Cyber criminals are constantly innovating, and attacks are on the rise: Hornetsecurity’s 2022 Ransomware Report found that 60% of attacks came from phishing attempts.

Cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated spear phishing attacks, a form of phishing that specifically targets certain users. Their main target group is company employees, since that is where most of the money will be made.

And seeing as so many attackers exploit human vulnerabilities to phishing and fraud, Hornetsecurity, a Platinum Award Winner in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Competition,  launched a new next-generation Security Awareness Training, to better equip employees to counter cyber-attacks, building on its international reputation as a cybersecurity leader.

This new training service integrates the human factor into the cybersecurity cycle – bolstering this weaker link in the defense chain.

Hornetsecurity provides protection via its robust email security solutions. However, the company set itself the challenge to offer an even more comprehensive solution that tackled employee awareness, too, to help customers build a ‘human firewall’ as part of a sustainable security culture.

The choice was to build or acquire. Hornetsecurity opted for the latter to benefit from a tried-and-tested specialist solution. After a thorough search, Hornetsecurity acquired IT-Seal in May 2022 and launched Security Awareness Service in October 2022.

Hornetsecurity’s Security Awareness Training is a fully automated, continuous, and easy-to-use service for employees using realistic spear phishing simulations and AI-powered e-training to heighten awareness of cybersecurity threats.

(With advanced AI tools, it has become much easier for cybercriminals to carry out well-crafted social engineering campaigns like spear phishing or business email compromise. While essential, employee training can be a daunting task. But not when it can be done automatically as a continuous and effortless service – And that’s exactly what the Security Awareness Service is. Courtesy of Hornetsecurity and YouTube.)

Key Features of Hornetsecurity Security Awareness Training Include:

• Patented Spear Phishing Engine
• Need-based E-Training with Awareness Engine
• The Employee Security Index (ESI®) – Awareness-Benchmark
• Security Hub provides central access to all learning content.

The Hornetsecurity Security Awareness Training solution is innovative in that it is simple, rather than maintenance-intensive. The Awareness Engine is the technological heart of the Security Awareness product, offering bespoke, needs-based training: each user receives as much training as is necessary.

Its Patented Spear Phishing Engine simulates sophisticated attacks to build knowledge of attacks.

To measure progress, it uses the Employee Security Index (ESI®) as an industry-wide unique benchmark, constantly measuring and comparing the organization’s and employee security behaviour.

Hornetsecurity has always seen education as a key part of cybersecurity, providing ebooks, webinars and reports. The acquisition of IT-Seal in May 2022 further expanded Hornetsecurity’s education capabilities.

Alongside its established email security and backup and recovery solutions, all aspects of the awareness-prevention-detection cycle are now covered.

“With cyber-attacks on the rise, it’s increasingly important for organisations to implement a cybersecurity ecosystem that includes education and robust email security functionality for prevention as well as back up for recovery,“ explains Daniel Hofmann, Hornetsecurity’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Our new offering specifically supports and guards against very human vulnerabilities to phishing and other cyber risks.“

“The Security Awareness Training product adds great value to our portfolio, bringing us closer to our goal of being a one-stop vendor for next-gen security, backup, and compliance for our partners and customers, with a special focus on Microsoft 365.“

“It has already been implemented by global customers, including BMW Group and FC Bayern Munich.“

The Hornetsecurity Security Awareness Training also forms part of the 365 Total Protection family which offers comprehensive protection for Microsoft cloud services – specially developed for Microsoft 365 and seamlessly integrated to provide comprehensive data protection for Microsoft cloud services, including phishing defense.

Easy to set up and extremely intuitive to use ‘out of the box,’ 365 Total Protection simplifies customers’ IT Security management from the very start. Businesses can manage the solution via a convenient central Control Panel.

Ongoing innovations and functionality are regularly introduced – e.g., the addition of the unique QR Code Analyzer and ‘Secure Links’ to its ATP module on 1 Feb 2023.

The QR Code Analyzer is a unique technology that determines whether QR codes link to malicious sites when scanned.

Hornetsecurity’s ‘Secure Links’ functionality runs all email links through a secure analyzer before enabling the recipient to safely open the link. Both new technologies provide businesses and their employees with extra reassurance that their email communications are safe.

Should it be needed, 24/7 expert tech support is provided as part of the package at no extra cost.

(Take a deeper dive into Hornetsecurity’s best-in-class awareness training which follows a marked increase in cybersecurity risks and attacks in 2022. Learn more, courtesy of Hornetsecurity and YouTube.)

Hornetsecurity Security Awareness Training is available as a subscription on a per-user fee; it is easy to scale up as needed: The Business edition provides Spam & Malware Protection, Email Encryption, and Email Signatures & Disclaimers. Enterprise adds: Advanced Threat Protection, Email Archiving, and Email Continuity.

Enterprise Backup further adds backup and restore for M365 user and group mailboxes, Teams Chats, SharePoint document libraries, OneDrive business accounts, and files on Windows-based endpoints.

The Hornetsecurity Security Awareness Training adds personalized, automated training for an all-rounded offering.

Hornetsecurity is a leading global email cloud security and backup provider, which secures companies and organizations of all sizes across the world, with an award-winning product portfolio that covers all important areas of email security, including spam and virus filtering, protection against phishing and ransomware, legally compliant archiving and encryption.

