By Oliver Paterson, Director of Product Management, VIPRE Security Group

Most organisations today are Microsoft software houses. Microsoft 365 is the go-to productivity suite, offering comprehensive tools, flexible licensing, and built-in security features. Employees live and breathe in Outlook, and so many different technologies seamlessly integrate with this indispensable communication tool to deliver productivity gains to business professionals.

However, email-borne cyber threats continue to surge. Malware delivered via email is exponentially increasing. .eml attachments, which often get overlooked in phishing emails, are growing. Cybercriminals are resorting to email scams, alongside phishing emails, and with the arrival of generative AI technologies, users are increasingly finding it challenging to spot these “expertly” written, persuasive emails too. 

The reason for this growth in email-led attacks? Cybercriminals are exploiting the ubiquity of Microsoft – and indeed our trust in the software. It is no wonder that today Microsoft is the most spoofed URL.

Microsoft, a software powerhouse, but not an email specialist

Microsoft is undeniably a technology powerhouse, but its primary focus or specialty isn’t email security. Historically centered on infrastructure, operating systems, and cloud services, email security is a small part of its vast ecosystem. For example, while the company offers features like SafeLinks and SafeAttachments to protect against phishing scams, these are often limited to the priciest licenses. As a result, many organisations aren’t able to benefit from the depth of functionality that is needed for robust email protection.

The shortcomings of Microsoft’s security tiers

Microsoft offers a range of security packages for its Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suites, from E1 and E3 to the premium E5. While this tiered approach allows organisations to tailor licenses to employee roles, it also introduces vulnerabilities. Higher-tier subscriptions like E5 provide advanced security, but they’re costly. Lower-tier licenses often lack critical protections against impersonation and zero-day threats—gaps that cybercriminals eagerly exploit.

Furthermore, Microsoft’s user caps (e.g., 300 users on Business Premium) sometimes can lead organisations to make risky compromises in pursuit of cost savings. This mix-and-match strategy can result in blind spots, as lower-tier subscriptions typically lack advanced threat visibility tools, hampering investigation and response times.

Configuration conundrums

The Microsoft security portal, while comprehensive, is also complex. Take Link Protection (aka Microsoft SafeLinks) as an example. This feature needs enabling in multiple locations, and with Microsoft’s routine updates, these settings can be moved, altered, or even disabled by default. Such inadvertent misconfigurations not only pose security risks but also burden IT teams with constant vigilance and reconfiguration.

Static intelligence versus real-time threats

Microsoft’s reliance on third-party security feeds means its threat intelligence is often outdated. The company’s vast and complex platform requires time-consuming updates, and with email security being just one part of its portfolio, critical updates may not always be prioritised. A delay of even a day or two is all a zero-day attack needs to succeed.

A layered approach to email security

So what can organisations do? In an era where a single email can cripple a business, firms need to bolster Microsoft 365’s standard security. By understanding its limitations and layering on specialised protection, organisations can fortify their email defenses, with additional, advanced security capabilities, without breaking the bank. Due to the relentless onslaught of threat actors,  such caution is essential.

Capabilities such as Link Isolation and Sandboxing are vital today to protect against zero-day threats. Link Isolation renders malicious URLs harmless, while Sandboxing automatically isolates suspicious files in a virtual environment for safe analysis. These methods provide real-time monitoring and intelligence, enabling proactive defense.

No matter how advanced technology gets, it alone can’t solve everything. User awareness is key, and “in-the-moment” training trumps the typical periodic sessions for cybersecurity education. When users are immediately informed why an email or attachment was blocked, along with the telltale signs of malice, the lesson is more likely to stick.

Many organisations, and especially the smaller and growing firms, can’t afford top-tier Microsoft licenses for all employees or indeed maintain in-house IT teams to address the gaps in security capabilities. Partnering with third-party security services providers across different aspects of the function is a viable option as no single software or platform can provide all the security techniques and capabilities. This approach is not only more cost-effective but also provides the technological expertise needed for protection in today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape. Reducing reliance on a single security provider is an astute approach to minimising business risk.

By Joman Kwong, Strategic Solutions Manager, Financial Services, at Laserfiche

If the mortgage process wasn’t already complex enough, the current state of the UK economy is adding even more fuel to the fire. First-time buyers are likely to spend over one-third of their pay on mortgage payments. And with advanced technologies becoming increasingly accessible and integrated into consumers’ lives, people have little patience for outdated technology and unnecessarily disjointed processes. In fact, 64% of consumers are now more likely to choose fintechs over traditional banks.

