As recently as 10 years ago, e-mail was just finding its way into everyday use across the corporate world. Today it is one of the most critical elements of any organization's information infrastructure, and when e-mail goes down, the consequences can be severe. For large e-retailers, companies in financial services, government entities and other industries, a prolonged e-mail outage can cripple the ability to do business.

Unfortunately, that fact also makes e-mail a prime target for malicious hackers and electronic vandals. Many of today's most malignant viruses and worms are distributed through e-mail and messaging systems. High-profile attacks can cost companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in downtime and clean-up costs, not to mention possible damage to the company's reputation.

Beyond those obvious threats, the content of e-mails themselves can be dangerous for an organization if the system is used improperly or carelessly. Add to these internal challenges new pressures from the outside — such as new regulations making it imperative for large organizations to safeguard critical information contained in e-mail messages — and it’s clear that there is a strong need for organizations to increase e-mail security.

During this month's Security360 webcast, Corporate Vice President Mike Nash and Director of Product Management Amy Roberts of Microsoft's Security Technology Unit will gather with security experts to discuss how organizations today must use a combination of software, services and processes to help protect their e-mail infrastructure, their network environments, and ultimately, their business.