Why Email Security Needs Expert Management

91% of cyber attacks start with a phishing email." Yes, you read that right. A simple, seemingly innocent email lands in an inbox—often posing as a trusted sender. That’s how attackers slip past defenses: by tricking someone into clicking a malicious link or sharing sensitive information. And it works. Every. Single. Day. 57% of organizations experience phishing attempts daily or weekly. One careless click, and you could be handing over the keys to your organization’s most valuable assets. From my years managing security operations—I’ve seen firsthand that phishing attacks aren’t just a nuisance. They’re tactical entry points for more sophisticated cyber threats. Here’s how to stay ahead of the game: Trust, but Verify: When you get an email asking for sensitive information, don’t rush. Hover over links, verify senders, and double-check before clicking. Attackers thrive on urgency. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Isn’t Optional: Think of MFA as your digital double lock. Even if attackers manage to get your password, MFA ensures they hit a wall. Update Relentlessly: Security patches and updates aren’t just annoying notifications. They’re critical defenses against attackers looking to exploit outdated software. Simulate and Educate: Phishing simulations and regular awareness training aren't just boxes to tick. They're essential. Your people are your frontline, and training them transforms them into informed defenders. Why do I emphasize this so much? Because as a security professional with expertise in crisis management and operations—I’ve seen firsthand how one seemingly small mistake can open floodgates to data breaches or financial losses. I’ve had to design multi-layered security strategies that blend technology, processes, and people management. Because in high-stakes environments, surface-level solutions won’t cut it. LinkedIn LinkedIn News India LinkedIn News #india #security #news

Let’s face it—despite next-gen firewalls and endpoint protection, most breaches still start the old-fashioned way: through email and web browsers. Why? Because they’re the tools we use every day, and that makes them the easiest to exploit. The Problem ✔ Email is a hacker’s best friend—phishing, BEC scams, and weaponized attachments keep evolving. Even with filters, one cleverly disguised email can bypass defenses and trick even savvy users. ✔ Browsers are the wild west—malicious ads, drive-by downloads, and rogue extensions turn routine web browsing into a minefield. And with SaaS apps everywhere, employees are constantly logging into new (and sometimes risky) sites. Basic spam filters and antivirus won’t cut it anymore. Attackers use AI-generated messages, zero-day exploits, and social engineering to slip past traditional defenses. What Actually Works ✅ AI-powered email filtering that detects subtle phishing cues (not just obvious spam). ✅ Browser isolation or strict extension controls to stop malicious code before it executes. ✅ Zero Trust policies—because assuming "trusted" users or devices is a recipe for disaster. ✅ Ongoing security training—because human error is still the weakest link. The Bottom Line If your security strategy isn’t obsessed with locking down email and browsers, you’re leaving the front door wide open. #CyberSecurity #EmailSecurity #BrowserSecurity #ZeroTrust #Phishing

Email Security Is Broken — And AI Just Raised the Stakes. Email remains the most exploited vector in cybersecurity — and yet, too often, it is treated as a “solved problem.” After completing the Proofpoint Certified AI Email Security Specialist 2025 program, one insight is clear: email security is not solved — it is being redefined. Attackers are already deploying AI to craft hyper-personalized, context-aware messages at scale. Traditional filters and static controls are no match. If your security strategy still assumes email is “just phishing awareness” or “just spam filtering,” you are already behind. The path forward requires: 1. AI-driven detection that evolves as fast as attackers innovate 2. Seamless integration of email telemetry into SOC and IR workflows 3. Recognition that the human inbox is now the front line of enterprise defense The uncomfortable truth: email is not an IT hygiene issue — it is a board-level resilience issue. Are we, as an industry, ready to treat it that way? #Cybersecurity #EmailSecurity #ArtificialIntelligence #Proofpoint #Leadership

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Email is a critical communication tool, but it is also the most targeted attack vector for cybercriminals. Neglecting email security can expose individuals and organizations to significant risks, including data breaches, financial loss, and reputation damage. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟭. 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 ◼️   Phishing Attacks trick users into sharing sensitive data or installing malware. ◼️   Business Email Compromise (BEC) targets organizations by impersonating executives for fraudulent transactions. ◼️   Malware Distribution through malicious links and attachments can cripple operations. 🔍 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁: 𝟵𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹. 𝟮. 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 A single compromised email can lead to: ◼️   𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀: Fraudulent transactions or ransomware demands. ◼️   𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲: Operational disruptions caused by malware. ◼️   𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲: Loss of trust from clients and stakeholders due to data leaks. 𝟯. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 Cybercriminals are evolving rapidly with: ◼️   Targeted spear phishing campaigns. ◼️   AI-driven attacks that bypass traditional filters. ◼️   Exploits through public networks like Wi-Fi hotspots. 𝟰. 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 ◼️   Regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and other data protection laws mandate robust email security to safeguard sensitive information. Non-compliance can result in hefty penalties. 𝟱. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 ◼️   𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Protect email data in transit and at rest. ◼️   𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗣𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲: Block malicious emails before they reach the inbox. ◼️   𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: Educate employees to recognize phishing attempts and report suspicious activity. ◼️   𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗽𝘁 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗠𝗙𝗔): Add an extra layer of defense for email accounts. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲: Email security is not optional - it’s essential. By protecting your inbox, you safeguard your data, finances, and reputation, ensuring business continuity in an increasingly risky digital world. 🔒 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 - 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! #Cybersecurity #EmailSecurity #Emails #DataProtection #Awareness #Tips

