The Persistence of Email as a Primary Threat Vector, Even with the Rise of Collaboration Tools

In a new study Tackling SaaS Communication and Collaboration Security Challenges: Trends and Strategies for Enterprises, conducted by cybersecurity firm ESG Ironscales, it has been revealed that despite the growing popularity of collaboration tools, email continues to be the primary threat vector for cyberattacks. The findings highlight persistent vulnerabilities in corporate communication and have raised concerns among businesses and individuals alike.

Cybersecurity experts have long warned about the dangers of email phishing, malicious attachments, and social engineering tactics. However, the study's findings emphasize that cybercriminals have adapted to evolving technologies and continue to target individuals through their email accounts. The human element in the communication process remains a weak link that attackers exploit to gain unauthorized access and compromise sensitive information.

Dave Gruber, Principal Analyst, ESG, says- “While most organizations are leveraging six or more tools for communication and collaboration, email tops the list by a wide margin as the channel considered most vulnerable to threat actors; the good news is that organizations are focused on strengthening all communication and collaboration channels collectively, including email.”

The study's implications have extended beyond corporate circles, drawing the attention of governments, technology developers, and the general public. The need for a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity that addresses the persistent vulnerabilities in email communication has become increasingly apparent.

As per a study, in the future many email respondents will continue to count on native security controls offered by their cloud email solution provider; 34% reported that they already enforced the additional third-party security controls to tackle these gaps, with another 46% planning to enforce this in the next year. 

Industry leaders are already taking action. Collaboration tool developers work closely with cybersecurity experts to bolster their platforms' security features and integrate advanced threat detection mechanisms. Governments are considering stricter regulations to ensure organizations prioritize cybersecurity and protect sensitive data.

The study conducted by ESG Ironscales serves as a wake-up call, reminding businesses and individuals that email remains a potent weapon in the hands of cybercriminals. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it is crucial to remain vigilant and adapt security measures to counter emerging threats.

There are more issues and weaknesses in email security than can be covered by conventional security measures. Regulatory compliance, availability/reliability, and backup and recovery issues are more about operations than security. This broadens the scope of possible issues beyond security effectiveness for various communication and cooperation channels. ESG anticipates IT and security professionals will broaden their perspectives on the significance of comparable capabilities as other tools become better understood.

According to ESG, alternative channels must be better recognized and made more obvious to hide their danger. There is room for improvement, even though more people have positive things to say about the visibility, management, and integration of their native email security controls.