MetaDesign Solutions
MetaDesign SolutionsEnhancing phishing detection with a seamless outlook integration for a leading cybersecurity platform
Overview
MetaDesign Solutions successfully developed a powerful Outlook add-in for a leading cybersecurity platform. The solution enables seamless phishing email reporting through integration with the platform’s API and Active Directory for user authentication. By supporting desktop versions of Outlook, the add-in empowers employees to quickly identify and report suspicious emails, helping organizations reduce response time to cyber threats.
about the client
The client is a cutting-edge cybersecurity company that focuses on transforming human behavior to mitigate cyber risk. The client’s innovative platform utilizes artificial intelligence to provide personalized and gamified training, ensuring that employees become the first line of defense against cyber threats.
Their solution, trusted by governments, banks, and enterprises worldwide, includes an AI-driven risk assessment tool that tracks employee risk profiles and helps organizations take proactive measures against potential threats. One key feature is their post-delivery email protection, which mitigates risks even after malicious emails reach the inbox. By integrating phishing simulations and real-time learning, the platform continuously adapts to each employee’s progress, helping organizations globally strengthen their defenses.
Industry Domain
Professional Services and Education
Service Category (Service-line)
Outllok Add-in / Office Add-in Development / Digital Product Development
Technologies Used
C#
VSTO Add-in SDK
Microsoft Office SDK
Challenges
Integrating seamless email phishing detection into Outlook while maintaining high security standards.
Ensuring compatibility across different versions of the Outlook desktop application.
Implementing secure and efficient communication between the Outlook add-in and the client’s API for phishing email reporting.
Handling multiple user authentication methods, including integration with Active Directory.
Providing a smooth user experience with minimal disruption to the end users.
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Solution Scope and Services
MetaDesign Solutions developed an Outlook add-in using the Office VSTO Add-in SDK and C# programming language. This plug-in allows users to report suspected phishing emails by directly calling the cybersecurity platform’s API. Once a user reports an email, a copy of it is sent to the client’s server for further analysis and automated incident response.
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To ensure high-security standards, the add-in integrates with Active Directory for user authentication but also supports conventional authentication methods. This flexible authentication solution allowed the platform to cater to a broad range of enterprise environments, providing both security and usability. Additionally, the add-in is fully compatible with desktop versions of Outlook, offering seamless user interaction across different versions of the application.
Streamlined Phishing Reporting Process
The newly developed Outlook add-in empowers users to report phishing emails with a single click. This simplifies the process for employees, allowing them to focus on their core tasks while actively contributing to the organization’s cybersecurity efforts. The integration with the client’s API ensures that all phishing reports are securely and instantly sent for further analysis, reducing the risk of delayed incident responses.
Enhanced Security with Active Directory Integration
The integration with Active Directory ensures that only authenticated users can access the reporting feature, adding a layer of security to the phishing detection process. For organizations that don’t use Active Directory, the add-in supports alternative authentication methods, offering flexibility while maintaining high security.
Leveraging VSTO for Outlook Compatibility
The use of the Office VSTO Add-in SDK ensured that the plug-in was fully compatible with various desktop versions of Microsoft Outlook. This decision allowed the cybersecurity platform to reach a wide base of users across different enterprise environments, offering a consistent and reliable user experience regardless of the version of Outlook in use.
Results
By leveraging MetaDesign Solutions’ technical expertise, the client was able to deliver a secure, responsive, and scalable phishing detection tool for desktop Outlook users. This new capability has significantly improved the cybersecurity platform’s ability to respond quickly to phishing threats, with incident response times reduced to mere seconds. Moreover, the integration with Active Directory and flexible authentication methods enhanced the platform’s appeal to a wide array of enterprise customers.
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The plug-in not only strengthened the platform’s core offering but also ensured that organizations could protect themselves by turning their employees into active participants in identifying and mitigating cyber threats. As a result, the client’s cybersecurity platform has seen broader adoption across industries, further cementing its reputation as a leader in reducing human cyber risks.