Hosted Email Security vs. Email Security Hosting: What You Need To Know in 2024

Imagine this scenario: You're at work, and you receive an urgent email that appears to come from your bank. It asks you to click on a link and enter your login details to verify your account. You might feel a twinge of hesitation, but the email looks convincing, and the sender seems legitimate. 

Just as you're about to comply, a colleague warns you that this email is a phishing attempt designed to steal your personal information. This situation underscores the critical importance of email security in today’s digital landscape.

Ensure the safety and integrity of your messages in email communication. With the rise of sophisticated cyber threats, understanding email security and how to protect your inbox is essential. 

Email security hosting is one way to achieve robust protection against known threats like spam and malware. This blog post will explore what email security hosting entails, why it’s important, and how to choose the right service for your needs.

What is email security?

Email security refers to the measures and technologies implemented to protect email accounts and their contents from unauthorised access, attacks, or breaches. This encompasses various techniques such as encryption, anti-spam filters, and threat protection to ensure that emails remain confidential and are delivered safely. 

Email security is crucial for both personal and business communications, as it helps prevent issues like data breaches, identity theft, and email fraud.

Why is email security important?

Email is a primary communication tool for many organisations, making it a prime target for cybercriminals. Effective email security is vital for several reasons:

1. Protection against phishing: Phishing attacks aim to deceive users into revealing sensitive information. Email security measures can help identify and filter out these fraudulent emails before they reach your inbox.
2. Preventing malware infections: Malware can be disguised as email attachments or links. Robust email security helps detect and block these threats.
3. Mitigating spam: Spam emails not only clutter your inbox but can also harbour malicious content. Anti-spam solutions help reduce unwanted emails.
4. Ensuring data privacy: Email security helps protect sensitive data from being intercepted or accessed by unauthorised parties.
5. Maintaining business continuity: Email outages or security breaches can disrupt business operations. Effective email security ensures continuous and secure communication.

What is email security hosting?

Email security hosting is a service that provides advanced protection for your email communications through cloud-based solutions. It involves hosting your email security on dedicated servers, which are managed by specialised providers. 

This service typically includes features such as spam filtering, malware detection, encryption, and threat protection. By leveraging these services, you can protect your organisation from a range of email-based threats while ensuring your email infrastructure remains secure and efficient.

Do I need email security hosting?

If you handle sensitive information or manage a business email system, email security hosting can be crucial. Here’s why:

• Increased threat landscape: With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated, relying solely on basic email security measures may not be sufficient. Email security hosting provides a higher level of protection.

• Scalability: For growing businesses, managing email security in-house can be complex. Hosting services offer scalable solutions that grow with your needs.

• Expert management: Email security hosting providers have specialised knowledge and resources to handle emerging threats, ensuring your email security is up-to-date and effective.

• Comprehensive protection: Hosted solutions often offer more comprehensive protection compared to standard email security services, including advanced threat detection and prevention.

Difference between hosted email security and email security hosting

It’s important to distinguish between hosted email security and email security hosting.

Hosted email security

This refers to the security services provided as part of a hosted email service. It typically includes features like spam filtering, virus protection, and threat detection integrated into the email hosting solution. 

Hosted email security ensures that your email is protected while being managed by the email service provider.

Email security hosting

This involves dedicated security services specifically focused on email protection, often offered as a separate service from email hosting. Email security hosting provides advanced protection against a broader range of threats and is managed independently from your email hosting. 

This approach offers a higher level of security and customisation tailored to meet specific needs.

Example of email security hosting services

Here are eight examples of email security hosting services, each with distinct features:

Proofpoint email protection

Features: Proofpoint offers advanced threat protection with a focus on targeted attacks. It provides robust anti-spam and anti-malware capabilities, as well as comprehensive threat intelligence. 

The platform also includes encryption and data loss prevention (DLP) features to safeguard sensitive information. Proofpoint’s email security service is designed to protect against both inbound and outbound email threats.

Mimecast email security

Features: Mimecast delivers a cloud-based email security solution that includes advanced spam and virus protection. It provides email continuity features to ensure uninterrupted access to your inbox, even during outages. 

Mimecast also offers threat intelligence and targeted threat protection to guard against sophisticated attacks. Its comprehensive approach includes email archiving and data protection.

Barracuda email security

Features: Barracuda offers a range of email security solutions, including spam filtering, virus protection, and email encryption. It also features advanced threat detection to protect against ransomware and phishing attacks. 

Barracuda’s cloud-based service provides robust inbound and outbound email protection, intercepting malicious threats before they reach your inbox.

SonicWall hosted email security advanced

Features: SonicWall provides a hosted email security solution with a strong focus on advanced threat protection. It includes anti-spam and anti-malware features, as well as encryption and DLP capabilities. 

SonicWall’s service is designed to protect against both known and emerging threats, ensuring comprehensive security for your email communications.

Cisco email security

Features: Cisco’s email security solution offers a cloud-based platform with advanced threat protection. It includes robust anti-spam and anti-malware features, along with encryption and data privacy measures. 

