What is SPAM and why do we get it?

SPAM is the term used for unsolicited emails – in other words, electronic junk mail. It accounts for 45% of all emails sent or 15 billion messages every day.

Your email address is your identity on the internet.  This has been captured by computer hackers who then send you enticing emails for products such as Viagra, Rolex watches, and other cut price deals.  Their usual intention is not to actually sell anything, but to access information about your computer system and/or personal and financial details when you click on the link provided.

Why does receiving Spam cost me money?

Spam is costing businesses globally around $20 billion per year in lost productivity and technology expenses. This is predicted to rise to 50 billion messages and $200 billion in costs by 2007.

At a basic level, every time spam arrives into an inbox, someone has to spend time reading and deleting it.  Multiply this by the number of times this is done each day, and by the number of employees who have to do it, and the manpower hours soon add up.  A company with 20 email users can spend as much as £30,000 per year deleting unwanted email. Also, undeleted spam takes up valuable data space on your email server, forcing you to spend more when it’s full.

On a grander scale, your entire system is exposed to potential sabotage or loss of confidential information.

What is a spam firewall?

A spam firewall is the most efficient and effective way to stop spam. It filters unsolicited emails from your email server before it reaches the network, server and end-user inboxes. 
 

How does it work?

The multi award winning Barracuda Spam Firewall blocks unwanted email by using a multi-layered filtering solution. Some spam firewalls use only a single technology however this is not preferred since spammers find it easier to work around a single technology.

What about viruses?

Virus protection is essential.  Many virus outbreaks will crash email servers, but with virus protection incorporated within the spam firewall, these crashes do not happen.

The Barracuda Spam Firewall uses two different virus check systems as standard.  Both of these are updated hourly with new virus definitions via the Barracuda Energize Update service. This ensures that viruses, which often break out with little or no warning, are blocked without disruption to regular email service.

Virus scanning is available as an optional extra on your email server, and this would incur additional costs if you chose to add such a function.

Who needs a spam firewall?

Any organization operating its own email server, and especially those who do not have an extensive IT staff or who have a very busy IT department.  Barracuda customers range from small/medium businesses, to large enterprises and internet service providers (ISPs).

What are ‘Phishing’ emails?

Phishing emails are sent to trick you into entering your online identity for financial institutions such as banks and building societies. This is achieved by creating an email that looks like it has been sent by a well known organisation and includes their logo and font style to make you think it is a legitimate request. The Barracuda Spam Firewall eliminates these before you even see them.

But I don’t have a problem with spam

You may currently be receiving little or no spam.  However, in the last six months phishing emails have increased by 80% and that figure will continue to rise. It is inevitable that your online identity will be propagated around the internet and your address will appear on the spammers lists.

What about maintenance?

The appliances typically come pre-configured, are easily setup, and can be maintained with little effort.

Unlike software solutions which require corporate IT staff to maintain the operating system manually, a Barracuda Spam Firewall is maintenance free. All security updates, as well as spam and virus definitions, are automatically applied without any IT staff time.

How much does it cost?

Typically, the system can be purchased, installed and fine tuned for £2,999+VAT. This would include the first 12 months of Energize Updates. Multiple years can be purchased in advance to reduce costs. Instant Replacement contracts can also be arranged to cover you against any breakdown in the future. Further pricing information is available here.

When put against the costs savings, it’s a no brainer!

Interested?

Just use our enquiry form and a technical consultant from Media27 will contact you to answer any further questions and to discuss/assess your needs (without obligation). Free 7 day trials are available to put the system through its paces.