect entire networks
- Email spoofing and impersonation scams that trick employees into sending payments
Common Email Security
Threats Businesses Face
Cybercriminals target businesses through email because it is the most widely used communication tool. The most frequent email security risks include:
1
Phishing & Social Engineering Attacks
Employees receive fraudulent emails impersonating Microsoft 365, banking institutions, or internal executives, tricking them into entering credentials or downloading malware.
Solution:
- Enable Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to filter out phishing emails.
- Train employees with real-world phishing simulations.
- Use email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to prevent domain spoofing.
2
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Cybercriminals impersonate executives or trusted vendors, requesting urgent financial transactions. These emails bypass traditional spam filters because they contain no malicious links or attachments—just deception.
Solution:
- Implement AI-powered email security to detect impersonation attempts.
- Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) before approving financial transactions.
- Verify payment requests through secondary communication channels.
3
Malware-Infected Attachments
Employees receive email attachments labeled as invoices, contracts, or reports, but once opened, they deploy ransomware, spyware, or keyloggers.
Solution:
- Use Microsoft 365 Safe Attachments to scan for malware.
- Block unauthorised file types (e.g., .exe, .bat, .scr) in emails.
- Educate employees to never open unexpected attachments from unknown senders.
4
Insider Threats & Unintentional Email Leaks
Employees accidentally send sensitive data to the wrong recipients or malicious insiders leak confidential information.
Solution:
- Enforce Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies in Microsoft 365.
- Enable email encryption for sensitive communications.
- Monitor outbound emails for unauthorised data transfers.
Best Practices for
Business Email Security
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Prevent unauthorised email access even if passwords are stolen. - Use Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Block phishing, malware, and email spoofing attempts before they reach inboxes. - Limit External Email Forwarding
Restrict employees from automatically forwarding emails to external accounts. - Regularly Audit Email Access Logs
Detect unusual login attempts and suspicious email forwarding rules. - Encrypt Sensitive Emails
Use Microsoft Purview Message Encryption to protect confidential communications.
Conclusion: Email Security is a
Business Necessity, Not an Option
Email remains the primary attack vector for cybercriminals, and businesses must take proactive steps to prevent breaches. By investing in advanced email security tools, enforcing authentication policies, and training employees, companies can effectively mitigate the risk of phishing, malware, and business email compromise.
Want to secure your business emails?
Contact Solid Systems today for expert email security solutions!