Yet, digital transformation in the mortgage industry remains a challenge. Leaders are likelier to stick with tried-and-trusted processes, particularly when sensitive information is at stake. The mortgage industry is also an archaic one, with loans first offered in the UK around the 12^th century.  But now, 21^st century technology is set to bring this historic industry into the present, making legacy processes and tenuous paperwork a thing of the past.

By utilising the vast array of digital tools on offer, mortgage providers can refresh their systems and processes to provide a better, more streamlined customer experience. Lenders can expedite mortgage processes when every decision is backed by precise data collection and analysis, and systems are in place to organise, access and manage customer information.

Utilising AI to free up time for human employees

Many financial institutions have already started to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their systems and processes to great effect. AI makes it easier than ever before to streamline capturing and classifying data to make content searchable from one centralised, organised place. Employees no longer need to trawl through documents manually but can rely on AI to source documents by using keywords, metadata, annotations, file names and more.

Employees take back valuable time when they are no longer bogged down with manual tasks; for example, filling out and filing documents can now be automated. The result is more time,      headspace, and energy to provide personalised customer service. Tools such as AI-powered chatbots are also becoming increasingly popular as an in-app banking feature, providing customers with 360 support anytime, anywhere. Chatbots can also facilitate more personalised, guided experiences when customers are reviewing forms or searching through websites, ensuring that they feel supported every step of the way.

The role of hyperautomation in breaking down siloes

Many mortgage lenders and financial institutions have already invested in automation but currently utilise single-point solutions that are earmarked for specific tasks. The result can be disjointed end processes, resulting in slower services for end users. Hyperautomation, therefore, can play a fundamental role in improving the total experience within financial institutions. End-to-end solutions make it easy to automate manual tasks and expedite data entry and approval routing. Leaders are no longer hampered by siloed data and unstructured data sets, which can lead to issues such as multiple versions of pieces of digital content with no ability to track them.

Hyperautomation reduces the likelihood of important documentation – such as sales contracts and datasheets – getting lost in the ‘digital noise’. It brings together business processes across different applications and departments to ensure better useability for employees and customers alike.

In the mortgage sector, hyperautomation tools can also make it possible to fill the gaps between mortgage origination and other business applications, expediting underwriting and mortgage review workflows. For example, by deploying a process orchestration engine, a mortgage lender could provide an accessible interface where customers or brokers could easily submit a mortgage application with all the supporting documents. After the first round of interviews, the provider could then route data into the core banking software and loan origination system for processing, eliminating any duplicate or manual data entries. Feeding data directly to the core banking software in this way also provides employees quick and easy access to customers’ personal information, all via one single interface. Hyperautomation will drive improved visibility across every process, speeding up operations and driving better CX as a result.

Streamlined customer experiences stem from connected processes

When customers are looking to obtain a mortgage, they are still faced with many time-consuming manual tasks such as document collection and income verification. Customers understandably become frustrated with disjointed verification processes, where they are asked to input the same security information multiple times. Fragmented processes occur due to a lack of data integration.      Organisations can avoid the risks associated with data being stored in multiple places when every system and process is connected. Connecting every system and process also encourages customer loyalty and satisfaction because applications work efficiently, intuitively and with the click of a button.

So, what does this look like in practice? Mortgage providers can create a ‘single source of truth’ by bringing together loan origination systems with core banking software, so that mortgage specialists can access real-time information without needing to jump between applications. From augmenting credit checks to speeding up underwriting procedures to streamlined review and approval processes, the opportunities for transformation are endless.

Looking towards the future of the mortgage sector

We’ve seen how AI-empowered tools can help customer service representatives quickly retrieve a document or copy of a signature directly from a cloud-based system. As operations within the sector digitally transform, the benefits will be felt by all stakeholders, from employees to customers to shareholders. Process automation tools are already helping innovative financial institutions enhance the customer experience as they integrate unparalleled levels of connectivity into their offerings.

A process as complex as securing a mortgage will never be hurdle-free, but introducing digital tools will help make the journey towards attaining a mortgage significantly smoother. And it’s not just customers that will benefit. A well-equipped workforce that has easy access to systems that organise and manage data can provide a more efficient service, boosting both productivity and customer satisfaction. The time to invest in tools that will help supercharge how you provide your financial offerings is now. The business benefits will be felt for years to come.

by Luke Shipley, CEO and Founder of Zinc

Recent years have seen a significant shift in the recruitment and hiring process, especially with the rise of remote and hybrid employment. We never imagined the term “ghosting,” which refers to stopping communication when dating someone without saying anything, would be used in the workplace. But now, the idea of ghosting has gained significant traction among HR managers who oversee a large volume of applicants.

