The importance of a holistic approach to secure messaging

The importance of a holistic approach to secure messaging

When it comes to business email security, human error is one of the chief causes of data loss. The reality is that people make mistakes. In some cases human error happens when employees don’t effectively use the company’s security tools – most often because these tools have a negative impact on speed and performance and on the ability of employees to do their jobs.

PwC’s Global State of Information Security Survey 2016 finds that security incidences increased by 38% in 2015 compared to the year before and that employees are cited as the primary source of compromise. While these findings are alarming, they are not overly surprising given the frequency of human error. What is also interesting is that security incidents attributed to business partners have also increased by 22%, making a holistic approach to email encryption and messaging security more important than ever.

When we talk about a holistic approach we mean one that takes into consideration, among other things, the security of external users such as partners and customers as well as employees. By extending security outward to external users and making it as user-friendly and accessible as it is for employees, a secure communications loop is created. One of the ways secure messaging achieves this is by offering plugins and mobile apps that work seamlessly from within existing email and on smartphones and tablets for all users, not just for employees.

Creating a secure communications channel does not cost the business more – or at least it shouldn’t. In the case of e-encrypt, for example, the license is purchased for the internal user – the employee – and they can share security functionality with an unlimited number of external users. And encryption is only the leaping off point. The sender and receiver always have the ability to communicate using bank-grade encryption with one another. However, in addition to encryption, the sender can also choose to extend several other built-in control features to the receiver, so they too can track the email in real time, fully revoke messages sent in error, “freeze” the ability to reply to or forward messages, and more. Both senders and receivers stay within their existing email, using their existing addresses – supporting maximum user adoption.

For the cloud services provider, along with much more accessible and robust email security supporting regulatory compliance and secure email exchange, the tool effectively “self-promotes.” Customers, partners, suppliers – really, anyone with which the licensed user is communicating – is exposed to the product. External users get first-hand access, can see how easy it is to use and in turn are much more likely to want it for their organisation.

As more businesses take a more holistic approach, the more likely it is that we can expect to see the number of security incidences decline. There’s certainly no question that businesses want a better, more holistic approach. Now, it’s up to solution and cloud services providers like e-know.net to help them achieve it.

e-encrypt compliments existing email by adding security, compliance and productivity. The cloud based secure messaging architecture seamlessly integrates and sits on top of existing email systems like Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, and Google Apps, giving a new generation of encryption technology that is IT and end user friendly. For more information contact Mark Sundin, mark.sundin@e-know.net.

Mark Sundin, Hosting Specialist at Eknow.net

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