If you’re still sending confidential contracts or financial reports via email, you’re not alone—but you’re also taking a major risk. In German business circles, the phrase “sensibler Daten per E-Mail” (sensitive data via email) is often used to describe one of the most common yet dangerous practices in corporate communications.
Despite being a business staple, email is notoriously vulnerable to interception, misdelivery, and phishing. This is especially concerning for industries such as finance, law, healthcare, and technology, where data breaches can lead to regulatory fines, lost clients, and damaged reputations.
In this article, we’ll examine why email is no longer suitable for handling sensibler Daten per E-Mail, what threats your organization might be exposed to, and which secure alternatives should replace risky habits. You’ll also learn how to assess your current workflows and take immediate steps toward more robust data protection.
Why Email Fails at Protecting Sensitive Data
What makes email inherently insecure?
While email may feel private, it’s fundamentally an open communication protocol. Unless additional encryption tools are applied, your messages can be intercepted or altered during transmission. Even when encryption is used, human error—such as sending to the wrong recipient—remains a major threat.
-
Emails can be easily forwarded to unauthorized third parties.
-
Attachments are frequently downloaded and saved on unsecured devices.
-
Misconfigured servers and weak passwords expose inboxes to breaches.
A 2023 report from the ENISA Threat Landscape noted that email phishing and business email compromise (BEC) attacks are responsible for over 60% of successful data breaches in the EU.
What Are the Risks of Sending Sensibler Daten per E-Mail?
Real-world consequences you can’t ignore
Handling sensibler Daten per E-Mail—such as client information, legal contracts, employee records, or financial spreadsheets—carries significant risks if done without the right security measures.
Here are key exposure points:
-
Unauthorized forwarding or copying
-
Accidental recipients due to autofill errors
-
Lack of control once the email is sent
-
No audit trail to prove access or changes
-
Vulnerability to phishing, spoofing, and malware
According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, approximately 82% of data breaches involve some form of human error, including misdirected emails and misconfigured systems
What Types of Sensitive Data Are Commonly Mishandled via Email?
Know what you’re risking
The phrase sensibler Daten per E-Mail applies to a wide range of sensitive business information that should never be transmitted via unsecured channels.
Common examples include:
-
Customer records and payment details
-
Internal HR or payroll documents
-
Legal documents and NDAs
-
Intellectual property and trade secrets
-
M&A documents or board reports
Better Alternatives to Email for Sharing Sensitive Data
What secure tools should your business be using?
Modern businesses have multiple options for replacing email when dealing with sensitive data:
1. Virtual Data Rooms (VDRs)
Purpose-built for secure document sharing during deals, audits, or legal reviews.
2. Secure File Transfer Protocols (SFTP)
Enables encrypted file transfers with granular permission settings.
3. End-to-End Encrypted Messaging Platforms
Tools like Signal or ProtonMail ensure messages are readable only by intended parties.
4. Enterprise Collaboration Suites with DLP
Solutions like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace with integrated Data Loss Prevention (DLP).
What should a secure solution offer?
When evaluating alternatives to handling sensibler Daten per E-Mail, look for platforms that include:
-
Role-based access control
-
End-to-end encryption
-
Watermarking and read-only document modes
-
Detailed access logs and audit trails
-
GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001 compliance certifications
5-Step Checklist: Is Your Business Email Secure Enough?
Use this quick audit to evaluate whether your email practices are exposing sensitive data:
-
Do you use encrypted email by default?
-
Can users forward sensitive emails freely?
-
Are documents password-protected before sending?
-
Do you maintain logs of who accessed each attachment?
-
Have employees received recent phishing awareness training?
If you answered “No” to any of the above, it’s time to reassess your communication tools.
Final Thoughts: Email Is Convenient—but Convenience Is Not Security
While email may seem like the fastest way to share information, it’s also one of the easiest ways to compromise it. Businesses dealing with sensibler Daten per E-Mail must evolve their practices to meet the demands of today’s security landscape.
Switching to secure platforms doesn’t just reduce risk—it enhances compliance, builds client trust, and protects your company’s most valuable digital assets. In a world where a single email can lead to a million-euro mistake, it pays to choose smarter tools.
FAQs: What People Ask About Sending Sensibler Daten per E-Mail
Isn’t email encryption enough?
Basic encryption helps, but it doesn’t protect against accidental forwarding, misdelivery, or unauthorized access after download. You also lose auditability.
Are file-sharing links safer?
Only if they’re time-limited, access-controlled, and protected with strong authentication. Otherwise, they can be just as risky.
What’s the best solution for teams handling legal or financial data?
Virtual Data Rooms (VDRs) are ideal for high-security, multi-party collaboration involving sensibler Daten per E-Mail.