Either the recruiter or the prospect may experience it. Hiring managers will sometimes ghost applicants in an attempt to hint to them that they are not being considered for the position and to steer clear of potentially awkward discussions. On the other hand, there are several reasons why an applicant could disappear from a hiring manager, including a drawn-out application process, a lacklustre communication exchange, or other personal issues outside the company’s control.

It’s no secret that HR departments throughout the nation are under pressure; according to new ONS statistics, more than half of companies have high recruiting goals for this year, with over 908,000 open positions. Consequently, hiring managers can become fixated on finding applicants to fill new openings, and risk overlooking the application process of those who are already undergoing interviews.

Managing what seems beyond your control

Ghosting a candidate may happen at any point during the hiring process, from the initial email to the acceptance of a job offer. According to a recent Indeed poll, 86% of job searchers in the UK have never showed up for an interview, while 20% of employees claim that companies have not called to schedule a phone interview. Candidates ghost hiring managers for a variety of private motives that are beyond the recruiting manager’s control. In order to guarantee a seamless applicant experience, nurture them throughout the process, and provide the best possible experience, it is ultimately up to the HR staff to take charge of as much of the situation as they can.

According to our Industry Insights Report, recruiting speed is the most important indicator for larger companies. Because of their lack of resources, their recruiting procedures are still excessively sluggish, even if this may result in the possibility of finding competent individuals more quickly. It all boils down to finding the ideal mix between expeditiously recruiting outstanding personnel and ensuring a flawless applicant experience. While getting new applicants in the door quickly is crucial, hiring managers also need to pay close attention to controlling the timeline of the candidate hiring process.

Timing is everything

Imagine yourself going on five interviews with prospective employers right now, putting in endless hours of preparation to wow each hiring manager. This has been interfering with your personal life for more than a month. As you conclude an interview that you feel genuinely confident in, everything is beginning to look positive, and they tell you that you should hear from them shortly. You’ve been waiting for a response from the recruiting manager for weeks. You not only feel let down, but you also begin to distrust the outcome of the interview, which brews doubt in both your head and the organisation.

Hiring managers want to make it clear that they are giving candidates their full attention, and replying quickly can help with ghosting. Nobody wants the candidate to stay for a lengthy period of time waiting for a response, since this produces tension for both sides. To remain competitive, the Indeed Career Guide recommends that job searchers submit 10-15 applications every week. If your prospect is also applying for ten other positions, the issue remains: how can the hiring manager make them feel as special as possible without prolonging the process?

Embrace technology

Most recruiting managers would agree that they are always chasing their tails due to a heavy workload. Background checks are required in all employment processes and are often conducted in the latter stages. It is sometimes time-consuming, taking up hours that might be spent researching fresh prospects or personalising rejection emails. Background checks can also be a significant impediment to a more lengthy, delayed employment procedure. No applicant likes to hear radio silence from their recruiter, as a study performed in the UK by recruiting agency Hays found that just 6% of those polled would be ready to wait more than a week for a response after a final interview.

To maintain a continuous flow of contact between the hiring manager and the applicant, candidate communications must be automated. Whether it’s through sophisticated candidate tracking systems, onboarding, or background checks. By automating the frequently administrative-heavy chores that technology might create, hiring managers free up more time to focus on the job’s human-centric requirements, such as engaging with prospects. This is based on human contact, which may be impossible to replicate with technology.

The length of interview sessions varies by industry, but the last thing a candidate should go through is a prolonged, drawn-out recruiting process, which presents an opportunity to walk away. This not only increases the likelihood of ghosting, but it also has a significant impact on the business’s brand. On the other side, if an application is not picked, they should be treated with the same caution via tailored rejection emails. Data from recruitment software provider, ICIMS, found that more than half of applicants who are not picked do not receive a rejection email or letter, highlighting a weakness in the hiring process.

This is a phase that is sometimes forgotten, but the value of word of mouth should never be underestimated. Taking the effort to design rejection emails is more likely to result in a favourable brand image, with a knock-on impact that attracts more great talent.

It is ultimately up to the employer to provide a great candidate experience from the time an application is sourced until they are either turned down or join the organisation. Reduce the time-consuming tasks that can be automated with modern technology like integrated application tracking systems and background screening software. The hiring manager and applicant must maintain a steady flow of open communication in a timely manner that keeps the candidate interested and prevents ghosting.