In the rapidly changing digital environment, email remains central to business communication but is increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. The "Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024" notes that a staggering 3 billion phishing emails are sent daily, with email being the primary vector for 96% of phishing attacks. Over the past decade, business email compromise (BEC) has resulted in over $55. 5 billion in losses. Traditional email security methods, primarily reactive and manual, are no longer sufficient. A proactive, AI-driven security strategy is necessary to address these challenges. **The AI Arms Race: Evolving Email Threats** While AI provides numerous business advantages, it also empowers attackers by improving phishing attacks. Generative AI (GenAI) allows for personalized phishing campaigns that engage targets in realistic conversations, increasing risks to sensitive information like personally identifiable information (PII) and financial data. Cybersecurity teams now contend with sophisticated threats, including phishing emails that mimic legitimate communication. To effectively combat these threats, comprehensive, AI-based security strategies are essential. **Challenges With Traditional Security Approaches** Organizations face common security challenges that affect their defenses against evolving email threats. To enhance resilience, an AI-first security strategy must entail exposure management, extended detection and response (XDR), security incident and event management (SIEM), and AI across all defense layers. AI can help understand attacker intent and coordinate responses across targeted IT systems. As attackers utilize AI tactics, organizations need integrated, continuous learning systems to quickly adapt and minimize the risks associated with mismanaged alerts. **Developing Your AI-Driven Security Approach** To prepare for the shifting email threat landscape, consider the following key strategies: 1. **Preventative Security**: Shift from a reactive to a preventative security model.

A robust security posture, supported by XDR signals and exposure management, helps identify potential attacker movements within your organization. 2. **A Unified Platform**: Combine data from all potential attack vectors for a holistic response. Since attacks often spread laterally from email, a cohesive strategy integrating exposure management, XDR, and SIEM is essential. 3. **AI at Every Layer of Defense**: Implement AI and advanced machine learning across all phases of an attack, beginning with email security. Large language models (LLMs) can analyze email context to discern attacker intent and prevent malicious emails from reaching inboxes. At the XDR level, AI can facilitate rapid responses to sophisticated BEC attacks by automating workflows and easing investigators' workloads. By incorporating these three elements, organizations can better align with evolving attacker strategies. Integrating security solutions is vital to effectively addressing threats and protecting critical communication channels. **About the Author** Ramya Chitrakar is a corporate vice president at Microsoft, overseeing product engineering for advanced security innovations and AI-driven protection across Microsoft cloud platforms. She has significant experience in product leadership, including Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, Defender for Office 365, and Defender for Identity. Ramya holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois, Chicago.