Why your enterprise needs best of breed email security

The Need for a Best-of-Breed Email Security Solution in the Enterprise Security Infrastructure Stack

In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, email remains the number one vector for cyberattacks. Despite the proliferation of new communication tools, email continues to be the preferred medium for business correspondence, making it a high-value target for malicious actors. Phishing, business email compromise (BEC), ransomware, and other threats increasingly leverage email as the first point of entry into enterprise networks.

While many organizations rely on built-in email security features provided by their cloud email providers, these native tools often fall short in offering the comprehensive protection needed against sophisticated threats. As a result, forward-looking enterprises are turning to best-of-breed email security solutions to bolster their defence strategies and mitigate risk effectively.

This article explores the growing necessity for best-of-breed email security solutions within the broader enterprise security infrastructure stack, highlighting their advantages, capabilities, and strategic role in safeguarding organizational data, reputation, and operational continuity.

Email: The Perennial Attack Vector

Despite decades of security innovation, email continues to be a significant weak point in enterprise cybersecurity. According to industry reports, over 90% of cyberattacks begin with a phishing email. Attackers favour email because of its ubiquity, its ability to spoof trusted sources, and its social engineering potential.

The most common email-based threats include:

• Phishing and Spear Phishing: Deceptive messages designed to trick users into revealing credentials or clicking on malicious links.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC): Highly targeted attacks where attackers impersonate executives or partners to manipulate employees into initiating wire transfers or disclosing sensitive information.
• Ransomware: Malicious attachments or links that deliver payloads capable of encrypting files and extorting ransom payments.
• Malware Delivery: Files or links that install trojans, keyloggers, or backdoors into enterprise systems.
• Credential Harvesting: Fake login portals designed to capture usernames and passwords.

These attacks are increasingly sophisticated, often bypassing traditional defences through the use of zero-day exploits, polymorphic malware, or cleverly disguised social engineering tactics.

Limitations of Native and Legacy Email Security

While major cloud email providers such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace offer basic email security features, their default configurations often lack the depth and customization needed to address advanced threats.

Some of the limitations of relying solely on native email security include:

• 1. Generic Threat Detection

Built-in tools rely heavily on signature-based detection and static rules, which can miss novel or obfuscated threats.

• 2. Limited Visibility and Reporting

Native tools often provide only high-level reporting, making it difficult for security teams to investigate threats in depth or identify patterns across the organization.

• 3. Inadequate BEC and Phishing Protection

Because BEC and spear phishing attacks do not rely on malware or suspicious attachments, they can easily evade signature-based detection methods. Many native systems are ill-equipped to handle these forms of social engineering.

• 4. Poor Integration with Broader Security Ecosystems

Native solutions may not integrate well with SIEM (Security Information and Event Management), SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response), or other components of a mature security infrastructure, limiting incident response capabilities.

• 5. Reactive, Not Proactive

Email threats evolve rapidly, and native tools are often reactive — updating only after a new threat has been widely identified. Best-of-breed tools often use AI, machine learning, and threat intelligence to detect and prevent novel attacks proactively.

What is a Best-of-Breed Email Security Solution?

A best-of-breed email security solution refers to a dedicated, standalone product designed specifically to address the full spectrum of email-borne threats. These solutions typically offer more advanced features, better threat detection, and more flexible deployment options than built-in email protections.

Key features of best-of-breed email security tools include:

• Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): Real-time scanning of URLs, attachments, and content using sandboxing and behavioural analysis.
• AI and Machine Learning: Dynamic threat detection and anomaly recognition based on historical and behavioural data.
• Threat Intelligence Feeds: Real-time updates from global threat databases for identifying emerging threats.
• Impersonation Protection: Identification of spoofed domains, lookalike domains, and unusual sender behaviour to combat BEC.
• Post-Delivery Protection: The ability to retract or neutralize malicious messages even after they have reached the inbox.
• Security Awareness Training: Integration with user education platforms to help employees recognize and report threats.
• Policy Customization: Granular control over filtering policies, quarantines, and user-level controls.
• API-First Architecture: Seamless integration with existing security tools for unified visibility and response.

Strategic Role in the Enterprise Security Stack

Email security is not a siloed concern — it intersects with multiple components of an enterprise’s broader security strategy. Here’s how best-of-breed email security supports key areas of enterprise cybersecurity:

• 1. Generic Threat Detection

Email is a major channel for data leakage. Whether accidental or intentional, sending sensitive data outside the organization can be catastrophic. Best-of-breed solutions offer robust DLP capabilities, such as pattern matching (e.g., credit card or Social Security numbers), keyword analysis, and policy enforcement to prevent data from leaving the organization inappropriately.

• 2. Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Email threats frequently involve credential theft. When paired with IAM systems, best-of-breed tools can help detect unauthorized login attempts and notify administrators of suspicious behaviour. Some solutions even integrate with multi-factor authentication (MFA) workflows.

