What is Email Security? Essential Strategies for Businesses

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Key Takeaways

• Email Security protects the world’s most exploited communication channel from phishing and malware.
• Over 94% of attacks start with an email, making proactive defence non-negotiable.
• Combining AI, threat intelligence, and encryption enhances detection and compliance.
• Employee Training remains the first line of defence against cyber risks.
• Deliverability Optimisation ensures legitimate business communication isn’t lost in spam filters.
• Email Security & Deliverability Services offer 24/7 protection, governance, and secure deliverability worldwide.

Introduction

In 2026, email remains the backbone of modern business communication, yet it’s also the number one entry point for cyberattacks. 94% of cyberattacks begin with a malicious email. So, the question for business leaders has shifted from “are we safe?” to “how quickly can we detect a breach?”

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the stakes are even higher! 60% of small businesses hit by a successful email attack close within 6 months due to the financial and reputational fallout.

This blog explains, what is email security, why it matters, and why a managed approach is the most effective strategy for modern businesses. We at Fortray, help SMEs and global enterprises secure, monitor, and optimise their email environments through Email Security & Deliverability Services — ensuring that your data stays protected, compliant, and resilient!

What is Email Security?

Email Security is a collective term for the procedures, technologies, and policies designed to protect email accounts and content from unauthorised access, compromise, or data loss.

However, in 2026, email security has evolved far beyond simple spam filters. It now encompasses a multi-layered defence strategy involving:

1. Anti-Phishing and Spam Filters
2. Encryption and Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
3. Secure Email Gateways (SEGs)
4. Authentication Protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
5. Threat Intelligence and Real-Time Analysis

For businesses, email security serves two primary purposes:

1. Inbound Protection: Blocking threats like phishing, malware, and ransomware from reaching the user.
2. Outbound Protection: Preventing sensitive data leaks and ensuring that your domain isn’t used to launch attacks on others (which protects your email deliverability).

94% of cyberattacks begin with a malicious email, according to Microsoft. This makes email security and deliverability an absolute necessity!

Common Types of Email Threats

Generally, email threats fall into these primary group types:

1.   Phishing (and its Variations)

Phishing is the practice of pretending to be a trusted person or organisation to trick victims into disclosing valuable information, such as login credentials and other types of sensitive data. It has become increasingly granular:

• Spear Phishing: Targeted attacks aimed at a specific individual or department.
• Whaling: Phishing attacks directed specifically at high-profile targets like CEOs or CFOs.
• Vishing: The use of voice communication (often combined with email) to execute a scam.

2.   Impersonation

Impersonation occurs when cybercriminals pretend to be a trusted person or organisation to secure money or data via email. Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a prime example, where a scammer impersonates an employee or executive to steal from the company, its customers, or its partners.

3.   Malware

Malware is short for “malicious software,” and its primary aim is to damage or disrupt computers and computer systems. The common types of malware delivered via email include viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware.

4.   Data Exfiltration

Data exfiltration is the unauthorised transfer of data from an organisation, either manually or through malicious programming. Secure Email Gateways help ensure businesses avoid sending sensitive data without authorisation, preventing costly data breaches and ensuring compliance with privacy laws.

5.   Spam

Spam is an unsolicited message sent in bulk and without the consent of the recipient. While some businesses use spam for commercial purposes, scammers use it to spread malware, trick recipients into divulging sensitive information, or extort money.

Recommended Reading: Cyber Talk with Mr Farooq Zafar, IT Cybersecurity Consultant 

Current Threat Landscape: Why Your Business is a Target?

The cybercriminals are no longer just “spraying and praying” with generic spam. Today’s threats are sophisticated, targeted, and often powered by Artificial Intelligence.

1. Business Email Compromise (BEC)

BEC is currently the most financially damaging threat! In these attacks, hackers impersonate high-level executives or trusted vendors to trick employees into transferring funds or sharing sensitive data. BEC attacks accounted for over 50% of all social engineering incidents, with an average wire transfer request of $24,586.

