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Menu Home Our Services Artificial Intelligence (AI) Automation Solutions Custom IT Solutions Cybersecurity Managed IT Services (MSP) About Us Blog Contact Us Back to Blog Email and Collaboration Under Siege: The New Frontline of Cybersecurity October 14, 2025 Harmony Email & Collaboration (HEC), formerly Avanan, is a leading API-driven solution from Check Point built to secure email and collaboration platforms against modern cyber threats, with AI powering both detection and rapid response across a global threat intelligence network. Over the last five years, the role of email and document sharing tools like SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive in successful attacks has skyrocketed, driven by the explosive growth of phishing, ransomware, and deepfake campaigns targeting organizations. HEC offers superior advantages over legacy MX-based systems, including deeper internal protection, real-time global updates, and seamless integration making it vital for comprehensive cybersecurity defense. Cybersecurity Growth and Current Statistics Cybercrime costs are projected to reach $10.5 trillion globally in 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015, reflecting massive growth in attack frequency and sophistication. Phishing attacks increased by 150% between 2019 and 2022, with continued growth through 2025, even as general spam volume holds steady. In Q1 2025, 1.2% of all emails globally were malicious, accounting for about 3.4 billion phishing emails sent daily. Business email compromise (BEC) accounted for 12% of all attacks in North America, behind ransomware (30%), making email-based threats one of the main attack vectors for organizations. Data breaches now cost businesses $4.88 million on average, with many stemming from email-borne threats. Impact of AI on the Cybersecurity Landscape AI now powers highly targeted phishing and deepfake campaigns, enabling attackers to personalize and adapt malware in real time to bypass traditional security tools. Security vendors like Check Point leverage AI for threat detection and mitigation, but adversaries increasingly use AI to refine attack techniques and create more evasive assaults. Deepfake detection has become critical; Harmony Email & Collaboration integrates AI models (including deep learning and NLP) to block advanced social engineering and impersonation attacks before they reach users. Attacks Via Email and Collaboration Platforms Over 90% of successful organizations’ attacks in recent years have originated from email and collaboration channels including phishing, ransomware, and malware delivered through links and files shared in platforms like SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive. Traditional Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) relying on MX record rerouting cannot inspect internal emails, which creates a significant blind spot exploited by attackers. Insider threats and compromised accounts often deliver attacks entirely within collaboration suites, going undetected by MX-based systems. API-based systems offer major improvements in detection of internal threats and rapid deployment, while legacy MX systems only scan inbound mail, missing many avenues of attack. API vs MX Record-Based Protection Feature API-Based (HEC/Avanan) Legacy MX Gateway Deployment Direct Connection Fast Setup MX Record Rerouting. More Complex Coverage External and internal emails Only inbound; internal ignored Collaboration App Security SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Slack, etc. Usually limited or additional cost Real-Time Response Global, near-instant threat updates Depending on vendors, slower User Experience No disruption, seamless integration Can Impact mail flow Automation/AI Advanced AI/ML for detection Less adaptive, static rules With API integration, HEC can inspect and respond to threats everywhere in the cloud email and collaboration environment, including internal mail, file shares, and real-time document collaboration. How HEC (Avanan) Updates and Blocks Threats Globally HEC taps into ThreatCloud AI, Check Point’s global intelligence network, which processes two billion security decisions daily and inspects billions of files, URLs, emails, and threat indicators. When HEC detects a new attack, indicators are distributed across the entire platform within seconds enabling almost instantaneous blocks and updating protection for all organizations using the system worldwide. AI models continuously retrain on new attack patterns and user reports, maintaining up-to-date defenses against emerging threats, including zero-day malware and deepfake campaigns. Key Points of Advantage HEC leverages advanced AI and real-time threat intelligence to prevent more than 99.9% of phishing attempts, outperforming legacy solutions and minimizing false positives. Protects not just email, but shared content and collaborative workflows across Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Slack, Google Workspace, and more. Security teams gain visibility, rapid incident investigation, and instant threat response, all while keeping end users productive and safe. The cybersecurity threat landscape has become exponentially more dangerous, fueled by the adoption of AI in attacks and the shift towards email and cloud collaboration platforms as primary targets. Harmony Email & Collaboration (formerly Avanan) empowers organizations to defend against these threats with an API-driven approach, instant global intelligence, and comprehensive cloud app protection making it an essential solution for today’s and tomorrow’s cybersecurity challenges. At 101 IT, we guide businesses to implement solutions like HEC before a crisis occurs, ensuring security, productivity, and peace of mind. The time to act is now; protecting your business email and collaboration platforms today can save you from costly consequences tomorrow. Enjoyed this article? Share it with your network! Get in Touch with Us Ready to elevate your IT? 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