Great insights on this breach - email systems continue to be the soft underbelly of enterprise security. What strikes me most is how attackers are specifically targeting regulated financial communications, showing they understand the value of compliance-sensitive data. The real lesson here isn't just about email security, but about treating email infrastructure as critical business infrastructure. Too many organizations still view email as "just communication" rather than a treasure trove of sensitive data that needs the same protection as databases and financial systems. Key takeaways for security teams: → Implement zero-trust email access controls → Monitor for unusual email patterns and access behaviors → Have incident response plans specifically for email compromises → Regular security assessments of email infrastructure This breach should be a wake-up call for every CISO - if you're not treating your email environment as mission-critical infrastructure, you're already behind. #EmailSecurity #CyberSecurity #DataBreach #RiskManagement #Compliance #FinancialServices #ZeroTrust #IncidentResponse #CISO #CyberResilience #SecurityAwareness #OCC Ben Rothke Keith Franco, CISM, CASP, A/AISF Michael Petrov Mike Wilkes Steven R. O'Shea

A CISO once told me, "𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝." What Actually happened? 🔹 A senior executive left the company. 🔹 His email account was never deactivated. 🔹 Six months later, attackers logged in using his credentials and moved through the network undetected. By the time they were caught, they had stolen gigabytes of sensitive data. What went wrong? They didn’t have a simple offboarding security habit. ✅ 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 is one of the most overlooked cybersecurity practices—yet it’s one of the easiest ways to prevent breaches. If, in your company: → Old employee accounts? Still have access → Third-party vendors? Still are active → Former IT staff? Could still log in. Every forgotten account is an open door for attackers. High time to fix it today: ✔ Audit all user accounts every quarter. ✔ Implement auto-expiry for unused accounts. ✔ Set strict access revocation during offboarding. Hackers don’t need to break in if 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧. When was the last time your company 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬? #AccessManagement #RiskManagement #CyberSecurity #DataProtection

Significance of Initial Access: Part 4: Email Phishing Email Phishing is undeniably one among the top Initial Access vectors for the threat actors to gain initial foothold into company environments. The advantage for attackers in case of phishing is that its relatively easy to carry out; doesn't require much sophistication or technical expertise(eventhough there are sophisticated methods like proxy phishing etc., in many cases, employees fall for very basic ones). Also, email addresses are easy to gather online. Nowadays, with widespread phishing awareness training, most employees are aware of the common ways of phishing. Still, one of the most successful phishing methods is Spearphishing/Whaling where attackers impersonate CEO and other high-ranking officials in a company and trick their subordinates into sharing credentials/confidential information, money transfers etc. Typically, they create a mail account in a free provider like GMail, Yahoo or a compromised third-party email account and set the Display Name as the Victim company's CEO or other high-ranking officials' names. When the employee in the victim company receives the phishing mail, they just see their CEO's name as sender, may not notice the sender email address and falls for the scam. 💡Prevent: -Setting up SPF, DKIM and DMARC correctly is the very basic step which needs to be taken from companies' side to reduce phishing and spam mails. -In cases where attackers target using Gmail, Outlook etc. accounts which are already SPF/DKIM/DMARC compliant, mail flow rules(can be done in Exchange Admin Center) need to be setup to quarantine emails impersonating C-level executives(Eg. Display Name of CEO but email adddress belongs to GMail domain). -Email Gateways and Email Security tools which can detect and take automatic quarantine actions for phishing mails need to be deployed. 💡Detect: -Email Security platforms such as Proofpoint has efficient phishing detection rules such as URL Defense, Attachment Defense, Business Email Compromise etc. These alerts can be streamed to your SIEM tool for single-pane-of-glass visibility. -A custom Detection rule for "Mail attachments with uncommon file extensions from unusual domains" as mentioned in part 3 is also helpful. -If you have dark-web monitoring in place, need to monitor for employees' compromised credentials. Upon detecting compromised credentials, need to take immediate action to perform a password reset. #Phishing #Initial_Access #Detect #Prevent #Cybersecurity