In what way do Secure Email Gateways differ from traditional antivirus solutions?

Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) are specifically designed to manage and protect email traffic as it flows in and out of an organization. Their primary function is to inspect, filter, and secure this traffic against a range of threats, including phishing, malware, spam, and other malicious email content. By targeting email traffic, SEGs can apply advanced threat detection techniques that are tailored for identifying and mitigating risks associated specifically with emails.

This focus on email traffic allows SEGs to implement specialized security measures, such as URL filtering, attachment scanning, and content analysis, which may not be part of traditional antivirus solutions that generally protect files on devices rather than the communication medium itself.

In contrast, traditional antivirus solutions tend to focus on endpoint security, monitoring files and applications on devices for known malware and other threats. This distinction is key, as SEGs enhance overall security posture by adding a layer of protection specifically for email communications, an area that often presents unique vulnerabilities.