• 3. Incident Response

Modern email security platforms can automatically feed alerts into SIEM or SOAR platforms, triggering pre-defined incident response playbooks. This automation accelerates threat containment and resolution while reducing the burden on security teams.

• 4. Regulatory Compliance

Regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX mandate stringent controls over data privacy and security. A best-of-breed solution can help meet these requirements by providing encryption, audit trails, DLP, and detailed logs of email activity.

• 5. Zero Trust Architecture

Zero trust emphasizes continuous verification and minimal privilege. Best-of-breed email security aligns with this model by inspecting all email communications, regardless of source or destination, before granting trust.

Cost of Inadequate Email Security

The financial and reputational costs of a successful email-based attack can be devastating. According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million. Specific to email:

• Business Email Compromise (BEC) losses totalled over $2.7 billion in 2022, according to the FBI.
• Ransomware attacks via email continue to rise, with payments reaching into millions of dollars for major incidents.
• Downtime and Recovery costs associated with email-borne malware can cripple operations and lead to lost business opportunities.
• Regulatory Fines can result from the exposure of personally identifiable information (PII) or healthcare data.

Beyond direct costs, email attacks also erode customer trust and damage brand reputation, leading to long-term impacts that are harder to quantify but equally critical.

Building a Comprehensive Email Security Strategy

Deploying a best-of-breed email security solution is just one component of a holistic email security strategy. For maximum protection, enterprises should consider the following best practices:

• 1. Layered Defence

Implement multiple layers of protection, including perimeter filtering, internal scanning, endpoint protection, and user awareness training.

• 2. User Training and Awareness

Phishing simulations and regular training help users become the first line of defence. Many best-of-breed solutions offer integrated training modules or third-party integrations.

• 3. Threat Hunting and Forensics

Enable security teams to investigate and respond to incidents using advanced analytics and threat intelligence. The ability to trace threats across email, endpoints, and cloud systems is vital.

• 4. Automated Remediation

Utilize automation to quarantine messages, remove malicious emails from user inboxes, and generate alerts for rapid response.

• 5. Regular Policy Reviews

Continuously update and refine email security policies based on evolving threat landscapes and business needs.

Evaluating and Selecting the Right Solution

Not all email security platforms are created equal. When evaluating a best-of-breed solution, consider the following criteria:

• Threat Detection Capabilities: How well does the solution detect both known and unknown threats?
• Ease of Integration: Can it seamlessly integrate with your existing infrastructure (cloud platforms, IAM, SIEM, etc.)?
• Management and Usability: Is the interface intuitive? Does it support granular policy control and detailed reporting?
• Vendor Reputation and Support: What is the vendor’s track record for innovation, support, and customer success?
• Scalability: Can the solution scale with your organization’s growth and evolving security needs?
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Consider licensing, deployment, training, and maintenance costs.

The Road Ahead: Email Security as a Strategic Priority

Cybercriminals will continue to exploit email as long as it remains a cornerstone of business communication. The sophistication of email threats demands an equally sophisticated defence.

A best-of-breed email security solution is no longer a “nice to have” — it is a strategic necessity. As enterprises embrace hybrid work, cloud transformation, and digital acceleration, securing email becomes foundational to protecting data, users, and operations.

By elevating email security to a first-class citizen within the broader security stack, organizations can shift from reactive defence to proactive resilience. Investing in specialized email protection is an investment in business continuity, regulatory compliance, and, ultimately, long-term success.

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Why Your Enterprise Needs a Best-of-Breed Email Security Solution

Email is still the king of workplace communication. But with that crown comes a big target. Over 90% of cyberattacks start with email — whether it’s phishing, ransomware, or business email compromise (BEC). And as attackers get smarter, your security needs to be even smarter.

Most organizations rely on built-in security from platforms like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. But let’s be honest — those tools only go so far. That’s why more enterprises are turning to best-of-breed email security solutions to truly protect what matters.

In this post, we’ll dive into why email security deserves more attention, where native tools fall short, and how best-of-breed solutions can fill the gap.

Email: Still the #1 Attack Vector

You’d think by now we’d have email security figured out. But nope — it remains the go-to route for attackers. Why?

Because it works.

From phishing to credential theft to ransomware, email is a reliable way in. Attackers don’t need to find a network vulnerability when they can trick an employee into clicking a bad link.

Here are just a few email-based threats you’ve probably heard of:

• Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): Real-time scanning of URLs, attachments, and content using sandboxing and behavioural analysis.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC) – Attackers impersonate execs to get employees to wire money or share sensitive info.
• Ransomware – Links or attachments that lock up your data until you pay a ransom.
• Malware Delivery – Email attachments that quietly install keyloggers, trojans, or backdoors.
• Credential Harvesting – Fake login pages that capture usernames and passwords.

