Protecting Critical Infrastructure Using Five Strategies for Stronger Email Security

By Saif AlRefai, Solutions Engineering Team Lead – META, OPSWAT

Our region’s business and technology leaders brace daily for the cyberattack that will bring their enterprise to its knees. This is neither idle speculation nor needless fretting. Based on an aggregated survey of Saudi and Emirati organizations, IBM estimates an average cost of more than US$8 million per breach for the Middle East. Very few of us can absorb that kind of shock.

Malicious actors exploit social engineering and business email compromise tactics to infiltrate organizational networks. Alarmingly, 87% of spear phishing attacks evade perimeter security measures, emphasizing the importance of employing multiple layers of defense. Let’s focus directly on the strategies needed to safeguard against email security starting with these five key approaches:

1. Zero-trust and Multiscanning

In cybersecurity, assumptions can be dangerous. Adopting a zero-trust mindset means treating every email as potentially malicious and every attachment as a potential threat. This approach allows organizations to stay agile and adaptive in the face of emerging dangers. Multiscanning, leveraging various anti-malware engines, further strengthens defenses, with studies indicating detection rates of over 99% when employing numerous detection engines.

2. Early detection, quick response

Just as skilled chess players anticipate their opponents’ moves, cybersecurity teams must detect threats early to mount an effective response. Zero-trust principles enable defenders to identify suspicious activities promptly and take action. Given that email remains a primary vector for attacks, swift detection is crucial. Technologies such as content disarm and reconstruction (CDR) can neutralize threats in real-time by stripping harmful elements from files while maintaining usability.

3. Strong Access Controls and Network Segmentation

Today’s threat actors are becoming more sophisticated in some respects, but in others they are creatures of habit. Phishing, social engineering and credential-harvesting are all still part of the breach toolbox. Stolen credentials allow hops from one network or device to another. And many email security solutions are still vulnerable to advanced URL-hiding techniques. Organizations must address these weak points by adopting real-time solutions for anti-phishing that are capable of time-of-click analysis, advanced URL intelligence, sophisticated heuristics, and machine learning to counteract URL hiding. By enforcing strict access controls and segmenting networks, businesses can limit lateral movement by potential threats.

4. Embrace Adaptability

Threat actors constantly evolve their tactics, requiring defenders to stay nimble. The zero-trust model facilitates this agility by enabling rapid adjustments to security policies based on emerging threats. Modern sandbox technologies, capable of dynamic detection, are crucial for keeping pace with evolving malware.

5. Strengthen Endpoint Security with Proactive Measures

We must always protect our vulnerable pieces and bolster our lines of defense. The GCC’s IT environments are home to many vulnerabilities, but zero-trust principles help us address them. Regional governments are becoming increasingly stricter regarding cybersecurity best practices. Organizations are under pressure to protect sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). Automated enforcement of policy allows security teams to more easily secure endpoints and networks against outside malfeasance. In email security, this calls for deployment of proactive data-loss prevention (DLP).

Ultimately, achieving a decisive victory over cyber threats may be elusive. By implementing defense-in-depth security measures, remaining vigilant, and continually adapting to the evolving threat landscape, businesses can enhance their resilience and protect their interests in the digital realm.