Avanan vs Sophos Email comparison

Avanan, a Check Point Company and Sophos are both solutions in the Email Security category. Avanan, a Check Point Company is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.1, while Sophos is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.0. Avanan, a Check Point Company holds a 4.7% mindshare in Email Security, compared to Sophos’s 3.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Avanan, a Check Point Company users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Avanan and Sophos Email based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Email Security solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Avanan vs. Sophos Email Report (Updated: October 2024).

Buyer's Guide

Avanan vs. Sophos Email

October 2024

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Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Defender for Offi...

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2024, in the Email Security category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is 15.9%, down from 20.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Avanan is 4.7%, up from 3.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Email is 3.1%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Email Security

Featured Reviews

Luis-Brown

IT Director at a energy/utilities company with 11-50 employees

Aug 8, 2023

Allows for easy reporting of problems, valuable anti-phishing, and anti-malware support

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 lacks proactivity in assisting us with preparing for potential threats before they occur. While they employ a substantial amount of threat intelligence to preemptively prevent incidents, their effectiveness diminishes when it comes to delivering proactive threat intelligence alerts from Microsoft. Their focus primarily revolves around managing the internal environment. On the other hand, my other vendor, Check Point, along with my membership in MS-ISAC, supplements me with this type of information. The phishing and spam filters could use some improvement. It is adequate, but it doesn't match the quality of Proofpoint or Mimecast. However, it comes close in effectiveness. Plus, if we're obtaining it for free, investing in the other products seems impractical.

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Robert Melendez

Vice President Information Technology at Makeready

Mar 21, 2024

Enhances email security and has a very simple and easy-to-use UI

Spam protection is the most valuable feature. We have implemented the tool to enhance our email security. It helps prevent phishing attacks. The anomaly detection capabilities are baked into the security platform. The product integrates wonderfully with Microsoft 365. It's built right on a cloud platform and works almost natively. The solution has a very simple and easy-to-use UI. The tool appears extremely powerful and has a good solid feature set. It catches things that are bad for my environment. The user interface is good the way it is. If the solution continues down that path, I see no problems with the way it is going. It feels like a mature product.

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NaveedAli

Senior manager IT infrastructure at Machine Learning 1 Limited ·

Apr 25, 2024

Provides good identity proxy features, but sandboxing and spam control features could be improved

Sophos gives you a feature set to manage your on-premises firewall on the cloud. I just integrated my on-premises firewall into the cloud, and I can manage the tool through the cloud as well if needed. I recommend using Sophos Email as a proxy. For email gateways, I advise choosing mature products with rich feature sets, like Trend Micro or CrowdStrike. The solution's integration with other tools is very simple. I easily integrated Sophos Email with my Active Directory. My organization needs a WAF with a limited feature set, which we use through Sophos. Purchasing additional WAF will be costly, but I get sandboxing and WAF features free of cost with Sophos, which is included in the license. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Safe attachments, safe links, policies, and the ability to protect from zero-day threats are the most valuable features."

"Does a thorough job of examining email and URLs for malicious content."

"It also gives me good visibility because, with Defender, I'm using a Microsoft product to defend Microsoft products. The integration was really seamless and I have wide visibility because it picks up almost everything. Literally, I can see almost every activity that happens, from the e-mail to the workstation itself."

"I like its investigation capabilities, as that is what is most important to me. It is fairly simple with a user-friendly interface."

"The good part is that you don't have to configure it, which is very convenient."

"It’s easy to handle integrations, and we don't need a lot of people in our IT team."

"The two main features that prove most beneficial for us are URL scanning and attachment scanning."

"The risk level notifications are most valuable. We get to know what kind of intrusion or attack is there, and we can fix a problem on time."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 pros

"The most valuable feature of Avanan is its effectiveness. When scanning incoming emails for threats it can in an automated fashion, quarantine suspicious attachments."

"It can detect corrupted files and filters out documents with viruses."

"The most valuable feature of Avanan is its Anti-Malware solution for Office 365, and box.com."

"It can retract unsafe emails and remove them from the entire communication channel."

"Easy to use for non-technical users."

"The ease of installation and the AI capacity of the product are valuable."

"If we look at four to five years ago, we had close to six or eight people click a link in an email per month. Now, we are probably down to about five or six clicks a year, if not less."

"Email encryption enhances end to end security of any data before it passes through the networking system."

More Avanan pros

"The platform is scalable when installed on server-based systems."

