Email security gateway blocks pre-delivery threats scanning email detecting malware/phishing/spam. Features: quarantine, DLP, archiving, continuity. Deployment: on-premises or cloud.
What is an email security gateway and why does your business need it? Email security gateway (SEG) blocks pre-delivery threats before reaching mail servers (on-premises Exchange, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace). Remote work escalated email reliance and attack risk. 60% businesses experienced ransomware-seeking cyberattacks in 2020, averaging 6 working days lost (2x 2019 downtime). SEGs scan all email communications (internal/incoming/outgoing) plus attachments and URL links detecting malware, spam, viruses. Malicious content quarantined or rejected. Advanced SEGs provide outgoing data loss prevention, email archiving (legal compliance), network continuity enabling email access during network compromise. Deployment options: on-premises (hardware/virtual appliance requiring maintenance) or cloud-based (vendor managed, scalable). Microsoft 365 has 200M+ users making it primary cybercriminal target despite reasonable baseline security. Most security professionals recommend adding enhanced SEG layer beyond Microsoft 365 native protection.
Email remains predominant business communication form. COVID-19 pandemic accelerated remote work, increasing email reliance and attack surface. Cybercriminals continuously evolve sophisticated methods including phishing with malicious attachments/links and social engineering exploiting employee divulgence.
This guide explains email security gateways, deployment models, threat detection, and supplementary protection strategies.
Average 6 out of 10 businesses experienced cyberattacks demanding ransom in 2020, resulting in 6 working days lost - more than twice 2019 downtime.
Remote work normalization increased email usage beyond pre-pandemic levels. Off-site employee access from potentially unsecured networks exponentially increased security threats.
Cybercriminals continuously refine sophisticated methods:
Secure email gateways (SEGs) block pre-delivery email threats before reaching mail servers, protecting:
Email security gateways protect employees from:
SEGs scan all email communications including:
Scanning algorithms recognize and classify:
Once harmful content tagged as malicious:
Pre-delivery scanning blocks threats before reaching inboxes, preventing:
Advanced gateways scan outgoing content for potential data leakage:
State-of-the-art SEGs include email archiving functions:
Enterprise SEGs include inbuilt continuity enabling employees to access emails even on compromised networks:
Leading SEGs include management dashboards enabling:
Installation options: Hardware appliance or virtual appliance
Selection basis: Depends on whether organization runs on-premises email servers (Microsoft Exchange) or uses cloud email services (Office 365)
Organizational responsibility:
Considerations: Data remains within organizational network boundaries
Vendor responsibility: Security vendor manages all infrastructure, updates, and maintenance
Organizational benefits:
Scalability advantage: Cloud SEGs quickly scale regardless of traffic volume. Organizations easily adjust capacity matching business growth without infrastructure changes.
Cost model: Typically subscription-based pricing reducing capital expenditure
Microsoft 365 has 200+ million active monthly users - by far the most popular business software platform globally.
Precisely because of this popularity and extensive user base, Microsoft 365 represents primary cybercriminal target. Criminals continuously push discovering and exploiting security gaps.
Under normal circumstances, Microsoft 365 provides reasonable security. However, intense cybercriminal targeting continuously identifies loopholes despite Microsoft's security efforts.
Most IT professionals agree that despite Microsoft 365's capabilities, enhanced email security through additional SEG layer provides critical supplementary protection against sophisticated threats.
Industry consensus strongly suggests adding enhanced secure email gateway layer above Microsoft 365 native protection given current threat landscape.
Multiple SEGs exist claiming similar functionality. However, each system has distinct features and specializations. Organizations must research thoroughly ensuring optimal solution matching specific business needs:
Start by assessing current email security posture. What threats has your organization experienced? Are current defenses sufficient? Do you have data regarding successful phishing attempts?
Next, determine deployment preference. Does your organization have infrastructure expertise supporting on-premises appliances? Is cloud-based gateway more practical given IT resource constraints?
Then, research available solutions. Compare features, pricing, customer reviews, and vendor support quality across leading email security gateways.
Finally, conduct pilot evaluation. Most vendors provide trial periods enabling hands-on assessment before commitment.
Need help implementing an email security gateway protecting your Microsoft 365 or on-premises email systems? Contact AMVIA specialists: 0333 733 8050 (direct to experts, no voicemail) or request consultation. We assess your email security requirements, recommend optimal gateway solutions, implement deployment infrastructure, and provide ongoing support ensuring comprehensive email security and threat protection for your organization.
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