These attacks are constantly evolving. If your email protection isn’t keeping up, you’re playing defense with a blindfold on.

The Problem with Native Email Security

Microsoft and Google offer basic email protection out of the box. But basic isn’t always enough.

Here’s where native tools typically fall short:

• 1. Layered Defence

They rely heavily on known signatures and basic rules — not great against zero-day threats or clever social engineering.

• 2. Weak BEC & Impersonation Defense

Most phishing filters are tuned for spam, not carefully crafted attacks that look like they came from your CEO.

• 3. Lack of Visibility

Need detailed forensics or insight into threat patterns? Good luck with that.

• 4. Limited Integration

If your security stack includes a SIEM or SOAR platform, native tools may not plug in smoothly.

• 5. Reactive, Not Proactive

You’re always a step behind. By the time native defenses catch up to a new threat, damage may already be done.

In short: relying solely on native security is like putting a lock on the front door and leaving the windows wide open.

What Makes a Best-of-Breed Email Security Solution?

Best-of-breed means choosing a solution that specializes in email security — not one that treats it like an add-on.

These solutions go beyond the basics and offer things like:

✅ Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)
Real-time scanning, sandboxing, and behavioral analysis of URLs and attachments.

✅ AI + Machine Learning
Identifies threats based on behavior, not just known patterns.

✅ Threat Intelligence
Uses global data to stay ahead of emerging attacks.

✅ Impersonation Protection
Detects lookalike domains, spoofed sender names, and unusual communication patterns.

✅ Post-Delivery Controls
Can retract or neutralize bad emails after they land in the inbox.

✅ User Training Integration
Pairs with awareness training platforms for ongoing education and phishing simulations.

✅ Granular Policy Control
Custom rules, flexible filtering, and detailed reporting dashboards.

✅ Easy Integration
API-first architecture that plugs into the rest of your security stack.

In other words, it’s the full package — protection, insight, and control.

Why Email Security Needs a Seat at the Security Table

Email security isn’t just about inboxes. It touches nearly every part of your security infrastructure.

🔐 Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

A misfired email can expose sensitive data. Best-of-breed solutions offer powerful DLP features to stop that from happening.

👥 Identity & Access Management (IAM)

Credential theft is rampant. Email security helps detect and block account compromise attempts, especially when paired with MFA and IAM tools.

🚨 Incident Response

These solutions integrate with your SIEM or SOAR to help your SOC team act fast — quarantining emails, launching playbooks, and minimizing damage.

📋 Compliance

From GDPR to HIPAA, compliance rules demand serious email security. Encryption, logging, and policy enforcement help keep you in the clear.

🔒 Zero Trust Ready

Zero trust means “trust no one” — not even an email from your CFO. These solutions inspect everything, no assumptions.

The High Cost of Low Email Security

Skipping best-of-breed email security can cost you — big time.

💸 $4.45M – That’s the average cost of a data breach, according to IBM’s 2023 report.
💰 $2.7B+ – BEC attacks alone caused this much in losses in 2022 (FBI stats).
🕒 Weeks of downtime – Recovery from ransomware or malware can halt business entirely.
📉 Brand damage – Trust takes years to build, seconds to lose.

And let’s not forget regulatory fines, legal costs, and all the stress that comes with a high-profile breach.

Building a Modern Email Security Strategy

A best-of-breed solution is just one (very important) piece of the puzzle. Here’s how to round out your strategy:

🔁 Layered Defense

Use a multi-layered approach with endpoint protection, firewalls, DLP, and user training.

👨‍🏫 User Awareness Training

Employees are often the weakest link. Train them to spot threats — and reward them for reporting suspicious emails.

🕵️ Threat Hunting & Forensics

Give your SOC the tools to dig deep. Look for patterns, understand root causes, and tighten defenses over time.

⚙️ Automated Response

Time is critical. Automate the containment of threats and removal of malicious emails.

📝 Policy Review & Tuning

As your business evolves, so should your email policies. Regular reviews help keep security aligned with risk.

What to Look For in a Best-of-Breed Solution

Choosing the right tool? Here’s a quick checklist:

✅ Detection capabilities – Can it find new, sophisticated threats?
✅ Ease of integration – Will it play nice with your existing tech stack?
✅ Customizability – Can you tailor policies and responses?
✅ User experience – Is it easy to manage and monitor?
✅ Vendor support – Are you backed by a strong, responsive partner?
✅ Scalability – Will it grow with your business?
✅ Cost-effectiveness – Consider long-term value, not just sticker price.

Wrapping Up: Make Email Security a Priority

Email isn’t going anywhere — and neither are email-based threats.

If your organization is serious about cybersecurity, a best-of-breed email security solution belongs at the core of your security stack. It’s not just about stopping spam — it’s about protecting your data, your users, your brand, and your bottom line.

The bad guys are getting smarter. Your defenses need to be smarter too.

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