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- Get Ready for the GDPR: Fix Susceptible Email Systems
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is meant to protect the personal data of EU residents, no matter where the data resides. The regulation enforces data privacy rules on how organizations collect, store, and use the information, including digital identifiers like email addresses, information exchanged over email, as well as email contact lists (most emails are encompassed by “personal data” protected by the GDPR).
Email is a particularly weak link for companies because of its role as a communication tool, and the fact that it is still the number one threat vector for cybercriminal exploits. In the first quarter of 2018 alone, the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ blocked almost 9.5 billion threats — 82 percent of those were email related.
Email is a predominant avenue of attack because it’s a ubiquitous and widely used mode of communication. A 2017 survey by the Radicati Group, a marketing research firm, found that 269 billion email messages were sent every day that year. And aside from the volume, email is also used by a whole range of people, from young students to CEOs of multinational companies. It has become a part of everyday life, so people usually open emails and scroll though the content or click on links nonchalantly. Cybercriminals rely on this mindset and employ a variety of tactics to try and take advantage of users:
[READ: InfoSec Guide: Mitigating Email Threats]
How enterprises can secure email systems and comply with the GDPR
Enterprises can use a variety of solutions to comply with the GDPR and to also help better protect and manage user data. To start with, email systems should have the following:
Network administrators should install comprehensive email security solutions, with gateway protection such as antispam filters, customized filtration levels for inbound emails, web reputation tracking, and custom threat intelligence. These features help stop targeted attacks before they can reach users’ machines.
It is also important to educate employees on identifying social engineering tactics and avoiding phishing attacks. A large part of safe email practices is about building a culture of privacy and awareness in an enterprise. People need to become more informed about the different threats, and learn what they can do to help.
Of course, every enterprise is unique and there is no silver bullet solution that will automatically safeguard every system against every attack. Effective solutions need a tailored and multifaceted strategy that can adapt to evolving threats and shifting priorities of enterprises.
Learn how we addressed different aspects of GDPR compliance.
Trend Micro Solutions
Trend Micro™ InterScan™ Messaging Security stops email threats in the cloud with global threat intelligence, protects your data with data loss prevention and encryption, and identifies targeted email attacks, ransomware, and advanced threats as part of the Trend Micro™ User Protection Solution. The hybrid software-as-a-service (SaaS) deployment combines the privacy and control of an on-premises virtual appliance with the proactive protection of a cloud-based pre-filter service.
Trend Micro™ Deep Discovery™ appliance provides detection, in-depth analysis, and proactive response to attacks that use exploits. As a part of our Trend Micro Network Defense Solution, it includes specialized engines, custom sandboxing, and seamless correlation across the entire attack life cycle allow it to detect threats like zero-day attacks — even without any engine or pattern update.
Trend Micro™ Hosted Email Security™ solution is a no-maintenance cloud solution that delivers continuously updated protection to stop spam, malware, spear phishing, ransomware, and advanced targeted attacks before they reach your network. As part of the Trend Micro™ User Protection Solution, it protects Microsoft® Exchange™, Microsoft® Office 365™, Google Apps, and other hosted and on-premises email solutions.
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