With the rise of AI-enhanced phishing, business email compromise (BEC), and AI-powered email attacks, organizations must modernize their defenses. Traditional email security, like basic spam filters and legacy scanners, no longer adequately protect against sophisticated threats. CIOs, CISOs, and CTOs must ask: what does next-generation email security look like? How can we effectively thwart these advanced attacks?
Gartner’s recent analysis of email security platforms reveals vendors are adapting quickly. They now offer advanced protection against spear phishing, vendor email compromise (VEC), QR code phishing (“quishing”), and account takeover attempts. Here, we outline the core components of a robust email security strategy for today’s threat landscape.
Modern Email Security Against AI-Powered Email Attacks
AI/ML-Powered Threat Detection
Attackers leverage AI to enhance their attacks. To counter them, defenders must also use AI-driven solutions. Modern email security platforms use machine learning models to spot subtle phishing indicators, including AI-generated content.
These systems analyze email headers, writing style, and context. They compare these details against established behavioral baselines. For instance, an email to the CFO containing unusual language or requesting large transactions triggers immediate flags.
Behavioral analysis is critical, as it defines what “normal” email activity looks like per user role. Suppose an employee from accounting suddenly emails numerous external recipients, or a CEO’s account sends emails at odd hours from unfamiliar IP addresses. These are clear signs of compromise.
Another powerful AI-driven feature is impersonation protection. The system identifies display names matching company executives but originating externally. It also detects lookalike domains, such as “@yourcorrp.com” instead of “@yourcorp.com.” Such capabilities surpass basic blocklists, effectively recognizing phishing signs humans might miss.
Advanced Link and Attachment Analysis
Phishing often involves malicious links or attachments. Modern gateways employ sandboxing and URL rewriting to combat these threats. Suspicious attachments open in isolated environments to monitor behavior safely.
Similarly, advanced URL protection scans links upon delivery and again at click-time. This approach is critical because attackers sometimes initially send harmless links that become malicious later.
New phishing methods like quishing (QR-code phishing) require specialized detection. Email security solutions use AI-driven computer vision to scan images for embedded QR codes. They then verify the legitimacy of the associated URLs. The goal is to neutralize threats before users can interact with malicious content.
Account Takeover Protection & Internal Monitoring
A robust email security strategy must address internal threats, not just external ones. Attackers often compromise employee accounts through phishing or credential theft. From there, they launch internal or external phishing attacks.
Traditional filters typically treat internal traffic as trusted, creating a blind spot. Next-generation solutions scan internal emails rigorously and monitor account takeover (ATO) activity. If an employee account suddenly sends mass emails or behaves unusually, the system flags this immediately.
Additionally, integrated identity security solutions monitor signs of illicit account access. These signs include impossible travel patterns or irregular mail synchronization. By linking email and identity security (via Single Sign-On and MFA logs), companies gain comprehensive visibility into their security posture. Such integrations are essential in detecting and mitigating BEC attacks originating from legitimate yet compromised accounts.
Integration with Security Operations
Modern email security should integrate seamlessly with broader security operations tools. Platforms like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) enable correlated alerts and automated responses.
For instance, detecting a phishing email could automatically trigger a playbook. The system then deletes emails across mailboxes, blocks malicious domains, and temporarily disables compromised accounts. It simultaneously creates incident response tickets, dramatically reducing response times.
Many vendors now emphasize such integrations. They also offer managed email security services or integrate with Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers. Companies with limited internal resources can leverage these managed options to strengthen their defenses further.
Policy Enforcement and Data Protection
Advanced email security isn’t just about blocking external threats. It also addresses internal policy violations and mistakes. Solutions must include Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and robust email encryption.
Policies can be set to flag emails containing sensitive client records or credit card details. This prevents accidental data leaks or intentional exfiltration by attackers controlling compromised accounts.
Outbound email controls can detect and block reply-chain phishing attempts. While not exclusively designed for BEC attacks, these controls provide critical governance, compliance, and reputation management layers.
