Hello community
As part of IT security measures, it is crucial to recognize threats such as phishing or targeted attacks at an early stage and to react to them. An effective means of analyzing such incidents is a link tracking mechanism within the mail server. This feature is designed to work in a similar way to Microsoft's SafeLink and makes it possible to track which user clicked on which link and when. This allows targeted countermeasures to be taken to curb security breaches and minimize future risks.
Objective
The main objective of this feature is...
- To enable the traceability of accessed links in emails.
- To ensure a targeted and rapid response to security breaches.
- To enable the feature to be activated or deactivated individually for each domain.
- To take data protection and compliance requirements into account.
Link tracking & redirection
- Each link contained in an e-mail is automatically replaced by a tracking URL when it is received.
- The tracking URL first redirects the user via the mail server before being forwarded to the actual target address.
- During the redirection, the click event is logged with the following data:
- User (e-mail address)
- Date and time of the click
- Original URL
- Client IP address (optional)
- Mail ID (to assign the original email)
Configurability per domain
- Administrators can activate or deactivate link tracking individually for each managed domain.
- The function should be deactivated by default in order to require conscious activation.
Reporting and analysis options
- Domain administrators receive a central overview of all mailboxes and can generate reports on links accessed.
- Each user can see which links they have accessed for their own mailbox.
- Filter and search functions enable targeted analysis of potential threats.
- Real-time alerts can inform administrators when known dangerous links have been clicked on.
Security mechanisms
- Ability to automatically block suspicious or malicious links or warn the user.
- Support for integration with threat intelligence services to detect malicious URLs.
- Protection against circumvention through manipulation of tracking links.
Web interface for administration and reports
- Provision of a web-based dashboard for administrators and end users.
- Implementation of filter and search functions for targeted analysis of link clicks.
Data protection and compliance
- Storage of tracking data with clearly defined retention periods.
- Compliance with data protection regulations such as the GDPR (option to deactivate per domain or individual opt-out for users).
The implementation of a link tracking feature in the mail server offers a significant improvement in the security situation within an organization. It makes it possible to specifically identify security breaches and take appropriate measures. Administrators and end users alike can benefit from flexible configuration per domain and the provision of detailed reports.
I would be interested to hear your opinions and input and look forward to receiving feedback from the community and, of course, the SmarterTool team.
Best regards,
Roger