Security Awareness

The human firewall as the last defense

We’ll take an unexpected tack… Needless to say, technology does not score 100% in terms of email security.

Is User Awareness the Replacement for Technical Protections?

First, let’s take a look at what comes in via email.

Spam or Unwanted Emails: These contain advertising and can often be disruptive, but are otherwise harmless. This forms the largest group of incoming unwanted emails.

Messages with Viruses or Malicious Code: These attachments may contain a Trojan horse or newly generated ransomware. On- and offline techniques will recognize and block these. The frequency of such attacks is decreasing.

These groups of email messages are generally removed by “anti-spam” systems before they arrive in your mailbox.

Phishing and Spear-Phishing: It gets more difficult when hackers start phishing. Whether it is general “phishing” or targeted “spear-phishing,” it is not easy for a computer system to distinguish these emails, which do not have attachments, from legitimate requests. AI systems compare historical information to recognize patterns in new emails.

Hackers can exploit personal interests or lure you to fake web pages to steal your password.

Account Takeover: It becomes really difficult to recognize an attack when the email comes from a legitimate sender’s mailbox. For example, if a supplier falls into the trap, a seemingly genuine email may be sent asking you to pay invoices to a new account number. AI systems can also recognize this “account takeover.”

Growth of (Spear) Phishing: (Spear) phishing is the fastest-growing group among unwanted emails. Hackers are becoming more inventive and professional. It is not surprising that such an email occasionally slips through the cracks. That is why User Awareness training is indispensable and forms the last link in your email security strategy.

Users can help each other by reporting suspicious emails, which can then be removed from other users’ mailboxes.

Conclusion

Without these technologies, we would be inundated with unwanted emails of all kinds. Even just the phishing emails are a nuisance in terms of quantity. Each user has to do individual analysis. The chance of clicking too quickly on a busy day increases with the number of phishing emails.

A good combination of technology and user awareness is the key.

Moreover, there is more than just email security. You can also visit a wrong website, blindly pay a paper bill, or respond to a phone or text message. Again, the combination of technology and user awareness training is crucial.

Barracuda Networks

Barracuda offers complete protection of your Microsoft 365 environment with their various Email Protection Plans. . Divided into different action domains, Barracuda combats hackers with Anti-Spam and Advanced Malware protection, AI technology to recognize Phishing messages, protection against “account takeover” and other forms of “impersonation”, automatic or non-automatic withdrawal of phishing emails and all the tools needed to quickly analyze a reported incident, archive mailboxes and secure the entire Microsoft 365 environment with cloud-to-cloud backup. Everything is managed from one central platform.

Download the e-book around 13 types of email threats or discover the Barracuda Email Protection Plans.

Sophos

Sophos puts the focus on intuitive central management of email protection, endpoint security and user awareness training. The strength of these products lies in how they work together. Under the umbrella of “synchronized security,” a detection in one place will provide proactive protection in another. This goes beyond just the listed Sophos products.

Why choose Kappa Data?

Technical expertise

Kappa Data supports resellers and customers with comprehensive technical expertise, training courses and guidance. Our technical and presales teams are always on hand for you!

Personal touch

At Kappa Data, you enjoy a very personal and professional approach; from rapid quotes to demos and customer-friendly service with regular contact people. We’re here for you.

Outstanding service

Kappa Data is a value-added distributor that helps you find solutions. We make sure that all the parties involved are happy, and mediate where necessary should conflict arise.

What our customers say

A trusted partner for over 25 years.

Snijders Compuservice, Jef Snijders

Our partners

Kappa Data - Vendor - Sophos
Kappa Data - Vendor - Baracura