The Importance of Email Security
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2010 in "Security Issues"
Sending information online has never been more dangerous, especially in today’s high tech society and economical situation. The internet is full of hackers and criminals that are looking to make a quick buck on the backs of other individuals. Those who conduct eCommerce, both buyers and sellers, are victimized by these malicious characters on a daily basis.
The primary cause of online bank fraud, identity theft and other criminal occurrences, is the insecure transmittal of data. For this reason there have been security protocols developed that dictate the limitations and procedures associated with sending and receiving important financial data online. Unfortunately, these protocols do not always work, however they do deter about 90% of hackers in most cases.
Email Security
These file transfer protocols usually apply to the checkout process, but many online business owners forget to take the same precautions with their email practices. A lot of sensitive information is sent via email, including addresses, phone numbers, names, and even financial data such as receipts, order confirmation numbers, and other details about confidential transactions. If a third-party were to get a hold of this information, the possibilities in which they could use such data are seemingly limitless. To keep your customers protected you need to make sure your email sending procedures are completely secured in all instances.
Email Encryption
Emails are secured with by using encryption services which scatter the data that is being sent, so that if it were to be intercepted during transmission, it would be useless to the interceptor. Once the information reaches the receiver, it is then decoded into it’s original legible state. The encryption is conducted via the use of mathematical formulas that scramble data automatically and then use a key to reassemble the data once it reaches it’s destination.
The Benefits of Secure Email
Using secure email practices not only protects your customer from real threats, it also gives them the confidence to deal with you even if there are no actual threats being posed. In online business., there are two factors that hold precedence over everything else – convenience and trust. If your customer’s cannot trust you then they will take their business somewhere else. To build trust you will need to employ a variety of security measures, however just employing these measures is not going to give your customers the confidence needed to deal with you on a regular basis. You need to make sure your site visitors know what precautions you are taken, in order for these precautions to have an effect on the end users confidence levels. Thus, making your customers aware of your email security precautions is critical towards the reputability of your online business, regardless of the industry or sub-industry you’re in.
Conclusion
Aside from building trust and confidence., you are also safeguarding the financial assets of you and your customers. Securing all forms of data transfer is absolutely imperative in eCommerce, as one lapse in security could be blamed on your business and result ion the loss of funds, and even loss of the entire business itself. There have been cases where online business owners have been sued for failing to take the proper security precautions. Securing all email transmission is one step towards a safer and more enjoyable eCommerce experience.
