How your Business’s Approach to Cybersecurity Sets it Apart for Success and Scale.

Introduction

“It's not the big that eat the small...it's the fast that eat the slow”. Jason Jennings and Laurence Haughton’s 2002 book title rings truer today than when it was written. While the pace of technological innovation was already at breakneck speed, the democratisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) only accelerated digital transformation in the pursuit of agility, efficiency, and scale.

But, as we become increasingly reliant on technology to remain competitive, so our threat surface expands. But, for too many (and for too long), cybersecurity has been relegated to the back office, coming to the fore only in the event of a breach, or when necessitated by regulations.

This reactive legacy approach to cybersecurity is a missed opportunity for businesses. As we shall see, proactive cybersecurity design that aligns with core business strategy can prove a competitive advantage, and a predictor of business success. For those embracing proactive cyber resilience, the narrative of cybersecurity as an afterthought is being rewritten.

The sunsetting of the old version of Securemail in February 2024 marks a pivotal moment for SYNAQ, ushering in the era of cyber resilience with new Securemail service (previously Securemail 3.0). This evolution is more than a technological advancement; it provides scalable infrastructure for a layered security approach to email security, powered by AI and Machine Learning (ML), designed not to react, but to anticipate and thwart threats.

The new Securemail service is a step on the path to cyber resilience that PREPARES, PROTECTS, and PREVENTS, ensuring that businesses are not just surviving but thriving as they digitally transform.

The Digital Transformation Imperative and the Cybersecurity Equation

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses are undergoing transformation at an unprecedented pace. This digital shift, while offering immense opportunities for growth and innovation, also significantly expands the cyber threat landscape.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Accenture’s "State of Cybersecurity Resilience 2023" report reveals that cybersecurity is more than a shield. It can prove a catalyst for business reinvention and resilience. The report found that businesses with cybersecurity woven into the fabric of their digital transformation efforts see an 18% higher likelihood of driving revenue growth, increasing market share, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Furthermore, those adopting a proactive stance towards cybersecurity, integrating it from the onset of their digital transformation journey, are nearly six times more likely to achieve effective outcomes.

These findings underscore a critical realisation: cybersecurity is no longer a back-end concern but a front-line, strategic asset that can differentiate businesses in a crowded market.

The Prevailing Threat Landscape and the Need for Proactive Defence

The threat landscape is increasingly sophisticated, with email remaining one of the most vulnerable and exploited channels. As the primary medium for professional communication, email presents a lucrative target for cybercriminals.

Phishing, spear-phishing, ransomware, and other email-borne threats are not only becoming more frequent but also more sophisticated, as cybercriminals leverage AI and ML to bypass traditional security measures – and find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities as cyber defences incorporate AI into their arsenal.

For instance, Forbes reported a dramatic, unexpected uptick in the frequency and volume of image-based phishing attacks in 2023, most notably QR code phishing – a trend expected to continue into 2024. Attackers use imagery, including QR codes, reversed text, and image files, as a way to evade AI-enabled security tools using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to detect threats. This surge in image-based attacks has been enabled by the rise of image-based generative AI tools, like DALL-E and Midjourney, which allow attackers to generate completely original, professional-quality images in seconds.

They also warn against Account Based Phishing Attacks – attackers combine the data available in platforms like LinkedIn with increasingly customisable Large Language Models and Agents – resulting in convincing, complex Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks, VIP impersonation attempts, Vendor Email Compromise (VEC) and even the use of AI agents for automated attack campaigns.

Of the 2.1 billion+ emails SYNAQ processed last year, close to half (42%) were quarantined or rejected.

In the ever-evolving landscape of email security threats, it’s crucial to stay informed and proactive in safeguarding your data. This reality necessitates a shift towards more proactive and predictive cybersecurity measures in email security and beyond.

Re-Introducing the New Securemail Service: A Paradigm Shift in Email Security

SYNAQ's new Securemail service emerged as a beacon of innovation in this context. Launched in April 2023, this update saw additional SPAM and Malware feeds to further bolster heuristics engines, and the deployment of AI-powered algorithm enhancements to specific features such as LinkShield, Identity Threat Protection (ITP) and Data Leak Prevention (DLP), for a more comprehensive line of defence against the latest threats.

By emphasising a privacy-first approach, the new Securemail service not only protects sensitive data but also aligns with global data protection regulations, providing businesses with a competitive edge in terms of compliance, trust, and resilience.

With these enhanced features plus an intuitive user interface, threat intelligence and seamless integration capabilities, the new Securemail sets a new standard in privacy-first email security. And it’s a standard that we don’t believe anyone should have to compromise on. To that end, and to ensure maximum email security resilience for all our customers, we sunsetted the previous versions of Securemail on 29 February 2024.

Here are some of the features new Securemail service customers benefit from:

1. Layered Security Approach and AI-Powered Threat Detection

   At the heart of the new Securemail service is its layered security approach, which encompasses threat intelligence, AI, and ML-powered threat detection mechanisms. This multi-faceted strategy ensures that threats are identified and neutralised at various stages, from entry to execution, minimising the risk of successful attack. The integration of AI and ML technologies enables the new Securemail to adapt to evolving threats, offering businesses a dynamic and resilient defence mechanism that evolves with the threat landscape itself

2. Cyber Resilience: Prepare, Protect, and Prevent

   This new service embodies the principles of cyber resilience: Prepare, Protect, and Prevent. By safeguarding against email threats, preparing businesses for potential cyber incidents through robust response strategies, and preventing attacks through predictive analytics and threat intelligence, the new Securemail service ensures that businesses can maintain continuity and integrity in the face of cyber challenges. This proactive stance on cybersecurity not only mitigates risks but also enhances overall business performance by ensuring that digital transformation efforts are secure and trusted.

3. Threat Intelligence for Smarter Email Security

   Threat intelligence is increasingly important when it comes to cyber resilience. With the new Securemail service, you have access to a built-in performance analytics module that provides actionable insight into email security risk factors. This makes it possible to arm yourself and your business with key security insights to manage emerging email threats for proactive posturing and enhanced email security performance at the click of a button.

Conclusion: The Strategic Role of Email Cybersecurity in Business Success

The integration of new Securemail into your business's cybersecurity strategy is the first step to transitioning from reactive cybersecurity to a proactive, strategic approach to risk and resilience that aligns with business objectives. Businesses that adopt this approach are better positioned to navigate the complexities of the digital age, achieving greater resilience, trust, and competitive advantage.

Designed to meet the challenges of the modern threat landscape, new Securemail integrates seamlessly with business operations, ensuring that email security becomes a cornerstone of digital transformation efforts rather than an afterthought. And with SYNAQ, you also benefit from the support and expertise of a partner who understands and will support you on your holistic journey to cyber resilience and success!