The email client is another threat to the security of a business’s mail system. It is here that often the greatest threat to the businesses is found. With the increased viability of email access via the internet, another level of process and control needs to be addressed. Although secure when implemented properly the potential for people to illegally access this information is much higher. Consequently, organisations must focus their attentions to not only addressing the immediate security threats of the standard mail client from viruses and the like, they also need to invest in strategies for the control of access to mail data via the internet.


Of this ever expanding email market Radicati reports that Microsoft’s Exchange server currently commands a 33% market share of the in-house messaging software market. This is up from 31% in 2003 and expected to reach 39% by 2009. With the release of Microsoft’s Exchange 2003 we have now seen a more secure and manageable mail system. However, creating any secure email environment that can be managed efficiently and proactively requires a solution that addresses all of the issues, without exception. As with Exchange, this will usually involve the use of third party add-ons. Only then can a business be confident in its knowledge that the security of its email system is not being compromised.