2. AI-Generated Phishing

The rise of Generative AI has made phishing lures nearly indistinguishable from legitimate emails. Gone are the days of poor grammar and obvious typos. AI allows attackers to mimic the “tone of voice” of your colleagues, making anti-phishing tools more critical than ever.

3. Zero-Day Threats

These are brand-new vulnerabilities that have no known patch! Attackers use zero-day malware to bypass traditional signature-based antivirus software. To counter this, businesses need AI-driven threat detection that analyses behaviour rather than just matching known “bad” files.

Research reveals that phishing volumes have increased by more than 65% year-over-year, especially targeting hybrid-work environments.

Recommended Reading: Beyond Phishing: The New Wave of ‘Human-Centric’ Cyber Threats

Essential Email Security Strategies for Businesses

To build a resilient defence, your business should implement the following essential strategies:

A. Deploy a Secure Email Gateway (SEG)

A Secure Email Gateway acts as a checkpoint for every email entering or leaving your organisation. It monitors for malicious links, attachments, and suspicious sender behaviour. Modern SEGs utilise threat intelligence feeds, real-time databases of known bad actors, to block threats before they even hit the server.

B. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA is arguably the single most effective way to prevent unauthorised account access. Even if an attacker steals a password through a phishing site, they cannot access the account without the second factor (such as a mobile app code or biometric scan).

C. Enforce Email Encryption

Not every email needs to be encrypted, but those containing PII (Personally Identifiable Information) or financial data absolutely do. In this case, email encryption ensures that even if an email is intercepted during transit, the contents remain unreadable to unauthorised parties.

D. Use Advanced Anti-Phishing Tools

Standard filters often miss “living off the land” attacks where no malware is involved. Modern tools look for anomalies in communication patterns, such as a sudden change in the bank details of an invoice or a “CEO” sending an urgent request from a mobile device they’ve never used before.

Recommended Reading: Strengthening Your IT Resilience in 2026 & Beyond

The Role of Email Deliverability in Business Success

Email deliverability is the most overlooked aspect in email security. If your security is weak, your domain reputation suffers.

If your servers are compromised and used to send spam, your business domain will be “blacklisted” by major providers like Google and Microsoft. This means your legitimate invoices, proposals, and marketing emails will go straight to your customers’ spam folders.

By implementing protocols like DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance), you prove to the world that you are who you say you are. This not only stops spoofing but also significantly boosts your deliverability rates.

Fortray helps businesses maintain sender reputation and avoid blacklisting through email deliverability management.

Recommended Reading: The Backbone of Business Communication: Why Reliable Email Services Matter?

Why Choose an MSP for Email Security?

Managing the complexities of modern cybersecurity is a full-time job. This is where a Managed Service Provider (MSP), like Fortray, provides immense value.

24/7 Monitoring and Response

Hackers don’t work 9-to-5. MSP provides a Managed SOC (Security Operations Center) that monitors your email traffic around the clock. If a threat is detected at 3 AM on a Sunday, it is neutralised before your team starts work on Monday.

Expert Knowledge & Future Ready Tech Stack

MSPs invest in enterprise-grade tools, like AI-driven detection and Sandboxing, that might be cost-prohibitive for a single small business to buy and manage on its own.

Security Awareness Training

Technology is only half the battle; the other half is your people. MSPs provide security awareness training and phishing simulations. Studies show that regular training can improve threat detection rates from 13% to over 70% in just two years.

Compliance and Governance

If your business operates in healthcare (HIPAA), finance (PCI DSS), or handles European data (GDPR), you have legal obligations to secure your communications. MSP ensures your email systems meet these stringent regulatory standards, protecting you from massive fines.

Conclusion: Secure Your Inbox, Secure Your Future

The landscape of email threats is constantly shifting. From malware protection to zero-day threats, the complexity of staying safe can be overwhelming for most business owners.

By partnering with an expert MSP, you gain a team of specialists dedicated to keeping your data safe and your emails delivered. Don’t wait for a breach to realise the importance of email security.

Book a Strategic IT Consultation to explore further and let us build a defence that grows with your business!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)