Emails are security risk for advisers

The survey reveals that 94% of respondents currently use email to send personal, sensitive and confidential data, and while 84% believe that it is unacceptably risky to do so, 87% say they don’t have a secure email system in place.

As part of the telephone survey, Origo asked participants what has prevented them from implementing a secure email system to date. 58% of respondents said they were waiting for an industry standard solution, and many also considered secure email to be too complex and/or expensive. 90% of those surveyed confirmed that if an industry service provider offered them a free secure email service they would consider using it, with almost half of respondents saying they would “definitely" do so.

Mark Seall, group IT and transition manager for AWD, took part in the survey and said: “It is essential for us to get data to product providers in the best format but I do have security concerns around using email, especially with everything you hear in the press about information going missing or getting into the wrong hands. An industry standard solution is a great idea.”