The importance of email security cannot be understated. Both commercial and personal emails can contain some very sensitive information, and this applies to saved and archived emails as well as those in current use. Internet security is often in the news as criminals try to bat the firewalls and security systems, and sometimes the results can be damaging. Cyber-attacks are not uncommon and take many forms, and often the method of entry is from a simple unsolicited email. Phishing, as it is known, usually involves getting an unsuspecting user to open an attachment. This then installs a malware program on the computer which is used to recover otherwise personal and private information.
As one of the market leaders in the field, Mimecast email security solutions are tried and tested, and also use the very latest technology. The choice of a cloud storage system removes some of the risk of server-based archiving, and also relieves the servers of space-eating archived emails and data. The idea is that everything is saved offline – ‘in the cloud’ so to speak – and it is becoming ever-more popular with business and personal users alike. Businesses can choose how much storage they want, and for how long, and are charged per user, hence the costs for email security and management can be cut in relation to traditional systems.
It should be remembered that any computer network, no matter how apparently secure, is ultimately vulnerable. The criminals who try and break into archives and systems are very clever and use constantly changing methods. Even the biggest companies have been victims, for instance, the Irish broadcaster RTE, where a staff member was recently the victim of a phishing campaign that was designed to get hold of sensitive information from within. It is all too easy to be blasé about incoming emails and open them at will, but the company policy should be that no unsolicited mail is opened in any instance.
Mimecast claims its email security solution improves productivity; staff are able to access archived emails from the cloud storage system in real time and with ease, whereas some traditional storage systems require complex routines to recover saved data. Another important factor is that, thanks to the lack of a need for physical space, the storage capabilities are limitless, and every piece of important data can be stored for as long as it needs to be without fear of it being deleted to make way for fresh information. Such convenience and efficiency has made Mimecast a popular choice for business users of all types and sizes.
Internet security will always be at the forefront of IT news as, with the goalposts moving in the digital world all the time, new areas that can be exploited by unsavoury characters come to light. It’s important that email security systems are kept up to date and in line with current trends, and taking expert advice from those in the know is always a sensible course of action, especially for business users.
