Email Security Trends 2025: Addressing the Disconnect Between Security and Risk Management

The Zivver Report: Email Security Trends 2025 highlights the critical disconnect between growing email compliance demands and the adoption of effective security measures. Email remains a vital communication tool for organizations worldwide, yet it is increasingly becoming a silent security risk. Based on insights from over 400 IT leaders and 2,000 employees across Europe, the UK, and the US, this report emphasizes the need for urgent action to address vulnerabilities and ensure compliance.

The Disconnect: Perception vs. Reality

Organizations face a widening gap between perceived and actual risks in email usage. While IT leaders prioritize defending against inbound threats like phishing (cited by 47% as their primary concern), outbound email incidents driven by human error cause far more data loss. Errors such as misaddressed emails, incorrect attachments, and CC/BCC misuse result in 66% of IT leaders admitting that outbound breaches lead to more significant data loss than inbound attacks.

Despite the severity of outbound risks, only 39% of IT leaders prioritize data loss prevention measures. This imbalance highlights a misplaced focus that undermines efforts to secure sensitive information and achieve compliance with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and NIS2.

The Compliance Storm Ahead

Email compliance is becoming more complex. New and evolving regulations such as DORA, NIS2, and HIPAA demand secure communication, data protection, and risk management measures. Yet only 52% of employees adhere to security policies, and many IT leaders express concerns about the misalignment of their security investments with actual risks.

Key compliance challenges include:

1. Secure Information Transfer: Protecting sensitive data during transmission with encryption and authentication protocols.
2. Access Control: Limiting access to sensitive data to authorized individuals.
3. Data Leak Prevention: Preventing unintentional disclosures caused by employee errors.
4. Employee Training: Educating employees to understand and adhere to security policies.

Misaligned Priorities and the Role of Automation

Efforts to mitigate email risks often rely heavily on employee training, yet many find traditional methods ineffective. While 64% of employees receive email security training, a third report dissatisfaction with its delivery. Interactive, real-world scenario training could improve engagement, but training alone cannot shoulder the burden of email security.

Automation and AI-powered tools offer promising solutions. IT leaders plan to invest in technologies that simplify compliance, detect outbound risks in real-time, and address advanced threats. These tools empower employees to work securely without overwhelming them with manual processes.

The Silent Killer: Outbound Threats

Outbound email security often takes a backseat to inbound threat management, yet it remains a significant risk vector. In the Netherlands, for example, human errors in email were responsible for 85% of data breaches in 2024. Common mistakes include:

• Sending the wrong attachment (33%).
• Misaddressed emails (32%).
• Improper use of CC/BCC fields (20%).

Stress, tight schedules, and communication overload increase the likelihood of such errors. Rather than relying solely on employee vigilance, organizations must adopt systems that provide real-time alerts for potential mistakes, enabling employees to act before errors occur.

Bridging the Culture Gap

The report reveals a cultural disconnect in how email security is implemented and perceived. Employees frequently bypass policies to save time, with 60% admitting to using workarounds. Additionally, 38% of employees do not fully understand their organization’s email security policies, and confusion rises to 52% among frequent mistake-makers.

To bridge this gap, organizations must:

1. Simplify and clarify security policies.
2. Foster a culture of accountability and openness.
3. Encourage incident reporting without fear of blame.
4. Offer tools that integrate seamlessly into workflows.

Toward a Secure Future

Email security must evolve from being a burden to a strategic asset. By investing in smart, integrated security solutions, organizations can address the twin challenges of compliance and risk mitigation. Key recommendations include:

• Advanced Security Tools: AI-powered platforms to detect phishing and outbound risks.
• User-Friendly Encryption: Easy-to-use encryption to protect sensitive data.
• Real-Time Error Prevention: Alerts for misaddressed emails or risky attachments.
• Continuous Training: Engaging, scenario-based learning to reinforce best practices.

Call to Action for Leaders

Leadership must take decisive action to address these challenges. With only 24% of IT leaders confident in their current security investments, the risks of inaction—ranging from financial penalties to customer trust erosion—are too significant to ignore. Organizations must prioritize:

1. Comprehensive email security audits.
2. Investments in robust encryption and data loss prevention tools.
3. A culture of security awareness and accountability.

By aligning email security practices with emerging threats and compliance requirements, businesses can turn email into a secure and strategic communication tool ready to meet the demands of 2025 and beyond.

Other News: Email Security Insights: Key Trends and Solutions – Report(Opens in a new browser tab)