Email remains one of the weakest links in an organization's cybersecurity defense. According to a 2024 whitepaper by Osterman Research, organizations experience an average of 5.7 successful phishing incidents and 5.6 account compromises per 1,000 employees annually. Even more concerning, 48% of organizations lack confidence in their current email security protections, while only 34.4% are fully compliant with applicable regulations.
For healthcare organizations, email security breaches can have devastating consequences beyond data loss. As the report notes, successful attacks can affect "actions in the physical world, not merely data," potentially impacting patient care and safety. With email serving as the primary attack vector for 75% of all cybersecurity threats, healthcare organizations must address common security mistakes to protect both patient data and operational integrity.
"Corporate emails, targeted through phishing and weaponized malware, are the main entry point for most breaches," notes Art Ocain, vice president of service delivery at cybersecurity company Airiam, in a Forbes interview.
According to Osterman Research, more than half of organizations operate under the flawed assumption that messages and files are safe by default. For healthcare organizations, this dangerous assumption leaves them vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that bypass traditional security measures.
Implement a "malicious by default" approach to email security. Paubox Email Suite Plus automatically encrypts all outbound emails and includes inbound security that examines every email before it reaches users' inboxes.
The research reveals that 77.6% of organizations recognize they need better email security technologies, with this being the top-rated issue hindering effective protection. Healthcare organizations often rely on outdated security measures that fail to address modern threats.
Implement advanced security capabilities that preclude threats by design. Paubox provides:
The Osterman report reveals that despite cybersecurity awareness training, over a quarter of organizations still experience successful email attacks. Training, while necessary, isn't sufficient as a standalone defense against sophisticated threats targeting healthcare data.
Combine training with advanced technical controls. Paubox Email Suite Plus provides comprehensive protection against sophisticated email threats while maintaining HIPAA compliance. Its seamless integration means staff can focus on patient care rather than complex security procedures.
Only 34.4% of organizations believe they are fully compliant with applicable regulations. For healthcare organizations subject to HIPAA and other privacy requirements, this compliance gap creates significant legal and operational risks.
Implement comprehensive compliance protocols. Paubox helps ensure HIPAA compliance through:
The report indicates that organizations aspire to achieve five times higher confidence in their email security protections within 12 months. To achieve this, healthcare organizations should:
Learn more: Top 12 HIPAA compliant email services
Unlike traditional solutions that rely solely on threat detection, Paubox employs multiple security layers including ExecProtect, DomainAge verification, and real-time link scanning to prevent threats before they reach users' inboxes.
Paubox is specifically designed for healthcare, offering HIPAA compliance, seamless integration with existing email systems, and security features that don't interfere with clinical workflows. It includes a signed BAA and maintains the highest level of email security while remaining user-friendly.
Paubox can be implemented within 15 minutes with minimal disruption to your operations. The solution works with your existing email provider and requires no change in how staff send or receive emails.