Email marketing is an influential tool that businesses use to connect, build relationships, capture leads, and generate sales. Stats from 2024 show that there are more than 4.55 million email users, and above 350 billion emails are sent and received daily across the globe.
B2B businesses usually hire a B2B email marketing agency to run email campaigns, and marketing experts use different powerful tools to do so. But this power comes with risks. Cybercriminals remain in search of different ways to hijack emails. Therefore, to protect your important data and business reputation, cybersecurity is critical in B2B communications.
In this article, we’ll discuss cybersecurity in email marketing, types of cyberthreats, and how you can protect your emails. Read on to know more!
What is Cybersecurity in Email Marketing?
When a business emails another business (B2B), it includes different links to documents, private offers, onboarding materials, and more. If these communications fall into the wrong hands, the damage can be serious. That's where cybersecurity comes in.
In email marketing, cybersecurity means protecting your sensitive information, like subscriber data, from cyberattacks. During B2B communication, you can face different threats like phishing, data breaches, malware, and spoofing. These attacks can stop your whole business within a second, but cybersecurity shields you from such attacks.
4 Common Cyberthreats in B2B Email Marketing
Here are common threats in email marketing that a business can face:
1. Phishing Attacks:
In this attack, a fake email lands in your inbox. It looks real and plays tricks with you so that you click on the malicious link or document, or ask to share sensitive information.
2. Spoofing:
Spoofing is a sort of cyberattack in which a hacker sends emails to other businesses using your domain to trick others.
3. Data Breaches:
When your B2B communication or your subscriber list gets exposed or stolen.
4. Malware:
A cyberattack in which hackers use viruses or harmful software hidden in attachments or links to gain control over your email campaigns.
How to Protect Your B2B Communications from Threats
Here are the core cybersecurity steps every B2B marketer or business should keep in mind to keep their email communication safe:
1. Use Email Authentication Protocols
Email authentication protocols are the main pillars of email security. These protocols are like digital ID checks for your emails. Use the SPF (Sender Policy Framework) protocol to verify if the email you receive is being sent from your approved server. The DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) protocol helps add a signature to your email so the recipient can trust it hasn’t been changed. Similarly, the DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) tells email providers what to do with suspicious messages.
2. Choose a Secure Email Marketing Platform
Your email provider plays a big role in your security, and therefore, you should pick a platform that respects your security. A good platform offers built-in encryption (like TLS), supports SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, and complies with laws like GDPR and CCPA. With that, it sends alerts about suspicious activity or login attempts.
3. Train Your Employees
Most cyberattacks are the result of human mistakes. When a person clicks on a link without knowing about it, he's now an easy target for hackers. Therefore, it is necessary to train your employees and teach them about possible business information security risks. This security training helps your team spot phishing emails, use strong passwords, and report strange activity.
3. Avoid Purchased Lists
When you start targeting prospects, always grow your email list organically. Keep in mind that quality always trumps quantity. If you purchase email lists for targeting, they often contain outdated or fake emails that can lead to legal issues. Further, it can lead to blacklisting or spam traps.
4. Double-Check Your Links and Attachments
Another important thing to keep in mind is to double-check or scan all your files and links for malware or phishing risks. Always use secure file-sharing services when you have to attach a sensitive file. Don't attach such files directly to your email, as it is a high security risk.
5. Update Email Marketing Software
To reduce the risks of cyberattacks, make sure to update your email marketing software and plugins on a consistent basis. When you use the latest version of marketing software, you get high security against potential hacking risks and better performance.
6. Do Regular Security Audits
It is important to do security audits of your email campaign after a few months. This helps you check if your SPF/DKIM/DMARC records are working or not. With that, it helps check if there are any suspicious IPs trying to log in or if your data storage is compliant and encrypted or not. If you find any loopholes, cover them to keep your sensitive information safe from cybercriminals.
Ending Note
Email marketing holds great importance, and one small security breach or spam flag can cost you clients, revenue, and your reputation. Therefore, cybersecurity in email marketing is everyone’s responsibility. To stay secure, always use tools like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC and a secure email platform. With that, train your team; don’t buy email lists, and check your links and attachments. Make sure to keep your marketing software updated and do regular security audits. In short, to earn trust and grow with confidence, cybersecurity of your email campaigns isn't an option, but it's a must.
