Securing your business emails at Rest and in Transit
With email security, there are two main things to consider; security at rest and security on transit. Transit security is the measures you take to ensure that your emails are secure as you send across the internet. On the other hand, email at rest refers to the security of the stored mails in their various versions. Again, you should be able to confirm that the email you received is from a secure source and if not you should receive a signal.
Many businesses have incurred losses because of ignoring such crucial parameters. You also have a responsibility to take care of your customers by ensuring that the emails you send to them are secure.
Continue reading and get tips on how to ensure that your emails are secure as you send to your customers
Encryption of emails at rest
Having emails encrypted at rest involves protecting the emails stored in all versions on your end, their copies in the sent form and the copies on your recipient’s inbox or even on their computer. You should never send sensitive information like bank details, passwords, land title numbers and such through an unencrypted email. These can land in the hands of fraudsters. If you want to Send large File Secure or receive such confidential information through the email, you have to agree with the party on the other side to ensure that your emails are secure through encryption.
Email encryption in transit
All email service providers must ensure that after securing the emails at rest through encryption, the emails on transit are also encrypted. In this case, everyone in the delivery chain must participate in the process. The encryption technology used here is referred to as Transport Layer Security (TLS). Securing emails on transit here means that they are not readable when moving through the internet. However, TLS doesn’t protect the email while at rest.
TLS will only work perfectly if it is supported by both providers; the sender’s and the recipient’s.
Authentication of business emails
Apart from encrypting, there is email authentication. Email authentication tells you if the email that you’re receiving is from a true source and not a spam or a phishing email intended to defraud you. If the email is encrypted and not authenticated, you’re not safe. Your service provider should ensure the authentication of emails so that the domain from where the email is sent can be recognized. For instance, the SPF record and DKIM signature specify the hosts and allow the sent emails to be electronically signed in a way that the recipient can verify using the public key.
To minimize bounce rates, establish the sender’s identity and ensure a seamless service, your service provider should use both the SPF and DKIM records. If your emails are managed by a third party, you must confirm that they are using the security services to avoid frustrations. If you’re using Gmail for example, your emails are likely securing both in transit and at rest but you should confirm.
You don’t have to wait until disaster strikes, you have to be proactive and get a service provider who will ensure that your email communication is secure.
