Distributing malware through a. ZIP file isn’t anything new, so threat actors are using a new tactic in response to tightening cybersecurity measures across the globe. While most people know not to open an unexpected attachment, these malicious files are starting to pop up in email threads with trusted friends and colleagues — this makes them very easy to fall for.

Outbound threats cause a continuous headache for IT professionals. There’s so much variety in type and risk level, and prioritizing what to be most concerned about is a challenge. Plus, risks have ramped up in recent years due to the rise in home working, flexible working, and BYOD, making the landscape more complex. It’s easy to be concerned about whether you have the right tools in place to deal with the multitude of cybersecurity risks out there.

Hackers use many tools at each stage of an attack. These tools are often readily available online, both free of charge and to buy, and easy to use for non-technical cybercriminals. Understanding a hacker’s tools and tactics is essential for cyber security practitioners and vendors aiming to build effective defenses and stay one step ahead of a quickly evolving host of cyber threats.

We talk extensively about the impact of inbound cybersecurity attacks and the devastation they can cause, but what about outbound data loss? According to an IBM study, human error is the leading cause of 95% of cybersecurity breaches. That means 19 in 20 breaches could be avoided entirely if not for a person introducing risk either through human error, deliberately breaking security protocol, or malicious behavior.

Industry analyst Gartner recently published their 2022 report on the state of the DLP market. They consider DLP a mature technology but do talk to the emergence of next generation data security tools for insider risk management and cloud use cases. The enterprise DLP (EDLP) market is growing at around 6.6%.

While cybersecurity risks are similar across the board for any IT leader, it's down to each CISO to decide what takes priority. Before doing that, they need to assess the risks and plan accordingly for them. Unfortunately, many businesses don't do this. A 2022 UpCity study – the Small Business Cybersecurity Survey Investigations Report – found that only 50% of SMBs have a cybersecurity plan.

Our research has revealed that 80% of security professionals have experienced increased security threats since shifting to remote work. To stay protected against attacks and reduce the chances of losing significant amounts of money, putting their users at risk, or destroying their reputation, organizations must do more to innovate against email risks. In our most recent report, Cybersecurity experts' views on email risk within Microsoft 365, we identify many of the risks Microsoft 365 users face.

One of the most challenging elements of cybersecurity is knowing what’s to come. While none of us have an IT crystal ball (unfortunately), we can make educated guesses based on the evidence around us. One thing that is for sure, though, is that cybercriminals are more of a threat than ever. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report from last year, a record 847,376 cybercrime complaints were reported by the public in 2021 – a 7% rise from the previous year.

Microsoft 365 has cemented itself as a leader amongst cloud email providers by offering a solid foundation of protection from advanced attacks. However, it's becoming increasingly apparent that Microsoft 365's defenses alone are often not enough to ensure the security of sensitive data. Cybersecurity experts' views on email risk within Microsoft 365 is our most recent report identifying the security risks that Microsoft 365 users face.

For many organizations, the rise of remote working brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased email communication. Our 2020 Outbound Email Security Report revealed that 94% of organizations experienced increased outbound email traffic due to remote working during the pandemic. This increase in outbound email traffic also increased outbound security risk. The report revealed that 93% of organizations suffered an outbound data breach in the same 12 months.