What is anti-spam and why does your business need it?

We’ll bet you that your business uses email as its main form of communication. But did you know that on average, nearly 45% of the 300 billion emails being sent across the world every day are spam? Which is why anti-spam solutions exist!

So, what is anti-spam? And why should anti-spam be a priority for businesses? Let’s dive in!

First of all, what is spam email?

Spam email, or junk mail, is unsolicited messages sent in bulk. The emails are typically for promotional purposes, but also often to spread malware such as ransomware.

The end goal for spam emails is to make money from you and your business. 

Without effective spam management, your business is more vulnerable to cyber attacks as you’ll be getting way more emails that could contain scams and malware.

What is anti-spam?

Eureka! Anti-spam solutions are email security tools designed to detect and block spam before it reaches your inbox. More advanced solutions can also scrutinise the emails you send, to safeguard both you and your recipient (and in turn, your business reputation!). Plus, many also offer secure email encryption.

So what is anti-spam going to do for your business? It will protect you from cyber threats whilst also minimising clutter in your inbox. It’s a win-win!

What is an anti-spam solution?

Now you know what anti-spam is, you may be wondering ‘what is an anti-spam solution, exactly?’

Anti-spam tools typically filter incoming emails for spam, malware, viruses, and phishing attempts. They do this by scanning various elements such as text, attachments, URLs, and images and looking for threats. The most sophisticated solutions analyse thousands of attributes to identify potential threats, which are then either quarantined or deleted.

What can I expect from an anti-spam solution?

99% of spam to be captured: Ensured by a Service Level Agreement (SLA).

Multi-layered virus scanning: All incoming emails should undergo multiple levels of virus scanning to detect and block threats before they reach the network. Advanced solutions also update in real-time to tackle new threats.

Customisable sensitivity settings: These settings allow you to adjust spam filtering levels for individuals or groups.

Block filter rules: These enable the creation of blacklists for specific email addresses, domains, or IP addresses, along with custom text filters.

Quarantine area: A designated space where suspected spam emails are held, allowing users to review and manage them, including releasing emails that have been falsely marked as spam.

Reporting tools: These tools help create scheduled reports that can be sent to you for review.

What about cloud-based solutions?

Many anti-spam services are now available as cloud-based subscriptions. Let’s look into how a cloud-based solution offers several advantages over locally installed solutions…

Pre-network filtering: Incoming emails are scanned in the cloud before they reach your servers, reducing the risk of malware penetration.

No local maintenance: Cloud solutions eliminate the need for local installations or updates, ensuring continuous access to the latest features without the burden of maintenance.

Reduced IT load: By handling all scanning and filtering in the cloud, these solutions free up local IT resources and bandwidth.

Flexible subscription model: You can adjust the number of protected mailboxes as needed, with real-time protection.

AI technology: These days, advanced cloud-based anti-spam solutions use machine learning to enhance their effectiveness. This technology allows for the analysis of millions of email attributes and patterns, continuously adapting to new spam tactics. Keeping you and your business safer!

Need anti-spam at your business?

Implementing a robust anti-spam solution is essential for businesses of all sizes. It’s not just about maintaining a clutter-free inbox. It’s a crucial defense against cyber threats that could lead to significant financial loss or irreparable damage to a company’s reputation.

Got a question? We can answer it. Click here to get in touch. 

Looking to improve your business’ cyber security?

Here are some of our most trusted tools and suppliers that we use to protect and safeguard our clients against online threats.

Cybersmart Comprehensive cyber security solution with monitoring, training, insurance, and continuous compliance.

Heimdal Security Advanced threat protection for endpoints, networks, cloud, emails, and identities.

Hornetsecurity Specialized Microsoft 365 security for email protection and compliance.

Vade AI-powered email security against phishing, malware, and ransomware.

KnowBe4 Human risk management with security awareness training, anti-phishing, and real-time coaching.

Keeper AI-enabled platform for password management, secure connections, and data breach prevention.

Webroot Device and network protection against malware, phishing, ransomware, and more, with cloud-based intelligence.