Network Security
Why Email Security Alone Can’t Stop Modern Attacks
Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) and anti-phishing tools prevent many malicious messages, but attackers can still exploit compromised accounts and social engineering to operate inside your organization. Vectra AI works alongside your email security investment, adding real-time behavioral analytics to detect post-compromise email threats across cloud, SaaS, and identity layers.
The Email Security Gap
Email security is essential for filtering out phishing, malware attachments, and spam, but it doesn’t monitor what happens after an attacker gains a foothold. To detect account takeovers, internal phishing, and BEC tactics that bypass your SEG, you need continuous AI-driven detection across email, cloud, and identity environments.
How Attackers Evade Email Security
1. Account takeover (ATO)
Attackers steal credentials through phishing or dark web leaks and use legitimate accounts to send fraudulent emails.
2. Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Threat actors impersonate executives or vendors, tricking employees into sending payments or sensitive data.
3. Lateral Phishing & Internal Threats
Once inside, attackers send phishing emails from trusted accounts, bypassing traditional email security.
The Real-World Consequences of Email Security Blind Spots
In the Scattered Spider attack below, Email Security plays almost no meaningful role—and that’s the point. These attackers don’t need to drop malware or send suspicious links. They exploit human trust and out-of-band communication channels that your secure email gateway or phishing filters can’t see or stop.
Email Security Blocks Threats—Vectra AI Secures What Comes Next
Email security is vital for stopping inbound threats, yet it doesn’t track what happens when attackers hijack accounts or send internal phishing emails. To catch these post-compromise tactics, you need AI-driven visibility across email, cloud, SaaS, and identity systems.
Email security filters known threats, but:
- What if an attacker uses a legitimate account? Email security trusts authenticated users, even if their accounts are compromised.
- What if the attack spreads inside the organization? Email security focuses on inbound threats but cannot detect internal phishing or lateral movement.
- What if attackers use social engineering? BEC and fraud attacks bypass email filters by using legitimate-looking, text-based emails.
How Vectra AI Fills the Gap
Email security filters threats at the perimeter, but Vectra AI uncovers real adversary behavior—detecting account takeovers, business email compromise, and lateral phishing in real time with high confidence and low false positives.
- Detects Account Takeovers: AI identifies suspicious login activity and abnormal email behaviors.
- Stops Internal Phishing & BEC: Exposes fraudulent emails sent from trusted accounts before damage is done.
- Works with SEG & XDR: Complements email security by monitoring post-compromise threats across cloud, SaaS, and identity layers.
With Vectra AI, you can stop attackers who bypass email security—before they cause real damage.
How Vectra AI Complements Email Security
Email security protects inbound communication, while Vectra AI detects compromised accounts and insider email threats. Here’s how they compare:
Vectra AI doesn’t replace email security, it enhances it by detecting identity-based email threats that traditional filters miss.