Small Businesses Are a Big Target for Email Cyberattacks

While cyberattacks targeting large corporations often make headlines, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are also highly targeted. Understanding these SMBs' risks and taking measures to safeguard them can significantly lower risk.

Because of businesses' increased dependence on cloud email, lack of IT staffing and funding, and rushed deployments of vulnerable cloud platforms since the COVID-19 pandemic, this environment has provided cybercriminals with the ideal opportunity to run sophisticated phishing campaigns designed to steal confidential business information and large amounts of money.

Small businesses are at a significant disadvantage: they often lack the resources and the staff needed to keep pace with emerging threats and email security risks are disproportionately large for these companies as a result.

Awareness is the first step in mitigating cyber risk. To help you and your business stay safe and successful, we’ve put together an overview of some of the most common tactics cybercriminals use, namely phishing, malware ransomware, and personal email account or business email compromise (EAC and BEC, respectively), along with tips and advice for securing business email against them.

Threat #1: Phishing

Email phishing is one of the most widespread cyberattack methods. In a phishing scam, cybercriminals pose as reputable individuals or organizations to send fraudulent emails with malicious links designed to steal sensitive data or infect systems with malware. Phishing campaigns begin when cybercriminals gain control of an email account and use it to send fraudulent emails.

Actions You Can Take:

  • Phishing emails often come from fake email addresses similar to legitimate ones. But by hovering over the display name in the email, you can often see what email address it has been sent from. If the email address is not one you recognize or seems strange in some other way, then email spoofing most likely has occurred.
  • Phishing emails often contain spelling and grammar errors. Legitimate emails from companies usually don't contain these errors.
  • Before clicking on a link in an email, hover over it to see where it leads. If the link doesn't match the text in the email, it's likely a phishing attempt.
  • Phishing emails often contain unsolicited attachments. If you're not expecting an attachment, it’s best to be cautious and not open it.
  • Be aware that phishing emails often use urgent or threatening language to scare you into clicking on a link or providing personal information.
  • Legitimate companies will never ask you to provide personal information via email. If an email asks you to provide personal information, it's likely a phishing attempt.

Threat #2: Ransomware

Ransomware is a costly type of malware designed to block access to a computer system until a specified ransom demanded by the criminals is paid. The average ransomware demand is $84,000, with one-third of victims paying the ransom.

Ransomware attacks occur when users receive a malicious attachment in a phishing email and download it, installing ransomware onto their system that encrypts files - rendering them inaccessible to the user. The individual then receives a note from the attacker, demanding a ransom payment in untraceable Bitcoin in exchange for restoring the locked files.

Actions You Can Take:

  • Ensure all software used in your business is updated regularly with the latest email security patches and updates. This can help prevent vulnerabilities that ransomware can exploit.
  • Install and regularly update antivirus and anti-malware software on all devices used in your business.
  • Restrict access to sensitive data to only those employees who need it to perform their job duties. This can help prevent ransomware from spreading throughout your network.
  • Regularly backup essential business data and store it in a secure location. This can help you recover quickly in the event of a ransomware attack.
  • Your employees need regular email security training on recognizing and responding to ransomware attacks - this may include recognizing suspicious emails, reporting any potential attacks, and avoiding clicking on suspicious links or downloading files with suspicious attachments.

Threat #3: Email Account Compromise (EAC) / Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Business email compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated and highly targeted email scam in which an attacker compromises or impersonates an executive’s email account to obtain access to sensitive business information or other key assets. Cybercbusinessman typing wireless keyboardriminals employ various techniques for this attack, including malware, phishing, and brute-force password spraying. Once an account is compromised, cybercriminals can exploit it to send spam email campaigns, access sensitive data, or engage in further criminal activities.

In a Business Email Compromise attack, a cybercriminal spoofs an executive email account and then sends fraudulent transfer instructions to a finance employee from this account. In a successful scam, the recipient is fooled into transferring funds to an account controlled by the perpetrator, and the attacker gets paid.

Account takeovers, also known as Email Account Compromise (EAC), can happen to any email account outside of executive emails. The tactics used to achieve a compromised email address are the same, so keeping all emails protected, both personal and professional, is paramount.

Actions You Can Take:

Guardian Digital EnGarde Cloud Email Security: Enterprise-Grade Email Protection for SMBs

EnGarde ShieldGuardian Digital recognizes small businesses' heightened risk and acknowledges that securing email accounts can be challenging for small companies. Guardian Digital uses resources worldwide in ways no other provider can to protect its customers against the latest phishing types and zero-day attacks identified worldwide. Through this unique and beneficial approach, we can offer flexible, cost-efficient protection to SMBs and enterprises alike. While other email security providers promote frequent patches and updates to keep up with rapidly evolving threats, our solution, EnGarde Cloud Email Security, automatically stays ahead of the latest threats, constantly updating in real-time instead of relying on patches.

At Guardian Digital, we view email security as a process, not a product. We build a relationship with each of our clients, taking ample time to learn about their critical assets and specific needs. Our scalable, fully managed solution integrates seamlessly with businesses' email infrastructure. The expert accompanies it, ongoing support is required to keep your business secure and productive while extending limited IT resources. By preventing attacks leading to email security breaches, minimizing downtime, and safeguarding your operations, businesses can expect a positive impact on their bottom line and a rapid return on investment (ROI).

Keep Reading About SMB Email Security

Email-borne attacks are more problematic for businesses than ever, and SMBs are a primary target among cybercriminals due to the fact that these organizations often lack adequate resources and expertise devoted to cybersecurity. 

Luckily, with proper awareness, training, and a comprehensive, fully-managed cloud email security solution, you can rest easy knowing that your business is protected around the clock with threat-ready email vigilance, whether you have a business size of 50 people or five.

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