Email is still the most common way businesses in Bergen County communicate—and the most dangerous. It’s the number one entry point for ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), wire fraud, and account takeovers. The threat landscape isn’t speculative anymore. It’s active, organized, and targeting companies of every size—from local real estate offices to regional healthcare providers which is why there is a growing concern over email security for Bergen County businesses.

Despite this, most email environments are poorly secured. Outdated spam filters, improperly configured Microsoft 365 tenants, and inconsistent policies create openings that attackers know how to exploit. And when a breach occurs, the damage isn’t just financial—it’s reputational, legal, and operational. For Bergen County businesses operating in regulated industries, the cost of mismanaging email security can include regulatory violations, lawsuit exposure, and loss of client trust.

The Anatomy of a Modern Email Attack

In 2024, email threats are no longer just about viruses or phishing links. Attackers are using multi-step techniques that bypass standard filters. Consent phishing, credential harvesting, and social engineering are now commonplace. These tactics are often personalized—crafted after weeks of quiet observation—and nearly indistinguishable from legitimate business correspondence.

One of the fastest-growing threats is business email compromise (BEC), where attackers infiltrate or impersonate company accounts to redirect wire transfers or steal sensitive data. In some cases, no malware is ever used. That makes detection difficult and damages significant.

Bergen County’s Compliance Burden

Many Bergen County companies operate in sectors with strict email-related compliance requirements. That includes:

  • Title and legal firms handling NPI (non-public information) and client records
  • Healthcare providers subject to HIPAA communications security rules
  • Financial and insurance businesses governed by GLBA and SOX regulations

Standard Microsoft 365 settings are rarely sufficient. Encryption, secure message portals, retention policies, and audit logging must be implemented and monitored consistently. And that requires expertise most small IT departments don’t have in-house.

A Better Way Forward: Email+ from Cost+

At Cost+, we take a layered, proactive approach to business email security. Our Email+ service includes protection against evolving threats as well as configuration and compliance support that aligns with industry needs.

Email+ includes:

  • Advanced inbound threat protection for Microsoft 365
  • Encryption services to secure outbound communication
  • Mailbox backup and archiving for compliance and litigation hold
  • Tenant configuration hardening, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC policies
  • Ongoing monitoring, incident response, and training support

Most importantly, our solutions are tailored. We don’t just sell products—we work alongside your team to understand your business, compliance exposure, and operational needs.

Protecting More Than Just Inboxes

Email is the first link in a much longer chain of risk. Once compromised, attackers often pivot laterally—accessing files, shared drives, billing systems, or cloud platforms. That’s why many of our Bergen County clients combine Email+ with:

  • Security+ for full-stack threat detection and response (XDR)
  • Recovery+ for ransomware resilience and continuity
  • Compliance+ to align policies, training, and controls with regulators’ expectations

The Bottom Line

Email security isn’t a technical issue—it’s a business risk. And it’s one that many companies continue to underestimate until something goes wrong. In Bergen County, the stakes are growing as attackers become more sophisticated and regulators increase their scrutiny.

If you’re unsure whether your current setup is secure—or if your Microsoft 365 tenant has been properly configured—we can help. We offer no-obligation reviews of your current environment, including a written assessment and clear action plan.

Schedule your free Email+ review or call us at 800.840.9690.