Email attachments are a security nightmare.
Once sent, you lose control. Forever. They sit in inboxes, get forwarded, downloaded to unknown devices. Your confidential contract is now on someone's personal laptop.
This guide shows secure alternatives that maintain your control.
Send secure trackable links, not files
Stop attaching documents to emails. Start sending secure links.
Upload your confidential file to Ellty. Set permissions - password, expiration date, download blocking. Get a secure link. Send that instead.
You maintain control. Revoke access anytime. See who viewed what. Update documents without resending.
Takes 30 seconds. More secure than any email attachment.
The Ellty method: simple, secure, trackable
Here's exactly how it works:
Step 1: Upload Your Document
Drag and drop. Any format.
Step 2: Set Security Controls
- Require email verification
- Add password protection
- Set expiration date
- Block downloads/printing
- Limit to specific IP addresses
Step 3: Get Your Secure Link
One link. Share via email, Slack, anywhere. Looks professional with custom domain option.
Step 4: Track Everything
See who opened it. When. From where. Which pages they viewed. Real-time notifications.
Why email attachments fail
No Control After Sending
Send a PDF via email. Now it lives on:
- Recipient's inbox (forever)
- Their downloads folder
- Cloud backups
- Email server backups
- Any device they forward it to
You can't delete it. Can't update it. Can't stop sharing.
Zero Visibility
Traditional email tells you nothing. Was it opened? By whom? Did they forward it? You're blind.
With secure links, you see everything. Every access logged. Every action tracked.
Compliance Nightmares
GDPR requires data control. HIPAA demands audit trails. SOC 2 needs access management.
Email attachments provide none of this. Secure document sharing covers all requirements.
Use cases
Legal Documents
NDAs, contracts, agreements. Require signature acknowledgment. Track who's reviewed terms. Expire after signing period.
Financial Information
Send investor updates, cap tables, financial statements. See which investors are engaged. Revoke after board meetings.
HR Documentation
Employment contracts, performance reviews, sensitive employee data. Maintain compliance. Automatic expiration.
Sales Proposals
Track engagement before follow-up. Know which sections matter. Update pricing without resending.
Medical Records
HIPAA-compliant sharing. Patient control over access. Complete audit trail for compliance.
The cost of a breach
Average data breach costs $4.45 million (IBM Security Report 2025). Most start with compromised emails or mishandled documents.
One leaked contract. One forwarded financial statement. One compromised email account accessing months of attachments.
Secure document sharing isn't paranoia. It's basic risk management.
Stop using email attachments
Email was designed in 1971. Before the internet. Before hackers. Before compliance requirements.
It's time to stop trusting it with confidential documents.
Secure alternatives exist. They're easier than you think. More control, better tracking, actual security.
Your confidential documents deserve better than sitting in someone's inbox forever.
Start with Ellty's free tier. See the difference immediately.
