Phishing is the most common way for criminals to gain access to company accounts; toolkits are available for criminals to replicate a company’s website complete with logo and logoed e-mail.

Extra layer of security
The basic technology behind e-mail was not designed for the things it is being used for today, Silveira says. To ensure that incoming e-mail is legitimate, retailers can add a layer of security such as a digital certificate or digital identification. “This allows you to exchange secure e-mail,” he says. “More and more businesses are using this type of technology because it is very easy to use and integrates easily with the standard tools we have, such as Microsoft Outlook.”

A digital ID guarantees the origin of the e-mail and the fact that it has not been modified in transit. Encryption of e-mail is also possible with a digital ID so that “eavesdroppers” cannot read the message. VIP also offers a service that monitors all commercial accounts for unusual activity.

The latest offering from VIP is a device that generates a random six-digit number to upgrade authentication of account credentials from the now-antiquated user name and password. This new protection is available in card form, a keychain device and, soon, by mobile phone.