Beyond Tech – Strengthening Processes and Authentication Against AI-Powered Email Attacks
Technology alone will not solve BEC, phishing, and AI-powered attacks. Equally important are the processes and authentication measures that surround email use. Companies must cultivate a security-aware culture alongside robust authentication and verification processes.
Enforce Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
One highly effective measure is multifactor authentication (MFA). MFA significantly reduces account takeovers by adding verification layers beyond passwords alone. Ensure MFA is implemented on all systems attackers might target: email, VPNs, finance applications, and file shares.
Attackers increasingly bypass traditional MFA methods through sophisticated phishing pages. Adopt phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA) solutions, such as FIDO2 security keys or advanced cryptographic apps. Executives and administrators, who are frequent targets, should use these stronger authentication methods consistently.
Tighten Email Verification Processes
Many organizations are updating their business processes to defuse BEC scams. This includes requiring out-of-band verification for significant transactions. If Finance receives an email requesting a change to a vendor’s bank account, they must verify it by calling a known contact at the vendor using the phone number on file, not the one provided in the email.
Or if the CEO emails the CFO about an urgent transfer, the CFO is expected to double-check via a phone call or face-to-face conversation. Such policies are a hassle, and they can slightly slow down business, but they are critical safety nets. Document these procedures, and more importantly, ensure that leadership reinforces them. Update processes for user and email authentication related to financial transactions and redirect high-risk communications to more secure channels. For instance, some companies have switched to secure web portals for billing rather than email exchanges, eliminating the opportunity for an attacker to insert themselves via email.
Regular User Education and Phishing Tests
While this was covered extensively in our article on culture, it bears repeating in the context of overall strategy. Your technical defenses will occasionally miss something – a well-crafted phishing email might slip through. In that case, your trained, vigilant employees become the last line of defense. Thus, ongoing security awareness programs are a crucial part of your “email security platform.”
Conduct user awareness training at regular intervals, focusing on BEC threats and the latest tactics. An employee who has recently been trained to be suspicious of emails asking to “rush a payment” is far less likely to be duped by a BEC attempt. Many companies integrate their phishing simulation results into their security KPIs, treating a reduction in click rates as a metric on par with technical indicators.
Incident Response Preparedness for AI-Powered Email Attacks
Ensure you have a clear incident response plan for AI-powered email attacks. If an employee clicks a phishing email that contains malware, do they know whom to contact? Suppose a BEC incident is suspected (e.g., an employee realizes after the fact that the “CEO email” was fake and they sent money). Is there a defined procedure for attempting to recover funds and notifying leadership?
The plan should include steps like isolating compromised accounts, contacting banks and the authorities immediately (the FBI IC3 recommends immediate bank notification and an IC3 report for any fraudulent transfer to maximize chances of fund recovery), and alerting your incident response team. Running periodic tabletop exercises for a BEC scenario can be very useful – include the finance team in these drills, as they are key players in such incidents. It’s worth highlighting here as part of the holistic strategy: a fast, practiced response can turn a potential $500,000 loss into a $50,000 loss (or even $0, if funds are frozen in time).
Continual Assessment and Improvement of Your AI-Powered Email Attack Security
Treat email security as a living program. Regularly assess its effectiveness. This is done through red-team exercises (hiring ethical hackers to test your phishing defenses), or through metrics like how many phishing attempts were blocked vs. how many made it to inboxes, how many were reported by users, etc.
Keep an eye on threat intelligence: know what new scams are targeting your industry and verify that your controls would catch or mitigate them. The email threat landscape in 2025 will likely be different in 2026, so plan for periodic reviews of your technology and processes. Many organizations find value in annual external audits of their email security posture, which can reveal gaps (maybe DKIM isn’t configured correctly on one of your email domains, leaving an opening for spoofing).
Next-generation email security involves layering intelligent defenses that work in tandem: advanced technology, robust processes, and informed personnel. By investing in AI-driven detection, comprehensive account protection, and strict verification protocols, companies can dramatically reduce their vulnerability to phishing, BEC and AI-powered email attacks.
The cost of implementing these measures is far outweighed by the potential losses, not to mention the peace of mind, at stake. As attackers continue to innovate, the organizations that stay vigilant and proactive will be the ones that avoid becoming the following headline.