What Is Email Security Training?

Even after much development and security, cyber crimes are still rising. The most common method of these attacks is via malicious emails. Attackers continue to hack many organizations’ and big companies’ data by simply sending them a corrupted email. Therefore, every organization’s employees should be given proper training in email security awareness so that such simulated phishing attacks can be prevented.

Email security awareness training includes modules that train a person regarding the various types of email attacks. It helps the employee to know better about cybersecurity awareness, data protection, insider threats, malware, data breach, CEO fraud, etc.

Spreading Awareness Towards Better Email Security

Awareness and education is always the first step. The more aware your employees are, the more secure your company and resources will be. Many organizations train their employees through various training programs to improve their skills and techniques. This is an investment, as this would safeguard the company’s data and information from simple email attacks, potentially resulting in the loss of millions.

An email attack is devastating; a minor mistake of opening a virus-attached email can prove to be disastrous. These emails might look completely normal and harmless, but they are like a ticking time bomb, ready to blow up your life. Therefore, there is a need for email security awareness training.

What Are The Techniques Used To Hack An Organization Via Emails? 

Many hackers know how to fool the human mind. They take advantage of human innocence and trick them into opening their emails; this is their entry point, and this is what you should be aware of:

Faking Identity

This is a common method used by hackers; they send emails with fake names and identities to end users. They will mostly use the name of a high authority person and make it look like the email is from them; most employees fall into this trap if they respond to it.

Trapping By Gifts

Many cyber criminals offer a free subscription or trial to trap easy targets. In return, they get the individual users to buy resources from them and ransom them.

Popularity

Everyone runs after what everyone else is doing. Call it peer pressure; online hackers also target this weakness. They will make you think everyone else is doing it and trap you into doing it as well, compromising your online security.

Attractive Schemes

Many social engineers will trick you into thinking what they have is the need-of-the time, and it’s available in very limited quantities. This makes users buy their scams and risk their online security and data.

These are some of the many techniques used by cybercriminals. They will trick you and focus on gaining access to all the sensitive information. These attacks increased during the COVID-19 phase as many people were working from home and were unaware of such threats.

What Is A Phishing Attack, And What Are Its Types? 

A phishing attack is an attack on a business’s system that steals sensitive information and important credentials by deceiving them to either open a malicious link or download a document. Report any such attack.

There are various kinds of phishing attacks, such as:

Online Account Problems

A hacker might fool you by sending an email stating that one of your online accounts has a bug, and it will have an attached link in the same email asking you to click on it to fix your account. This is a very easy and sought way to get people to click on such links.

Business Email Compromise

This is a very smart way of deceiving, especially with advanced technology. The hacker will disguise himself as an important person and then ask the target to do something mischievous, like sharing important information, contact number, account details, etc. You need to be smart enough to identify it.

Hoax Invoice

This is done in two ways: either the hacker will act as a vendor asking for outstanding payments or send a document with malware and have it downloaded.

Online Cloud Docs

Cloud-based docs are very vulnerable to getting attacked by cyber attackers. So make sure you have a legitimate security wall to protect these docs. Sometimes attackers also send a document and ask the receiver to access that document by entering personal credentials; this is their way of getting their hands on your important resources and information.

 What Does A Malicious Email Look Like?

Any email designed to trick the user will look completely legit and fine. But if you have a keen eye, you might be able to pick some loopholes commonly seen in phishing emails and report them.

A malicious email looks like this:

Email Address

Phishers trick the employee using email addresses that look completely original and 100% legitimate. You should always look at the email closely and search for any errors that might be present. Save the email addresses of the important companies you are in contact with and crosscheck when you get a suspicious email.

Welcoming Note

The welcoming note is very crucial. Many phishers will need to learn the name of the person they are emailing to. Their email would start with ‘Dear Participant’ or ‘Dear Customer’ or ‘Greetings’; always watch out for such emails. Reporting such emails is a good idea.

Remember, a proper organization would always start the email by referring to your name or introducing themselves by their name.

Grammatical Mistakes

Emails sent by legit organizations are grammatically correct and sound. They don’t have grammatical mistakes. Always check for the way of writing and grammar used. A phishing email might not sound very professional and would have many grammar issues.

Bizarre Attachment Files

Phishers often try to get into your system by sending corrupt files by using different tools in ZIP format or any other unusual method.

Forceful Action

If you open an email with a link, group invite, or any other mischievous activity that might seem inappropriate, never click on such things. These violent acts often lead to a cyber attack.

How Can You Save Your Company From Such Email Threats?

The working system must be fully equipped and functional for any company’s success and development. The employees should have hands-on knowledge, training, and practice. All the employees should have cybersecurity and email security awareness training, and there should be proper training courses to find solutions.

There are tons of email security awareness training programs present that are ready to protect and bring your business to new heights. They are the solutions to cyber-attacks and offer various security awareness training modules, each covering a different topic and area of expertise with regulatory compliance.

The training modules are directed to train the employees about defense against cyber-attacks in the best possible way. The courses they cover are:

Cybersecurity Awareness

It is important to inform employees of the key capabilities of new cyber threats and phishing emails.

Data Protection 

Data protection is one of the most important training modules, as it enlightens peoples’ minds with the various technologies protecting data.

Spear Phishing 

These modules cover spreading awareness about the new spear-phishing techniques used by hackers and protecting an organization’s resources and information.

Password Security

Training them about how to create more secure passwords for increased security.

Security Outside The Office 

With many users working from home, these employees must know how to safeguard their company’s information at home by using various tools.

Ransomware 

This module covers the way of preventing a ransomware attack.

Insider Threats 

This program is very important as, a lot of the time, it is the insiders that are behind an act.

Security Compliance

This module ensures that a company’s systems and network are safe and compliant with state and industry rules. Security compliance is constantly observing, assessing, and protecting computer systems. These processes include documentation, communication of information security compliance management, and processes.

Importance Of Email Security Awareness Training

A slight human error can result in devastating outcomes for businesses. This is why an email security training program is of utmost importance. However, the training must be effective and worthwhile and support your organization. Many security awareness training courses consume huge sums of money, are too lengthy, and thus have no yield. Ensure the training modules, courses, and services you choose to fit your company’s budget and teach your employees well about cyberattack solutions.

Security awareness training materials will make your company more secure and safe and support your security needs. These solutions will drastically decrease potential threats and improve email security.

Conclusion 

Even after much development, the risk of email phishing and cyber threats is increasing. This shows how much the security programs lag in teaching and training. Security awareness training needs proper attention from higher authorities to make them more effective. Email policies need to be revised, and email security training and solutions modules should be compulsory in every organization.

Proper security awareness can greatly reduce the risk of phishing emails and attacks. Moreover, businesses expand and bring in more customers when the company can protect its customers’ information.