"When you say email security, it's about everything, incoming email, outgoing email, spam, phishing emails, unwanted marketing emails. You can set rules, but the main feature of Sophos Email is to make sure you don't get hacked. 95% of people who are hacked do not get hacked by typing the router password. They are hacked from the inside out, which means they send you a document that is a zero-day attack, you open it, nothing happens, but technically the attack is running in the background of your computer. This is how they gain access to your PC."

"Our client recently received many emails, and their employees didn't realize these emails were phishing attempts. Consequently, they clicked on them and fell victim to the attack. Therefore, it is important to secure their system with Sophos Email Security."

"The most significant aspect is the response filtering concerning attachments and links."

"I cannot guarantee any email by its name. It can be spam. Sophos Email helps to double-check whether an email is spam or not. It has a dashboard which gives an overview of the alerts."

"The feature of Sophos Email that we find most effective for detecting suspicious emails is primarily based on their signatures."

"The most valuable feature is its email security."

"The anti-malware, risk scanning has been pretty spot on."

More Sophos Email pros

Cons

"Sometimes, phishing emails manage to pass through the filter, so the system needs to enhance its phishing email detection capabilities."

"Microsoft security solutions work as expected. They are constantly updating the solutions to make them better. At the same time, the changes can impact a customer's environment, and we need to adjust settings. Sometimes we aren't aware of the changes, and nothing is pushed from the backend automatically."

"The XDR dashboard has room for improvement."

"I'd like some additional features any product can give me to protect our environment in a better way."

"We are always looking for others tools to increase automation on tasks. There can be better integration with other solutions, such as PowerPoint and email."

"The pre-sales cost calculations could be more transparent."

"Several simulation options are available within 365, and the phishing simulation could be better."

"Too many false positives and lacks an accurate capability to detect malicious SharePoint sites."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 cons

"When sending bulky emails, the system slows down and takes a long time before it responds effectively to our requests."

"Familiarization with performance for new teams may take a long time."

"The user experience must be improved."

"Being cloud first and because we are in the movie business, we use a lot of Macintoshes. So, there is absolutely no reason for us to have Active Directory whatsoever. However, if you are using Office 365, you must have Active Directory in order to reset passwords. Even though we have a single sign-on provider, we must have Azure Active Directory for Office 365, which is really stupid. As a cloud application, you would think that I don't need Active Directory, which I don't need for anything else except Office 365. We have one server inside that space to help us manage Active Directory just for Office 365. This is a very sore point, but it is what it is."

"It should reduce the amount of time needed for thorough scanning."

"Integration with various SaaS offerings, who are leading in the SaaS market."

"It is complicated for new users unfamiliar with the modern cloud networking infrastructure."

"Sometimes it seemed like the allow list wasn't working. I've created many allow list rules however, they still seem to be blocked; the same is true with the blocked list rules."

More Avanan cons

"Enhancing rule creation and customization features would provide users with greater control over their email security settings."

"Sophos Email can improve security."

"The tool's integration becomes an issue when the internet connection is weak."

"The tool’s stability should be improved."

"The security of the solution could improve."

"The product could include all the essential features and capabilities, similar to the on-premise, server-based version."

"I would like to see improvements in the initial setup process, ensuring better compatibility with diverse customer infrastructures."

"Sophos Email has few improvements to implement, including the handling of incoming emails in the systems. It needs to add additional feature that helps in enhancing the scanning processes of these emails. While adding these features, it should work towards improving the current features also."

More Sophos Email cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"From the pricing point of view, like any other product in the market, there is scope for negotiation."

"For large enterprise organizations, they can definitely afford it, but for small and medium organizations, they might struggle to cover the expenses."

"Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is an add-on to the Office license. Many customers are purchasing this solution."

"Defender is a little bit more expensive as compared to others. We are in the manufacturing environment. So, we don't have a high budget for all of our endpoint devices. Its cost is a major concern for us."

"The product is very expensive."

"Defender for 365 comes in various plans and licenses, along with other Microsoft security solutions. Purchasing this kind of package or security bundle gives good value for money, and that's what I recommend."

"Microsoft Defender is expensive. I typically recommend it only if clients have the budget. Otherwise, I would suggest an alternative."

"It is much more expensive than using another solution because we have had to include some options and upgrade our license."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 pricing and cost advice

"Good pricing arrangement as an SaaS offering."

"We have a monthly license that is $4 to $8 per user."

"The product is not the cheapest in the market."

"The pricing of Avanan is reasonable."

