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Introduction

In today's digital age, protecting email communication has become more critical than ever as cyber threats evolve in both complexity and frequency. Business of all sized are at constant risk of email-based attacks, which can result in severe and far-reaching consequences if not adequately addressed. To counter these threats and safeguard sensitive information, it is essential to implement robust security measures. This not only ensures the protection of business operations but also maintains the continuity and integrity. 

Email Threat Landscape

Email continues to be a primary entry point for cyber threats, as malicious actors frequently exploit this channel to infiltrate users' systems. These cybercriminals employ a variety of deceptime tactics to extract personal information, which they then use for nefarious purposes such as impersonation, extortion, or redirecting funds into fraudulent accounts. The repercussions of such breaches can be severe, resulting in substantial financial losses, extensive reputational damage, and significant operational disruptions. To mitigate these risks, businesses must adopt advanced email security solutions that provide comprehensive protection against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. 

Key Features of Proofpoint Essentials Advanced+

Proofpoint Essentials Advanced+ emerges as a comprehensive solution designed to shield your business's email communications from an array of cyber threats. This advanced platform offers protection against spam, phishing in its various forms, malicious URLs, and other email-based attacks. 

As the leading global provider of email security and compliance solutions, Proofpoint's fully integrated suite of cloud-based services is designed to safeguard organizations against sophisticated email threats. With a clientele that includes over half of the Fortune 100, the top five global banks, and major retailers, Proofpoint is the premier choice for small and medium-sized businesses seeking robust email protection. 

The key features of Proofpoint Essentials Advanced+ include advanced phishing detection to identify and block malicious emails before they reach your inbox and multi-layered antivirus protection that defends against known and unknown threats. With its dynamic filter rules engine, the platform adapts to emerging threats in real time. Additionally, it ensures email continuity through an emergency inbox, providing access to email even during outages. 

User-friendliness and flexibility are also paramount; the platform offers per-user controls and quarantine access, allowing for granular management of email security. Being cloud-based, there is no need for hardware or software installations, as updates are automatic, and configuration and deployment are simplified. This ensures that your business remains agile and protected without the burden of managing complex security systems. 

Ransomware Protection

Phishing remains a significant threat to businesses, as cybercriminals continuously develop more sophisticated methods to deceive users and infiltrate systems. Proofpoint Essentials Advanced+ offers robust protection against these threats through its advanced MX technology. This technology meticulously scans hundreds of thousands of email attributes to identify and block phishing attempts, including spear-phishing and whale-phishing. By combining reputation and content-based analysis with warning banners, spam email protection, and dynamic classification, Proofpoint provides a comprehensive defence against attacks, ensuring your company's sensitive information remains secure. 

Data Loss Prevention

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a critical concern for businesses, and Proofpoint Essentials Advanced+ offers a suite of tools designed to tackle this issue head-on. Utilizing its robust filter rules engine, the platform ensures that sensitive information is securely handled, preventing unauthorized access and leaks. The inclusion of an emergency inbox, per-user controls, and quarantine access means that businesses can maintain control over their data even in challenging situations. Furthermore, the business package includes an email archive, which provides a secure repository for storing sensitive communications. By blocking access to financial data, GDPR-compliant information, and other confidential details, Proofpoint Essentials Advanced+ helps safeguard your organization's most vital data assets. 

Why Use Proofpoint? 

Proofpoint Essentials offers state-of-the-art technology without the complexities of management or deployment. Users can easily access and manage their accounts simply by logging into the online console. Proofpoint Essentials is specially designed for Office 365 and features Microsoft Exchange journaling functionality along with an emergency inbox. 

Key features of Essentials Advanced+ include: 

• Multilayered Malware Detection using sophisticated virus engines. 
• Data Loss Prevention and Content Filtering through user-centred, policy-driven data loss protection filters and a highly customizable rules engine. 
• Automated Email Encryption for enhanced security of sensitive information. 
• Secure Email Archiving for up to 10 years. 
• Enterprise-grade management with granular policy controls, multi-level logins, domain management, email logs, Azure AD synchronization, per-user controls, and quarantine access. 
• Email Continuity through an emergency inbox. 

These features work together to significantly enhance the security of your email accounts, providing comprehensive protection and identifying potential threats, even if your company already uses O365 or Google. Proofpoint seamlessly integrates with O365, Google Workspace, and on-premises servers, offering a complete security solution. 

Advanced Features of Essentials Advanced+ 

While both Advanced and Advanced+ tiers of Proofpoint Essentials offer robust functionalities, Advanced+ elevates email security to a higher level. This premium tier enhanced protection with advanced sandboxing techniques and machine learning algorithms, which provide a deeper analysis of threats. If offers more detailed and comprehensive reporting and analytics allowing for better insight into potential security issues. 

Advanced+ includes additional security features beyond the standard package, such as improved phishing and impersonation detection. Email continuity and archiving capabilities are extended, ensuring that emails are accessible and secure for longer periods, thus aiding in compliance and disaster recovery efforts. 

Furthermore, compliance tools in Advanced+ are significantly enhanced, providing more rigorous data protection measures to meet regulatory requirements. User and administrator management is also more sophisticated, with advanced options for controlling access and monitoring activities, creating a more secure and manageable email environment. 

Conclusion

The sophisticated features offered by Proofpoint Essentials Advanced+ provide an unparalleled level of email security that is crucial for modern enterprises. By integrating seamlessly with existing platforms such as O365 and Google Workspace, Proofpoint ensures that businesses can enhance their security posture without disrupting their current workflows. The combination of advanced malware detection, robust data loss prevention, automated encryption, and long-term email archiving creates a comprehensive security solution that addresses a wide range of potential threats. Additionally, the enhanced management capabilities and compliance tools offered by Advanced+ make it a standout choice for organizations looking to safeguard their sensitive information and maintain operational continuity. 

Demetris Alexiou, is a member of the sales team at IBSCY. With experience in multiple sectors including but not limited to Sales and IT support, with a deep and diverse background in the IT industry and Business Development experience. Demetris became a member of the team in July 2024.