What is the difference between inbound and outbound email filtering in an SEG?

Inbound and outbound email filtering serve distinct purposes within a Secure Email Gateway (SEG) system, which is crucial for maintaining organizational security and data integrity. Inbound filtering is primarily focused on protecting the organization from threats that arrive via incoming emails. This includes scanning emails for spam, malware, viruses, and phishing attacks. By thoroughly analyzing incoming messages, the SEG can prevent harmful content from entering the organization's network.

On the other hand, outbound filtering plays a vital role in safeguarding sensitive information that is being sent out from the organization. This includes monitoring outgoing emails to ensure that confidential data, such as personal identifiable information (PII) or intellectual property, does not leave the organization unintentionally or maliciously. Outbound filtering helps enforce compliance with data protection regulations and internal policies by flagging or blocking emails that contain sensitive data being sent to unauthorized recipients.

Understanding this distinction is essential for comprehending how an SEG operates, as it highlights the proactive and reactive measures an organization must take to manage both incoming threats and outbound data security.