Hornetsecurity also provides email, endpoint, and virtual machine backup, replication, and recovery. Its flagship product is the most extensive cloud security solution for Microsoft 365.

Hornetsecurity Inc is headquartered in Hanover, Germany and operates through its international network of 8,000+ channel partners, MSPs, and its 11 redundant, secured data centers. With more than 400 employees in 12 regional offices, its premium services are used by 50,000+ customers, including Swisscom, Telefónica, KONICA MINOLTA – Also a 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Award Champion, LVM Versicherung, and CLAAS.

To Learn More, please visit www.hornetsecurity.com/en. 

Hornetsecurity Takes Platinum for Best Email Security Solution in 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now entering it’s Eighth Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

Hornetsecurity

Best Email Security Solution

• 365 Total Protection Enterprise Backup

• 68% of companies expect Microsoft 365 to keep them safe from email threats, yet 50% use third-party solutions. There seems to be a disconnect between the expectations that businesses have of Microsoft 365’s email security, and the reality: While 2 out of every 3 expect Microsoft to keep them safe from email threats, half of all respondents resort to third-party solutions to supplement email security, and 82% of all respondents who use third-party email security solutions reported no breaches.

• Companies and organizations worldwide need to protect their data against the ever-evolving slew of cyber-attacks that their employees can fall victim to, the bulk of which are sent by email.

• Therefore, it is critical for them to have a robust cloud security system that provides comprehensive email protection combined with backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity functionality.

(Learn More. Hear from Andy Syrewicze, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft MVP and VMware vExpert, as he takes us through and identifies if the basics are enough to secure your Microsoft 365 email inbox. Courtesy of Hornetsecurity and YouTube.)

• Hornetsecurity meets this need by providing a complete email security, backup, and recovery solution that sets their minds at rest: 365 Total Protection Enterprise Backup.

• *Hornetsecurity is a Returning Competitor in the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program.

In addition, the continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will highlight the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2023 and the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders. #MentorshipMatters

So be on the lookout for exciting upcoming announcements of Speakers, Presenters, Book Signing Opportunities, and Attendees at the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in November of 2023 in New York City!

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

Comprehensive List of Categories Include:

Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?

Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher, at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.

These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.

Enter American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields, with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more who visit our AST website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.

The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony Luncheon Banquet, an exclusive, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City.

The 2022 exclusive sold-out ‘ASTORS’ luncheon featured representatives of law enforcement, public safety, and industry leaders who came together to honor the selfless service of those who stand on the front lines and those who stand beside them – providing the capabilities and technologies to create a safer world for generations to come.

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which came out in force to discuss comprehensive collaborations between private and public sectors that have led to the development of intelligence and technologies which serve to protect our nation.

The keynote address was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane Sabatino, who described the changes to CBP through the tragedy of 9/11 and the relentless commitment to its mission and ongoing investment in the latest technologies and innovations to protect our borders and Homeland.

The resounding theme of the DEAC’s remarks was her pride in the women and men of the CBP and their families who support them.

AST was also joined by Legendary Police Commissioner William Bratton, who spoke about his love for the City of New York, the Profession of law enforcement to which he has dedicated his life, and for which he continues to drive thought leadership and innovation.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Department Kenneth Corey, came out to address Luncheon attendees and shared some of his experiences and the changes in policing he’s witnessed over his more than three decades of service.

FDNY Chief Joseph Jardin honored the men and women of the FDNY, not only those who currently serve but all of those who have selflessly served, with special recognition of those lost on 9/11.

Chief Jardin spoke about the continuing health battle of many following 9/11 with cancer and respiratory disease, yet now knowing the full consequences, would not have made a different decision to respond.

As Chief Jardin noted, mission-driven service is the lifeblood of every firefighter, volunteer, and sworn member, and has been so throughout the history of the Fire Service.

Former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit joined AST to sign complimentary copies of her book, ‘STOP THE KILLING: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis,’ thanks to the generosity of our 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Sponsors. 

The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program was Proudly Sponsored by NEC National Security Systems (NSS), ATI Systems, Automatic Systems of America, guardDog AI, Fortior Solutions, IPVideo Corporation, Rajant Corporation, RX Global, and SIMS Software!

We were pleased to welcome the esteemed New York City Fire Department (FDNY); the New York City Police Department (NYPD); and the NYC Hospital Police,  as well as Executive Management from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and many other DHS agencies, Federal law enforcement agencies, and private/public partnerships such as the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), the 30×30 Initiative, a coalition of professionals advancing the representation of women in policing; and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) (rail safety advocates).

The prestigious Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

In 2022 over 240 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields.

Each year, to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government, and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands at ISC East, the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), and the ASIS NYC Expo.

ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.

Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:

Advanced Detection Technologies, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Cellbusters, CornellCookson, CyberArk  Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, High Rise Escape Systems, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Select Engineering Services LLC, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and West Virginia American Access Control Systems, just to name a few!

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

To learn more, please see the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2022 ‘A Year in Review.’

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition reviews ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.

The 2022 CHAMPIONS serves as your Go-To Source through the year for ‘The Best of 2022 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today – and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – to name a few), the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also features guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders and recognized firms in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

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