While working in an office, email security is critical. Every message you send or receive goes through your company's network, no matter what email client you use (Microsoft Outlook, for example). So, can the company firewall catch you if you Bcc your email in Outlook?
In reality, the firewall does not know which email address you place in Bcc or Cc. This article will discuss how firewalls work, what they can find, and how they handle BCC emails.
Can a Firewall Detect BCC in Emails?
A basic firewall won't know or care about the exact email features you're using, like BCC. With firewalls, you can see how network activity and security are connected. They keep an eye on the email flow to make sure it is legitimate and not harmful. They don't care as much about how the email is formatted or whether you use CC, BCC, or any other Outlook tool.
Even though a router doesn't find BCC addresses independently, other security tools on the company network might. Many businesses use software to monitor emails, stop data loss, or screen emails so they can look at the content more closely. You can set these tools up to mark or keep an eye on emails sent to certain people, especially if they contain private information.
What Does a Firewall Do?
A firewall is a network security device that checks and manages all incoming and outgoing data based on established rules. Simply put, think of it as a guard for the network at your company.
Firewalls are meant to stop harmful traffic, stop people from getting in without permission, and protect private data. Every business uses a firewall to protect its network. These firewalls can be set up to watch many things, like email data.
Some firewalls control how data moves on internal or external networks, while others control how data moves across the internet. They aren't interested in what's in your email, like who you're emailing or what tools you use, like BCC. They can, however, be a part of a bigger security system that can watch things in more detail.
How Does Bcc In Email Work?
When you send an email with BCC recipients, the email server sends it to all the names, not just the ones in the BCC field. People in the "To" or "CC" box will not see the BCC addresses. However, that does not mean no one can see the BCC list.
BCCed people can't see who they were copied on, but your email server and any security software that watches that server can. When you send an email, email servers keep a record of it. These records usually include all recipients, even those in the "BCC" line. This means that your company's IT or security team might be able to see the complete list of receivers, even those who were BCC'd.
Why Does BCC Isn't Completely Private?
You should consider whether using BCC gives you complete privacy in your company's network. BCC might keep people directly receiving your email from seeing each other's addresses, but it doesn't keep your company's IT tools from seeing the information. Whether you use BCC or not, every email leaves a digital trail that the right people can see.
If your company has sophisticated tools for keeping an eye on emails, BCC emails may be looked at like any other email. This is especially true if your company has firm rules about email security. For example, emails with many BCC addresses may be marked or blocked to stop data leaks.
How To Use Email Securely In a Corporate Environment?
- Follow Company rules: Always know your company's email and data rules. If you send private information without permission, even if it's not via BCC, bad things can happen.
- Tracking: Know that your company can still see the information you send, even if BCC hides the receivers from each other. When you use a company's email system, you should always assume that your emails are being read.
- Do not use company email for personal things: Do not use your company email account to send private or individual emails. Avoid using work email and instead use a personal email service. This will keep your contact away from tools used to spy on you.
- Encrypt Sensitive Emails: If you need to send private data, you might want to think about encrypting it. This ensures that the email's information is safe, even if it is read by someone else.
Can managers see Bcc in Outlook?
When you open a message in the Sent Items folder in classic Outlook for Windows, where all sent messages are saved by default, only the person who sent the message can see the names of the people who were copied on it.
Is Bcc completely hidden?
When you Cc someone on an email, that person can see all your other Cc members. It's kind of like a written video call. Bcc means "blind carbon copy." It works like the "cc" field in that it sends the same email to everyone, but only the person sending the email can see who sent it.
Can my employer see my Outlook emails?
In general, many companies have written rules that let them check your email. Often, these rules let bosses see everything sent or received on the company computer, even old messages!
Final Thought
Your company's basic firewall might not be able to tell when you use BCC in an email, but other security tools, such as email tracking software and data loss prevention tools, can. Your company's IT team and security systems can still read your email even if you use BCC.
If you care about privacy, always follow your company's email rules, and don't use work accounts for personal things. If you know the limits of email privacy in the workplace, you can use it more safely and appropriately.