Cisco’s service also provides real-time threat intelligence and protection against advanced email threats, such as targeted phishing attacks.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Features: Integrated with Office 365, Microsoft Defender provides advanced email threat protection and anti-spam features. It offers real-time threat intelligence and protection against ransomware, phishing, and malware. 

The service also includes email encryption and data loss prevention capabilities, ensuring comprehensive protection for your business email.

Zix email security

Features: Zix offers a cloud-based email security solution that includes advanced spam filtering and malware protection. It also features encryption and DLP capabilities to safeguard sensitive email content. 

Zix’s service is designed to protect against both inbound and outbound threats, ensuring that your email communications remain secure.

Sophos email security

Features: Sophos provides a cloud-based email security solution with robust protection against spam, malware, and phishing attacks. It includes advanced threat detection and encryption features, as well as email continuity services. 

Sophos’ service offers comprehensive protection for your business email, ensuring that your communications are secure and uninterrupted.

Why secure email hosting is crucial for protecting your digital communications

In conclusion, email security hosting is an essential component of modern email management, offering advanced protection against a range of cyber threats. With the increasing sophistication of email-based attacks, businesses and individuals alike must prioritise robust email security solutions. 

By understanding the differences between hosted email security and dedicated email security hosting, you can make informed decisions to safeguard your email communications effectively.

Protect your inbox and business email against spam and malware

Ensure your digital communications are safe with our advanced email security hosting solutions. epochLABS offers a service that protects your organisation from cyber threats, providing robust security for both personal email and business email. 

Don’t leave your email vulnerable—contact us today to discover how our secure email hosting can safeguard your communications and enhance your overall security strategy. Reach out now to learn more about our comprehensive email security solutions!

FAQ

What is secure email hosting?

Secure email hosting is a specialised service designed to provide enhanced protection for your email communications. It includes advanced features such as encryption, antivirus, and threat protection to safeguard your inbox from various cyber threats. 

This type of hosting ensures that both inbound and outbound emails are secure, protecting your organisation from advanced email threats. By choosing secure email hosting, you can achieve strong security for your email addresses and ensure that every email solution is protected against potential risks.

How does email security hosting protect my inbox?

Email security hosting protects your inbox by employing various security measures such as anti-spam filters, antivirus, and encryption. These features work together to detect and block malicious emails, preventing them from reaching your inbox. 

Additionally, email security hosting provides threat protection services that guard against phishing attacks, malware, and other cyber threats. With a cloud-based email security solution, you can ensure that your inbox remains secure and that every email you send and receive is protected.

What is business email compromise, and how does email security hosting help?

Business email compromise (BEC) is a type of cyberattack in which attackers use compromised email accounts to commit fraud or steal sensitive information. Email security hosting helps mitigate this risk by offering advanced threat protection and authentication features. 

These services protect your email addresses from being spoofed or hacked, thus safeguarding your business from email fraud. By using a secure email hosting solution, you can protect your email communications and manage business email effectively to prevent BEC.

How do I choose the best email provider for secure email hosting?

When choosing an email provider for secure email hosting, consider factors such as the level of encryption, antivirus protection, and threat protection services offered. Look for providers that offer advanced email solutions with strong security features to protect your email addresses. 

Evaluate their mail storage space and mail infrastructure to ensure they meet your needs for handling email traffic and managing business email. A premium email provider will offer robust security features and comprehensive support for protecting your email.

What are the benefits of using advanced email security solutions?

Advanced email security solutions offer several benefits, including enhanced protection against sophisticated cyber threats, such as phishing and ransomware. These solutions provide features like advanced threat detection, email authentication, and anti-malware tools. 

By implementing advanced email security, you can protect your email communications, ensure the integrity of every email, and safeguard your organisation from advanced email threats. Additionally, these solutions help manage email infrastructure efficiently and secure both inbound and outbound emails.

What are email hosting services, and how do they relate to email security hosting?

Email hosting services provide the infrastructure and support for managing your email communications. These services include storing email data, managing email addresses, and handling email delivery. 

Email security hosting, on the other hand, focuses specifically on securing email communications through features like encryption, threat protection, and anti-spam measures. By using email hosting services in conjunction with dedicated email security hosting, you can ensure that your email system is both functional and secure.

How does cloud-based email security work?

Cloud-based email security uses remote servers and services to protect email communications from cyber threats. This approach provides scalable and flexible security solutions, including advanced threat protection, anti-spam filters, and antivirus tools. 

Cloud-based email security solutions ensure that your email infrastructure is protected regardless of the location of your email servers. By using a cloud-based service, you can efficiently manage email security, protect your email, and ensure the safety of your mail storage space.

What is threat protection, and why is it important for email security?

Threat protection is a set of security measures designed to detect, block, and mitigate various types of cyber threats, such as malware, phishing, and ransomware. In the context of email security hosting, threat protection services are crucial for safeguarding your email communications against malicious attacks. 

These services help protect your inbox, ensure that every email you send and receive is secure, and prevent unauthorised access to your email addresses. Implementing strong threat protection is essential for maintaining the security and integrity of your email system.