This is how to convince your boss of email security ROI

As a Data Protection Officer or Chief Information Security Officer, you know better than anyone how important data security is to the organization. Take this broader, and you also know that email security plays a major role in this. However, email security doesn’t always get the right attention. And that’s a pity, because not anticipating the safety risks can have bad consequences.

Read more: Why does management need a secure email solution?

3 Tips to convince your boss that email security is a must

1. Share numbers and facts to show the importance

Seeing is believing. And that certainly applies to limiting safety risks. It is important to be able to show the correct information and figures.

• 74% of cyber security breaches are due to human error, according to Verizon's report.
• There has been an increase of 10% in the data breaches reported in the USA.
• $9.48M is the average total cost of a data breach in the USA. 

By demonstrating these figures, more urgency can be created and the importance of email security is made clear. For example:

• "The majority of data breaches are due to human error. We need an email solution that eliminates the human error."
• 10% was the increase compared to 2020. It is important to act now and be proactive about this growing threat".
• Email security is important to protect the data. We will avoid fines and keep trust."

2. Email security - and the proper processing of sensitive data - can be a business advantage for your organization

If you analyze business data, you will see that the vast majority concerns sensitive information. Not only from your organization, but especially from customers and relations. And no one wants for this kind of information to fall into the wrong hands.

Regulations such as the GDPR, HIPAA or CCPA, oblige organizations to take appropriate technical and organizational measures. Always with the aim of securely processing, storing and sharing data. For some organizations a hassle, while this eventually has benefits for the organization. Those who meet security regulations, indicate that they take data security seriously. And while you do so, it also increases the confidence to do business with you. Those who show that data security has an important role, can count on growing confidence from their customers - something that can give you an advantage over the competitor.

"Email security can become a competitive advantage for our company:

• We are committed to protecting our customers' data and data privacy is our priority; 
• The confidence to do business with us will increase;
• We will maintain and improve our brand's value;
• We are supporting our customers' wishes to respect their privacy rights."

3. The costs of email security don’t outweigh the costs of a data leak

Without any doubt, email security is an investment. Where cyber crime used to be seen as a hobby, it is now serious business. Malicious people are making it increasingly difficult for us nowadays, for example with phishing emails that can’t always be distinguished from the real ones. Or malware that comes with included links, which can cause major problems if your employees click on them these links.

Not investing in email security means that you don't take into account external factors that can ultimately be disastrous for your organization. Unsecure processing can eventually lead to:

• Theft of sensitive data, where identity fraud is often an additional problem
• Reputation damage, due to the loss of trust of your customers
• Loss of profit, lost sales opportunities and disrupted operational activities

However, that’s not all. There are also financial consequences involved. And for some, disastrous. Although a cyber-attack is not always effective and data leaks are not a daily occurrence, the consequences of one successful attack can be determining for the success of your organization. Some of these costs are:

 The amount of these costs depends, among other things, on the size of your organization and the leak. But one thing is certain: the costs of email security do not outweigh the costs of a data breach.

Would you like to know more about data security?