Email is a precious commodity for virtually every business today, which is a big reason why end-users expect it to cost little and work seamlessly. Most take that latter point for granted.
While email offers considerable benefits, many organizations fail to acknowledge that standard systems are inherently weak when it comes to security. The current rash of ransomware attacks is a prime example of end-users’ apathy towards the inherent risks of incoming messages. People remain the number one threat to business security.
Email initiated cyberattacks cost U.S. businesses more than $26 billion in the past seven years, and human failures are undoubtedly responsible for a significant portion of those losses. The biggest risks often come from the systems that manufacturers tout as being well protected from modern-day threats. Unfortunately, those misperceptions only encourage cybercriminals to work harder to break down those defenses, which exposes end-users and leaves them wondering what went wrong.
A Growing Target
Case in point: phishing and ransomware attacks are increasing, and the top email provider, Office 365, sits squarely in hackers’ crosshairs. Microsoft has become a victim of its own success. As more people adopt and utilize these useful business tools, a thriving community of cybercriminals is concentrating its efforts and testing its methods on those same services.
Why waste time on less popular platforms? If one system is attracting the most business, there’s no reason for scammers to invest their limited resources attacking smaller communities. Marketing and cybercrime take similar approaches: both develop audience profiles and focus their efforts on areas where they’ll get the most return.
While Microsoft is elevating the security capabilities of Office 365, multifunctional platforms require supplemental protection measures. Your customers may assume they are receiving that type of comprehensive coverage when the reality is they may still be exposed. As a trusted I.T. services partner, your team should be educating businesses on the risks and deconstructing the myths that savvy marketing teams may have implanted on their decision-makers.
Those dangers are becoming clearer all the time. Just this week, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued an alert to U.S. businesses of ongoing attacks targeting organizations using Microsoft Office 365 and Google G Suite. The agency’s warning highlights more than $2.1 billion in losses from BEC scams on companies using those particular platforms ‒ and those figures are just from the documented cases. As with most situations involving fraud, the financial damages are likely much higher since many victims, for a variety of reasons, fail to come forward, including businesses.
Add Protection Layers
Organizations may choose various “off the shelf” or “out of the cloud” security options today, but hackers have access to all of those same options. That’s why SMBs should turn to the experts for complete protection.
Your clients’ electronic communications are the perfect starting point. According to the 2019 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, cybercriminals deliver 90% of malware through email. Considering that data breaches costs can easily top tens of thousands, if not millions, every business must understand that securing these systems is a top priority. Investing in prevention will be far less costly than recovery.
Options your clients should consider include email filtering and encryption, which protect company information from unauthorized access and ensure outbound messages remain secure. An effective archiving and backup system helps address compliance requirements and meet business continuity goals. Layering on an effective email security solution will give your clients the extra protection needed to delay and thwart cybercriminals.
Break Down SMB Objections
Are your clients skimping on Office 365 protection because, at least in their minds, their businesses are too small to be a target? You might remind them that 43% of cyberattacks are on the SMB and that everyone, with emphasis on everyone, is at risk.
Don’t let them take their chances on baseline security. As an MSP, you are ultimately responsible for protecting their systems, so changing the collective mindset that Office 365 is secure enough is in everyone’s best interest.
Email security is not an add-on; it is a necessity, a cornerstone of a complete cybersecurity solution. Allowing your clients to flounder, even when they are adamant in their decision, will make them “low hanging fruit” for ransomware attacks or hackers. Those types of failures ultimately fall back on MSPs. No matter what advice they may ignore, your MSP business can end up losing a customer and damaging its reputation.
Managing and layering email security isn’t difficult with the right vendor partner. Mailprotector makes the process simple for you and your clients and allows MSPs to customize threat protection to meet specific business and platform needs.
Strengthen your Office 365 protection today. Contact the Mailprotector partner team and learn how our award-winning email security suite can add effective new layers to your existing defenses.
