Organisations battle with AI-driven phishing threat rise

New research has highlighted the hurdles organisations face in implementing email security measures as AI-driven phishing attacks increase.

Recently published data from EasyDMARC reveals that 93% of organisations plan to enhance their email security in response to the growing threat of artificial intelligence. However, many are still struggling with the technical complexities of implementing DMARC, a well-regarded email authentication protocol.

A survey encompassing over 1,000 IT decision-makers worldwide found that advancements in generative AI have led to heightened concern, with 85% of respondents recognising AI as a burgeoning threat to email security. As phishing methods become more sophisticated, IT leaders struggle to enhance security measures, yet implementation challenges persist.

Despite DMARC adoption rates increasing, the complexity associated with its implementation remains a significant barrier. Approximately 31% of those surveyed cited technical complexity as a primary obstacle, while 27% pointed to a lack of in-house expertise. In response, 43% of organisations seek assistance from managed service providers, consultants, and dedicated email security platforms to address these challenges.

Gerasim Hovhannisyan, CEO & Co-founder of EasyDMARC, remarked on IT leaders' pressures to secure organisational inboxes from AI-powered phishing attacks. He said, "The growing threat of AI-powered phishing attacks has pushed IT leaders to seek solutions that can secure their organisations' inboxes."

"It's crucial that the seemingly technical nature of DMARC implementation doesn't dissuade IT leaders from adopting what is an incredibly effective tool to combat phishing and spoofing. Simplifying this process and offering the right support has been key to ensuring wider adoption and stronger defences."

Awareness of the benefits of advanced email authentication protocols is rising, with nearly two-thirds of surveyed IT decision-makers acknowledging their role in mitigating spam and enhancing security. Specifically, 32% deemed these protocols essential, while an additional 32% recognised their significant contribution alongside other security measures.

Hovhannisyan also emphasised the importance of educating businesses on email authentication tools. "The tools to help facilitate a frictionless journey to more secure inboxes exist," he noted. "Beyond growing awareness of email authentication measures, the important next step is educating businesses on how to best use them. This includes setting stricter policies that automatically block suspicious emails, preventing any identified spoofed messages from reaching inboxes."

The study, conducted between 24th January 2025 and 27th January 2025, surveyed 1,053 IT decision-makers and security professionals from North America, the UK, ANZ, and BENELUX regions.