Despite advancements in instant messaging and voice chat technology, email still reigns supreme when it comes to office communications. It is, after all, our most intuitive platform for sending, archiving, and retrieving messages quickly and efficiently. And as email services like Outlook receive feature updates every month, it’s not surprising that everyone, from the CEO to front-of-house employees, continue to rely on email.
However, the data stored in your inbox are highly sought after by cybercriminals. Even though your email service has defensive measures against cyber intrusions, there’s still a chance that a hacker can intercept your messages and simply read the contents. As such, you owe it to your company to implement advanced email encryption technology.
What is email encryption?
Email encryption secures the messages between sender and recipient by using what is known as a Private Key Infrastructure. This system provides you with a private key that can be accessed only by you, and a public key that can be shared with anyone you choose.
When you share your public key with your contacts, they’ll be able to encrypt messages before sending them to you. Once the encrypted message reaches your inbox, you’ll then need to use your private key to convert it back into plain text. If a private email is intercepted, it will appear as indecipherable code to hackers since they don’t have a public key.
Messages aren’t the only elements you can encrypt, either. Email encryption services allow you to secure the connection from your email provider and protect your stored files. The former prevents eavesdroppers from capturing confidential information that’s being transmitted from your email servers, while the latter makes sure strong protections are applied to your archived data.
The case for a secure email framework
Stories of email data falling into the wrong hands make headlines with alarming regularity, and in almost all cases each instance has led to severe financial losses. In addition, once data has been leaked by its interceptors, it’s very difficult for businesses to regain their customer’s trust.
Another reason why you should consider encryption is because it’s highly affordable to adopt, deploy, and manage. Plus, given that the cost of a single lost data file is now $158, you’ll be saving a lot of money by implementing strong encryption tools.
Besides the financial and reputational reasons, organizations subject to compliance initiatives -- such as PCI DSS for businesses that access credit card payments, or HIPAA for healthcare institutions -- are obligated to protect sensitive data in storage and in transit, which means email encryption software is vital to avoid trouble with the law.
Protect your emails
Encryption can truly reduce the risk of data breaches, but keep in mind that the best way to fully secure your inbox is by encrypting all messages, including the non-sensitive ones. Doing this ensures encrypted critical files don’t stick out like sore thumbs, and it discourages would-be hackers from sifting through all your messages.
Also, don’t forget that email encryption alone isn’t sufficient in dealing with email-based attacks. At the very least, you should be combining encryption technologies with advanced intrusion prevention systems and comprehensive security protocols. More importantly, consult with a trusted security services provider for all your cybersecurity needs.
If your company needs secure and uninterrupted email services, contact us at www.intelligis.com. We’re one of Atlanta’s leading managed IT services providers that specialize in keeping your emails private.
