As a business owner, I understand firsthand how critical email is to modern operations. It’s the backbone of communication for businesses large and small. However, with its importance comes a pressing responsibility: keeping those emails secure. In today’s digital landscape, Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a growing menace, and failing to protect against it could have catastrophic consequences for your business.
What Is Business Email Compromise (BEC)?
BEC attacks involve cybercriminals impersonating key individuals within a company, such as CEOs, executives, or even IT staff. The objective? To deceive employees into revealing sensitive information or transferring money. Shockingly, nearly 90% of BEC attacks operate using this deceptive tactic. Given the trust most employees place in communications from higher-ups, it’s easy to see how these scams can succeed.
The problem is escalating rapidly. Recent research analyzing 1.8 billion emails worldwide uncovered a staggering 208 million malicious emails, with over half (58%) being BEC attempts. This sharp rise in BEC scams makes them the number one email threat businesses face today.
Who Is Targeted?
Interestingly, most BEC attacks target employees lower in the organizational hierarchy. These individuals might be less likely to question instructions or may lack awareness of cyber threats. While these attacks are pervasive, it’s essential to remember that scammers also use other methods, such as phishing and commercial spam, to exploit businesses.
In fact, the combined impact of BEC, phishing, and spam now surpasses traditional ransomware and malware attacks. This evolution in cybercrime underscores the need for proactive measures to safeguard email communications.
Protecting Your Business and Your Clients
The good news? It doesn’t take a fortune to protect your business or your clients from BEC and similar threats. The foundation of email security lies in education and vigilance:
- Train Your Team: Ensure every employee is trained to scrutinize emails carefully. They should know to pause and verify any email that requests sensitive information or financial transactions—especially when the request seems urgent.
- Establish Verification Protocols: Implement clear processes for verifying unusual or high-stakes email requests. A quick call or in-person check can prevent costly mistakes.
- Partner with Experts: As an IT support provider, you’re uniquely positioned to help your clients strengthen their defenses. Offer email security solutions, conduct phishing simulations, and provide ongoing cybersecurity training to build a culture of caution and awareness.
Need Help? Acroment is Here for You
If you’re looking to enhance email security for your business or your clients, the Acroment team is here to help. From setting up advanced email filtering to delivering tailored employee training programs, our team specializes in keeping businesses safe from evolving threats like BEC.
Don’t let your business become part of the statistics. Reach out to us today to discuss how we can secure your email systems and protect your critical assets!