Email Security Best Practices Every Email Marketer Should Know

Email marketing has firmly established itself as one of the most effective digital marketing channels. Recent surveys found 80% of marketers stating email delivers the highest ROI compared to other formats. As the number of digital buyers skyrockets, with over 4 billion daily email users projected by 2025, its popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

However, the growing reliance on email also makes it an increasingly attractive attack vector for cybercriminals. Verizon’s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report found email to be involved in nearly 1 out of 3 data breaches. High-profile attacks like the SolarWinds breach impacted over 18,000 organizations and highlighted how compromised email accounts can enable broad network infiltration and espionage capabilities.

For marketers, a breach of your email environment can enable cybercriminals to distribute malware, launch phishing scams on your customers, and misuse your brand identity for nefarious purposes. This is why, among other things, email list hygiene is crucial. The impacts of such breaches can range from temporary deliverability issues to permanent reputational damage, legal liabilities, and loss of customer trust. By prioritizing robust security protocols, and secure email providers, marketers can continue harnessing the power of email while safeguarding the interests of customers and their brands.

Today's cyber threats are escalating in scale and sophistication. Here are insights into the rising risks to email security:

This threat data underscores the pressing need for robust email security measures in today's high-risk landscape.

Here are details on some of the most prevalent security threats currently plaguing email marketing:

Phishing attacks aim to trick recipients into disclosing credentials or sensitive information by using deceptive emails that impersonate trusted entities (deceptive digital practice). Tactics include utilizing malicious links, attachments, or embedded forms to harvest information. Per Cofense research, 91% of cyberattacks start with a phishing email. Compromised accounts can enable phishers to launch highly-targeted, large-scale attacks on your customer base.

To further enhance your defense against phishing attacks, consider using a VPN. You might be wondering, "Should I use a VPN?' The answer is Yes, a VPN can add a layer of protection by encrypting your internet connection and masking your IP address, making it harder for cybercriminals to trace your online activities and increasing your overall security.

Malware like viruses, spyware, or ransomware usually spreads via infected email attachments and links. Once inside your network, it can infiltrate databases, corrupt files, and install backdoors for ongoing access. Malware often evades traditional email defenses via tactics like macro infections in Office documents. The FBI estimates ransomware attacks alone cost businesses over $49 million in losses each year.

Tactics like credential stuffing utilize stolen usernames and passwords to gain access to accounts. Akamai observed over 93 billion credential-stuffing attacks in 2021, highlighting this fast-growing threat. Takeovers of email accounts also enable takeovers of associated financial, social media, and cloud service accounts. The resulting damage can range from data theft to fraud.

Failure to appropriately secure customer data can lead to breaches violating privacy regulations like GDPR or eroding customer trust. Surveys indicate less than 10% of businesses are fully compliant with GDPR requirements currently. Insecure data handling enables lapses like accidental emailing of unencrypted customer data to unauthorized third parties.

BEC scams employ psychological manipulation, impersonation, and social engineering to exploit human vulnerabilities rather than technical flaws. In identifying scam responses, the FBI reveals these scams have cumulatively stolen over $43 billion since 2016. Tactics include spoofing executive emails or compromising vendor accounts to initiate unauthorized wire transfers. Just one exploited employee can become an entry point into an organization's network.

A layered defense model is key, incorporating measures like

Going beyond the basics is key to fully securing your email environment:

Adopting a big-picture mentality is crucial for ongoing security. Areas to focus on include:

Organizations face the decision between implementing on-premise or cloud-based email security solutions:

Pros:

Cons:

Pros:

Cons:

While cloud solutions simplify management, on-premise models provide maximum control. Weigh the pros and cons based on your resources, staff, and degree of customization needed. Utilize a hybrid model if ideal aspects from both approaches are required.

Here are tangible steps you can take to enhance protections:

In today's escalating threat environment, overlooking email security can have catastrophic consequences for organizations.

By taking a big-picture view that integrates technical defenses with cultural and organizational best practices, marketers can continue driving business success while upholding the privacy and trust of subscribers. With proactive vigilance and collective responsibility, the power of email marketing can be harnessed securely.

With a degree in Global Communications, Mirza has extensive experience working in advertising and marketing. He works as a journalist and researcher at VPNOverview, writing about data breaches, vulnerabilities, and cybersecurity issues.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirzasilajdzic/