Earlier this month, Hertz Corporation confirmed a data breach that exposed sensitive customer information due to internal mismanagement and poor email practices. While the headlines quickly filled with the usual buzzwords— “cybersecurity,” “firewall,” “unauthorized access”—what really stood out for those of us working closely with corporate email security was something more human.
As much as it was hackers in this recent case, other incidents can be cause by simple human error whereby a person accidently clicks “Send” without double-checking the recipient list.
And if you’ve ever worked in IT or even just sent a sensitive email before your morning coffee, you know how easy it is to make a mistake like that.
This blogpost will briefly discuss the data breach event that happened at Hertz Global and how it can be a serious risk for business. Also, this blogpost will highlight SendGuard as a solution that will help you and your business from avoiding making simple email mistakes.
What Exactly Happened?
Hertz Global Holdings recently found themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. A data breach exposed personal information including names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, and even social security and passport details.
This recent breach? It originated from a third-party vendor, Cleo Communications, whose secure file transfer system was compromised in a cyberattack. In other incidents—another vulnerability in Hertz’s own insurance reporting system allowed public access to private customer accident reports, simply by tweaking a URL.
Imagine that for a second: A simple copy-paste URL swap… and bam—you’re looking at someone else’s crash report.
This wasn’t some masterclass in hacking. It was about small cracks in the system and human error. And that’s exactly where SendGuard comes in.
The Risk
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Breaches like this have real-world consequences:
- Loss of Trust: Customers don’t just get upset—they leave. And they tell others.
- Financial Fallout: Legal fees, government fines, settlements—it adds up fast.
- Disruption: Investigations, patching holes, rebuilding reputation… it’s exhausting and expensive.
- Regulatory Heat: Especially with GDPR and similar frameworks, non-compliance is not an option.
Hertz isn’t the first company to suffer from human error, and unfortunately, they won’t be the last.
Misdirected Emails Is the Silent Risk
Let’s get real. Cybersecurity isn’t just about fending off external threats—it’s also about managing the risks inside your own walls. According to the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, over 58% of all data breaches involve human error—and misdirected emails are one of the biggest culprits.
This is where SendGuard steps in. More than just an Outlook add-on, it’s like a seatbelt for your outbound email. It doesn’t slow you down—it just makes sure you’re safe before you hit “Send.”
How SendGuard Could’ve Helped Hertz (And Can Help You)
One of the most powerful features of SendGuard is SendConfirm. These simple, intuitive tool prompts users to confirm their recipients before an email leaves the outbox. It’s a gentle nudge that forces you to pause and double-check:
- “Is this the right John?”
- “Should the client really be copied in?”
- “Am I about to attach sensitive files to the wrong email chain?”
That few-second delay can mean the difference between business as usual and a full-scale PR crisis.
A Quick Look at SendGuard’s Features
Let’s break down what makes SendGuard such a powerful ally for IT teams and businesses of all sizes:
- SendConfirm
Gives users a customizable confirmation screen before sending. Prevents emails from going to the wrong person or leaking sensitive info. - DelayGuard
Automatically delays emails from being sent for a specified time, giving users a grace period to make last-minute edits or corrections. - ReplyGuard
Protects sensitive threads by warning users when replying to all or forwarding emails with confidential content.
Human Error Is Inevitable. SendGuard Isn’t.
The truth is, no matter how many training sessions you run or how many policies you write, people are going to make mistakes. They’re going to send emails when they’re tired, distracted, or in a rush. That’s life.
But you can give them a safety net. One that quietly, reliably, and consistently helps them not be the next cautionary tale like Hertz.
Let’s Talk
If you’re an IT lead, CIO, or compliance officer looking to protect your organization from the inside out, SendGuard might be the tool your team didn’t know it needed—until now.
