A compromised inbox can quickly become a business problem – from stolen passwords and fraudulent payments to data breaches and damaging messages sent to your customers.
Every business is at risk, but staying protected doesn't have to be complicated.
of UK businesses that experienced a cyber breach or attack reported phishing.
average cost of a cyber breach for UK SMEs with financial impact
of UK businesses that experienced a breach said phishing was the most disruptive type.
Phishing, Impersonation and Malicious Links Need Stronger Protection
Managing Director Ace IT
"Modern email security is about more than stopping spam. It starts with correctly configured Microsoft 365, stronger protection through Defender for Office 365, and SPF, DKIM and DMARC to help prevent impersonation and improve the chances of genuine email reaching the intended inbox.
For organisations with higher compliance requirements, such as legal and accountancy firms, more advanced platforms can add enhanced filtering, built-in archiving and continuity.
Technology alone is not enough. Your team also needs to recognise suspicious messages, unusual payment requests and fake login prompts, while backup helps you recover if something goes wrong.
For small businesses, good email security means combining secure configuration, advanced protection, user awareness and ongoing monitoring rather than relying on a single product.
Centrally managed signatures also keep branding, contact details and disclaimers consistent across every device. Tools such as Exclaimer make this easy to manage across Microsoft 365.
If all of this sounds complicated, or you’d like advice on improving your email security, please get in touch."
Buying a Microsoft 365 licence is only the beginning. Many important security features are not fully configured by default, so setting things up correctly is vital to protect your business and give your team the right warnings when something looks suspicious.
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 goes beyond basic email filtering, adding advanced protection against phishing, impersonation, malicious links and dangerous attachments. It checks threats more deeply and helps stop suspicious messages before they reach your team.
Setting up your email correctly helps prove that messages really came from you and makes it much harder for criminals to impersonate your business. Technologies such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC protect your reputation and reduce the risk of fraudulent emails being sent in your name.
The Minimum Requirements
Helps spot fake senders and messages pretending to come from someone you trust.
Attachments can be analysed before delivery to help detect malware and other hidden threats.
Links are checked for malicious destinations, helping protect users even after an email has been delivered.
Security alerts make it easier to understand suspicious emails and take action quickly.
Because not everyone speaks IT.
Uses fake emails to trick people into clicking links, opening files or sharing information. These messages often imitate trusted companies or colleagues.
Makes an email look like it came from someone you trust when it did not. Attackers use this to make fraudulent or dangerous messages more convincing.
Keeps suspicious email away from the inbox until it can be checked. This gives administrators or users a chance to review messages before they are released.
Sender Policy Framework tells mail systems which servers can send for your domain. It helps stop criminals pretending to send email from you.
DomainKeys Identified Mail adds a digital signature to outgoing email. It helps receiving systems confirm the message is genuine and has not been changed.
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance checks if emails from your domain are genuine. It tells receiving systems how to handle failed messages.
Checks email attachments for malware and hidden threats before delivery to the inbox. Suspicious files can be blocked before they reach the user.
Check your email security
The NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) Email Security Check is a free tool that checks how well your email is configured to protect against spoofing and common security issues. It can highlight problems with settings such as SPF, DKIM, DMARC and TLS, giving you a quick indication of where your email setup could be improved.
Want a health check on your current Cyber Security status? Take a look at our free Cyber Security review service that's been designed specifically for small businesses.
