The Email Security Breach Report 2025

Key findings about the experience and impact of email security breaches on organizations worldwide 

Based on a global survey of senior security decision-makers conducted by independent market research firm Vanson Bourne, this report helps businesses understand the risks of email-based security threats highlights areas of specific vulnerability and identifies strategies and solutions for a holistic approach to email security.
pie chart showing 78 percent
78%
of organizations experienced an email security breach in the previous 12 months
pie charts showing 50 percent
50%
detected the breach within an hour
pie chart showing 71 percent
71%
of organizations that experienced an email security breach were also hit with ransomware during the year
pie chart showing 47 percent
47%
say advanced evasion techniques are the main obstacle to rapid incident response 

An email security breach harms business growth

According to the organizations surveyed, the most common consequence of an email security breach is brand and reputational damage (cited by 41% of respondents). This is followed by operational impact, including downtime and business disruption (affecting 38%), and reduced employee productivity (36%). Over a third (36%) lost sensitive data, and around a quarter lost new business (27%) and customers (25%).

Chart showing the main obstacles preventing rapid threat detection and incident response

Responding to breaches is hampered by attack complexity, human factors and lack of automation

Responding quickly and effectively to an email security breach is not always easy, and the survey highlights obstacles that can get in the way. The most cited obstacles paint a clear picture of the evolving complexity of email threats and the internal challenges organizations face in responding to them effectively once the attackers have broken through. 

Chart showing the impact of email security breaches