Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 33 | Page 27

+ EDITOR’S QUESTION /////////////////// JURGEN SORTON, SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER FOR SECURITY AT VOX B efore we attempt to answer this question, it is important to note that having a robust email security solution in place is paramount. According to Mimecast, research shows that 91% of all cyberattacks originate via email and phishing is just one method threat actors use. Their latest State of Email Security 2019 report shows a significant increase in specific email threats other than phishing such as impersonation attacks, data leaks and business-disrupting ransomware attacks to name a few. Choosing a leading email security solution is the first step to mitigate the ever-growing email-borne attacks, however this cannot be your only defence. A multi-pronged approach needs to be implemented to bolster email security. Strong password policies coupled with two- factor authentication, regular user awareness training and an outsourced managed service, will improve your security overall. Applying best practices can be addressed quickly but one cannot underestimate the value a managed security service provider brings. It has been widely reported that there is a huge cybersecurity skills shortage and its only getting worse. To make matters worse, skilled cybersecurity resources do not come cheap and it would be difficult for small to medium sized organisations to motivate for a dedicated inhouse security team. Looking at an outsourced managed services provider www.intelligentcio.com like Vox will ensure that your security solution is managed correctly, increasing the value of the email security solution you invested in. “ EMAIL SECURITY SOLUTION PROVIDERS MUST CONSTANTLY INNOVATE TO KEEP AHEAD OF THE NEW THREATS BEING INTRODUCED BY CYBER CRIMINALS DAILY. Email security solution providers must constantly innovate to keep ahead of the new threats being introduced by cyber criminals daily. As a result, new features are introduced on a regular basis to platforms to combat this. These new features, which need to be understood and implemented, could easily be missed by an organisation’s IT department as it often doesn’t have the time to manage security solutions as closely as it would like. Gartner noted last year that more than 95% of firewall breaches will be caused by firewall misconfigurations, not firewall flaws. While this research specifically refers to firewalls, the same can be said about your email security solution. Ongoing focused management of security products ensures that the correct policies are applied. An outsourced managed service provider will ensure that your environment is correctly configured. Regular face-to-face reviews will provide insight into your security posture and ensure peace of mind. n INTELLIGENTCIO 27