As a business owner, you know that email is one of your most important communication tools. But are you doing everything you can to protect your email security from hackers and other cybersecurity threats? Check out these seven essential email security best practices to make sure your data is safe. Implementing these tips will help keep your information confidential and improve the overall cybersecurity of your email communications.
1. Use a Strong Password for Your Email Account
It’s important to use a strong password for your email account. A strong password is one that is at least eight characters long and includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Using a strong password helps to protect your account from being hacked. If your password is weak, it’s easy for someone to guess it, which could give them access to your email and any other accounts that you have linked to it. A strong password is one of the best ways to protect your online accounts, so be sure to choose wisely!
2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication is one of the best ways to protect your online accounts from hackers. By enabling two-factor authentication, you add an extra layer of security to your account. When you try to log in, you will not only be asked for your password, but also for the second form of identification, such as a code that is sent to your phone. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your account, even if they have your password. As a result, two-factor authentication can be a vital security measure for anyone who wants to keep their online accounts safe.
3. Beware of Phishing Scams
Beware of phishing scams! These scams are designed to trick you into giving away your personal information, such as your credit card number or social security number. They may come in the form of an email that looks like it’s from a legitimate company or a pop-up advertisement that looks official. But no matter how they look, phishing scams are always trying to steal your information. So how can you protect yourself? The best defence against phishing scams is education. Learning about how these scams work will help you to recognize them when they come up. And if you’re ever unsure about an email or advertisement, don’t hesitate to reach out to the company directly to confirm its legitimacy. Remember, phishing scammers, are always trying to trick you. But if you’re armed with the right knowledge, you can protect yourself from their schemes.
4. Review Your E-mail Settings Regularly
Today, it’s imperative to be aware of cybersecurity threats and take steps to protect yourself. One simple way to do this is to regularly review your e-mail settings. Many e-mail providers have options for added security, such as two-factor authentication or encrypted communication. By taking a few minutes to review your settings, you can help to protect yourself from malicious attacks. In addition, it’s important to keep your e-mail software up to date in order to benefit from the latest security features. By staying vigilant, you can help to keep your information safe and secure.
5. Watch for Suspicious Attachments
As cybersecurity advances, attachments need to be carefully monitored.
While many attachments are harmless, some can contain viruses or other malicious software. When in doubt, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and delete the attachment without opening it. You can also ask the sender if they meant to send you the attachment before opening it. If they didn’t, they may have been the victim of a cyberattack themselves. In either case, it’s important to report any suspicious attachments to your IT department or cybersecurity team. By taking these precautions, you can help keep your computer and your company’s network safe from harm.
6. Protect Your Personal Information
In today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever to protect your personal information. Hackers and identity thieves are constantly looking for new ways to access secure information, so it’s important to be vigilant about protecting your data. One way to do this is to only provide personal information when absolutely necessary. When creating online accounts, use strong passwords that are difficult to guess, and don’t reuse passwords across multiple accounts. It’s also a good idea to keep your software up to date, as updates often include security patches that can help protect your data. By taking these simple steps, you can help keep your personal information secure and out of the hands of criminals.
7. Email Privacy & Compliance – SMART Email Encryption
Dynamically adapting encrypted email provides peace of mind with end-to-end encryption, secure file sharing, auditable proof of fact of GDPR and HIPAA privacy compliance, and more.
Security and regulatory compliance can be achieved by encrypting emails and attachments. RMail automatically delivers encrypted emails with the simplest user experience for each recipient and provides manual or automated options for delivery using different levels of encryption or different recipient experiences.
RMail email encryption also includes a one-click, bi-directional encrypted reply option for recipients and returns a Registered Receipt™ email record to the sender, serving as auditable proof of data privacy compliance (i.e. GDPR) on a message-by-message basis
Email is one of the most commonly used tools for communication and business transactions. Because of this, it’s also a common target for cybercriminals. However, by following some essential email security best practices and using the help of AWD and RPost, you can protect your organisation from these threats.
Have you implemented any of these email security measures? If not, get started on your one-month FREE RMail and RSign plans by speaking to your AWD Cybersecurity specialist today and start protecting your business-critical data.