Why Email Attacks Are Getting Smarter - and How to Stay Ahead
In the ever-evolving world of cyber threats, email remains the front door to your business.
And attackers...?
They’re no longer brute-forcing their way in - they’re walking through with charm, confidence, and perfect spelling.
Gone are the days of obvious scams. Today’s phishing attacks are subtle, targeted, and alarmingly effective - not because they’re technically complex, but because they’re psychologically clever.
Why Inbound Email Threats Keep Winning
Most attackers don’t break in - they log in. And increasingly, they do it by phishing your people, not hacking your firewall.
Modern email threats often:
Don’t contain malware or suspicious links
Use language and tone that mimic real contacts
Exploit urgency, trust, or curiosity
These are social engineering attacks - and they’re designed to bypass filters and fool humans.
Human Error Is Inevitable - But It Doesn’t Have to Be Fatal
Security teams are quick to warn about the “human factor.” But let’s be clear: this isn’t about blame - it’s about support.
Because how can someone spot the trick… if they’ve never been shown the magician’s hand?
If your people aren’t regularly trained on how to identify real-world threats, you’re expecting them to pass a test they’ve never been taught to prepare for.
Real security awareness means:
Ongoing training, not annual tick-box courses
Simulations that reflect actual tactics attackers use
Feedback loops to build instinct over time
Your users are your last line of defence - but only if you invest in them.
Enter ICES – The Email Layer That Gets It
If Secure Email Gateways were built to stop malware, Integrated Cloud Email Security (ICES) was built to stop manipulation.
What is ICES?
ICES solutions plug into Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace via API (no rerouting needed) and analyse behaviour - not just content.
They look at:
Relationships
Conversation history
Tone and timing
Anomalous activity
In other words, they understand context, which is critical when there’s no malware to scan.
Why It Matters
Attackers are outsmarting static rule sets and signature-based detection. But ICES uses behavioural models and AI to detect what legacy tools miss - like impersonation, business email compromise, and supplier fraud.
What Gartner Says
Gartner’s Market Guide to Email Security calls out ICES as a strategic must-have, highlighting its importance in a world where “credential phishing and social engineering remain the top threats to cloud email users.”
By 2025, they predict 20% of anti-phishing solutions will be API-integrated - and many organisations are already dropping SEGs in favour of this smarter, more dynamic approach.
Survival Requires Layers – Not Luck
If phishing is evolving, your defences must too. That means:
Awareness training that changes behaviour ICES protection that learns, adapts, and alerts users in real time Clear, human-focused messaging when threats are detected Simulation campaigns that test and strengthen your frontline
Because in the phishing game, it’s not the biggest company that survives. It’s the one that’s prepared.
Final Thoughts
Email attacks are getting smarter, faster, and more personal. And while you can’t remove risk entirely, you can shift the odds.
You can equip your team with the tools and training to not just survive - but lead.
Want help building a layered email defence strategy?
The Spear Shield Team is here to support with clear guidance, modern tools, and training that actually works.
As CEO and Co-Founder of Spear Shield, Max Harper is focused on building one of the most cyber-secure client communities across Suffolk, East Anglia, and the UK. He works closely with business leaders and IT teams to understand what really drives their organisations – then helps them challenge traditional cybersecurity approaches, rethink their risk strategies, and implement solutions that actually make a difference without impacting user productivity. Max’s goal is to ensure customers can articulate risk confidently, demonstrate value internally, and exceed their cybersecurity goals – with a trusted partner by their side.
Ready to identify, continuously monitor, and Mitigate Human Risk in your organisation?
