A breach for any business, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), can have devastating consequences—not just financially, but also in terms of reputation and trust. Cybercriminals often target SMBs because they perceive them as less likely to have robust security measures in place. In the context of email security, a single compromised account can lead to widespread data leaks, fraudulent transactions, or even the loss of critical business information.
Email is a primary communication tool for most businesses, making it a high-value target for cyberattacks. Phishing emails, business email compromise, and malware are just a few of the methods attackers use to infiltrate systems. For SMBs operating on tight budgets, recovering from such an attack can be particularly challenging, often involving costly downtime, regulatory penalties, and damage control.
In 2023, cybercrime continued to pose a significant global threat, with nearly 17 million reported incidents—a slight decline compared to 2022 but still alarmingly high. This follows a peak in 2021, when cybercrime cases reached a staggering 19.23 million. Among these, phishing scams stood out as the most prevalent form of attack, accounting for almost 9 million incidents. This dominance underscores the growing sophistication of phishing tactics, which trick victims into divulging sensitive information such as login credentials or financial details.
Knowledge is the first step toward a secure future. In the following, we will share useful insights about email security, emphasising phishing attacks as one of the most common cyber threats, along with interesting statistics and solutions to help businesses significantly reduce their vulnerabilities.
Let’s start with the foundations: what exactly is email security, how it can be compromised, and what tactics are most often used by cybercriminals.
Email security encompasses the strategies, tools, and practices designed to protect email accounts and communications from unauthorised access, theft, or malicious attacks. It’s about ensuring that sensitive information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, whether through accidental exposure or deliberate compromise.
At its core, email security involves several key layers:
Despite these measures, email remains a favoured attack vector for cybercriminals because of its accessibility and the trust users often place in their inboxes. From impersonating trusted contacts to embedding malicious links, attackers have countless ways to exploit email.
One of the reasons email remains so vulnerable is the variety of techniques used by attackers to bypass defences. Understanding these methods is key to protecting your business. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular ones:
Phishing is by far the most common and effective method of email compromise. It involves tricking the recipient into providing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details, often by impersonating a legitimate entity like a bank, supplier, or even a colleague. A phishing email might claim there’s an issue with your account, urging you to click a link that leads to a fake login page.
Phishing is successful because it preys on human emotions—fear, urgency, curiosity, or even greed. Imagine receiving an email that says your payment is overdue and your account will be locked unless you act immediately. In the rush to resolve the issue, many people fall victim without verifying the legitimacy of the email.
Unlike generic phishing emails, spear phishing is highly targeted. Cybercriminals research their victims to craft personalised emails that appear genuine. For instance, an attacker might impersonate your CEO, requesting sensitive financial details or urgent transfers of funds. The level of customisation makes spear phishing particularly dangerous, as it can bypass even cautious employees. Often, scammers target new employees who may not yet be as vigilant and are eager to make a good impression. This eagerness to go the extra mile can make them more susceptible to fraudulent requests, especially when the scammer is impersonating a senior leader like the CEO.
Malicious attachments or links are another popular method of email compromise. Clicking on a seemingly harmless file can download malware onto your device, giving attackers control over your system. Ransomware, in particular, has devastating effects, encrypting a company’s data until a ransom is paid.
BEC attacks occur when an attacker gains access to a legitimate business email account, either through phishing or weak passwords. Once inside, they monitor communications, waiting for the perfect moment to strike—perhaps during a financial transaction or a sensitive negotiation. By posing as a trusted contact, the attacker can manipulate recipients into transferring funds or sharing confidential information.
Phishing is successful because it exploits the human element of cyber security. No matter how advanced your technical defences are, human error can render them ineffective. Attackers understand this and design their emails to look convincing and urgent.
There’s also a low barrier to entry for phishing attacks. With readily available templates and tools on the dark web, even inexperienced hackers can launch effective phishing campaigns. Combine this with the increasing sophistication of these attacks—thanks in part to AI—and it’s easy to see why phishing remains a top threat.
According to the UK’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024, half of businesses (50%) and around a third of charities (32%) reported experiencing a cyber security breach or attack in the past year. Among these incidents, phishing was the most common, affecting 84% of businesses and 83% of charities.
Moreover, among organisations that reported experiencing breaches or attacks, phishing emerged as the most disruptive type of cyber threat, according to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024. A significant 61% of businesses and 56% of charities identified phishing attacks as the primary challenge they faced. This highlights how phishing not only remains a prevalent form of attack but also has a profound impact on operations, often leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and disruptions to daily activities.
The increasing sophistication of these attacks underscores the need for organisations to implement robust cyber security measures, including employee training to recognise phishing attempts and the adoption of advanced email filtering technologies.
Artificial intelligence has changed the game for both attackers and defenders. AI-powered tools now allow attackers to craft phishing emails that are polished, convincing, and targeted. Unlike traditional phishing attempts, these AI-generated emails are almost free of obvious red flags, making them harder to spot.
For example, AI can be used to:
A January 2024 survey of adults in the United Kingdom (UK) found that the most common reason for thinking an e-mail sent to them was suspicious, was because of the poorly written content and spelling errors. Secondly, they stated that another way they were able to spot a suspicious e-mail was that they could not recognise the sender.
Looking at the survey results, it’s evident that about a year ago, a significant number of people could identify phishing scams simply by recognising red flags such as poor grammar and unusual phrasing. However, with the rise of AI technology, large language models (LLMs) are now capable of producing highly polished, human-like content. According to Statista, a 2023 survey of IT and cybersecurity professionals found nearly 80% of organisations are concerned about AI-driven cyberattacks, with 70% believing such attacks are inevitable in the near future.
This advancement presents a growing challenge, as the future may see an increase in successful phishing attempts due to the more convincing nature of AI-generated emails.
On the other hand, AI is also strengthening email security. Advanced AI systems can analyse user behaviour, detect anomalies, and flag phishing attempts before they hit the inbox. These tools adapt quickly and block sophisticated attacks that traditional defences often miss. While AI has made phishing more effective, it’s also a critical tool for businesses—helping security teams stay one step ahead in the never-ending battle against cyber threats.
AI-powered tools are revolutionising how businesses protect their email systems. Machine learning algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data to identify patterns and detect anomalies that might indicate phishing or malware. For example:
Summarising the trends and challenges highlighted above, it’s clear that email security must be a top priority for businesses of all sizes in 2025. With the increasing sophistication of threats, particularly phishing emails fuelled by generative AI, knowledge is the first and most crucial step towards defence. That’s why at Labyrinth Technology, we’re kicking off the new year by hosting a dedicated webinar to empower businesses with essential insights on phishing trends, email security, and the role of AI in both attacks and defence. Our goal is to equip you with the insights and strategies needed to make informed decisions and protect your business from threats like phishing emails—still one of the most common and damaging forms of attack.
Over the past year, email security threats have evolved significantly, particularly with the rise of generative AI, which enables attackers to craft highly convincing phishing emails. Traditional email security filters are increasingly falling short, leaving many small businesses vulnerable to compromise. Join our expert speakers, Ben Abbott and Matthew Dunn, as we delve into the email security trends of 2024, make predictions for 2025, and share actionable steps to safeguard your organisation. As a bonus, webinar attendees will receive a FREE email security health check, ensuring your defences are ready for the challenges ahead.
Don’t leave your business vulnerable—take control of your email security today. Register now for our exclusive webinar and gain the knowledge, tools, and expert guidance to protect your organisation in 2025. Secure your spot and claim your FREE email security health check—spaces are limited, so act fast!
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