Email may be integral to an organization's day-to-day operations, but it is also becoming one of the primary sources of data leakage, according to a recent Ponemon Institute report.
In a survey of 830 information technology, security, and compliance experts, more than 50 percent said improper email use among employees is the main source of data leaks within the organization.
Roughly seven in 10 respondents said employees have breached security policies and frequently send sensitive data through insecure email channels, and 60 percent use personal email accounts to send organizational data, the survey found.
About 63 percent believe workers mistakenly send confidential information to recipients outside the office.
Additionally, 70 percent of the compliance and security experts surveyed are worried about data lost via email on mobile devices.
Email is "such a significant tool that employees are inclined to circumvent policy and email sensitive information, so they can effectively perform their responsibilities in a timely manner," says Ponemon Institute chairman Larry Ponemon.
Considering the volume of data stored on mail servers, a data breach could result in the theft of highly sensitive information.
Worry also surrounds mobile devices, as employees are increasingly checking email while outside of the office.