Security Teams Lack Confidence in Slack and Teams Threat Detection

Half of all cybersecurity leaders admit they lack confidence in detecting threats across Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other non-email collaboration platforms, even as attackers increasingly target these channels. This gap in visibility leaves organizations vulnerable to a growing attack surface that traditional security tools often overlook.

The finding comes from a recent survey that underscores a troubling disconnect. While most security teams have robust defenses for email-based phishing and malware, the rapid adoption of chat and messaging tools has created a blind spot. Attackers are actively exploiting this, using compromised accounts to spread malicious links, steal credentials, or exfiltrate data through channels that security teams monitor less effectively.

The problem is compounded by the sheer volume of messages and the ephemeral nature of many conversations. Unlike email, where messages are often stored and searchable, Slack and Teams conversations can be deleted or expire, making forensic analysis difficult. Many organizations also lack integrated security tools that can parse the unique data formats and permissions of these platforms.

Experts warn that the situation will only worsen as remote and hybrid work models cement the role of collaboration tools in daily operations. Without dedicated threat detection for these channels, companies risk missing early indicators of a breach. Improving visibility into non-email platforms, through better logging, user behavior analytics, and cross-platform monitoring, is now a critical priority for security teams aiming to stay ahead of adversaries.