"Having the flexibility and modeling to do the pricing that best fits the needs of the organization is incredibly ideal. That is what Avanan does. They know exactly how many users are using it, etc. We can tune the invoicing associated with how we are using the product so we can charge it back to the shows appropriately."

"Avanan’s price is comparable to Barracuda."

"The pricing is quite reasonable, with a fixed cost and no additional charges."

"The pricing is fair."

"Sophos Email is priced lower than its competitors."

"It falls somewhere in the middle—it's not excessively expensive nor very cheap."

"The product is cheaper compared to other solutions."

"The solution is expensive."

"Sophos Email is a little expensive for us, but it's necessary. We have a subscription and renew it every three years."

"It is an expensive solution. On a scale of one to ten, where one is low price, and ten is high price, I rate the pricing a seven."

More Sophos Email pricing and cost advice

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Email Security solutions are best for your needs.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

Educational Organization

48%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Retailer

Educational Organization

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

Threat Explorer is an invaluable tool for me, and it plays a crucial role in helping me discern the origins of variou...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

The pricing is reasonable since it comes integrated with our Office 365 license.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

Sometimes, phishing emails manage to pass through the filter, so the system needs to enhance its phishing email detec...

See all answers

What do you like most about Avanan?

Spam protection is the most valuable feature.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Avanan?

Avanan’s price is comparable to Barracuda.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Avanan?

Avanan doesn't cover certain tool segments. Barracuda provides backup and retention of emails and Microsoft 365’s bac...

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What do you like most about Sophos Email?

The solution's identity proxy feature is very good and reliable.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sophos Email?

The pricing is affordable, so I’d rate it around a four out of ten on the pricing scale. We pay about fifty pounds a ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos Email?

However, the setup was tricky, particularly with the DNS routing between Microsoft Exchange Online and Sophos cloud s...

See all answers

Comparisons

Proofpoint Email Protection vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 13% of the time

Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 7% of the time

Mimecast Email Security vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 6% of the time

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 5% of the time

AppRiver Email Security vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 3% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Competitors

Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration vs Avanan

Compared 17% of the time

Abnormal Security vs Avanan

Compared 13% of the time

Perception Point Advanced Email Security vs Avanan

Compared 10% of the time

IRONSCALES vs Avanan

Compared 8% of the time

Barracuda Email Security Gateway vs Avanan

Compared 2% of the time

More Avanan Competitors

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs Sophos Email

Compared 9% of the time

Fortinet FortiMail vs Sophos Email

Compared 7% of the time

Hornetsecurity 365 Total Protection vs Sophos Email

Compared 7% of the time

Perception Point Advanced Email Security vs Sophos Email

Compared 5% of the time

Kaspersky Security for Mail Server vs Sophos Email

Compared 3% of the time

More Sophos Email Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

November 2024

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 report

Download Microsoft Defender for Office 365 product report

Buyer's Guide

Avanan

November 2024

Download Avanan product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Email

October 2024

Download Sophos Email product report

Also Known As

MS Defender for Office 365

No data available

Sophos Email Security

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Microsoft

Avanan, a Check Point Company

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Sophos

Overview

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a comprehensive security solution designed to protect organizations against advanced threats in their email, collaboration, and productivity environments. It combines the power of Microsoft's threat intelligence, machine learning, and behavioral analytics to provide real-time protection against phishing, malware, ransomware, and other malicious attacks.

With Microsoft Defender for Office 365, organizations can safeguard their email communication by detecting and blocking malicious links, attachments, and unsafe email content. It employs advanced anti-phishing capabilities to identify and prevent sophisticated phishing attacks that attempt to steal sensitive information or compromise user credentials.

This solution also offers robust protection against malware and ransomware. It leverages machine learning algorithms to analyze email attachments and URLs in real-time, identifying and blocking malicious content before it reaches users' inboxes. Additionally, it provides advanced threat-hunting capabilities, allowing security teams to proactively investigate and respond to potential threats.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 goes beyond email protection and extends its security features to other collaboration tools like SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. It scans files and documents stored in these platforms, ensuring that they are free from malware and other malicious content. It also provides visibility into user activities, helping organizations detect and mitigate insider threats.

Furthermore, this solution offers rich reporting and analytics capabilities, providing organizations with insights into their security posture and threat landscape. It enables security administrators to monitor and manage security incidents, track trends, and take proactive measures to enhance their overall security posture.

Avanan provides advanced email security, integrating with cloud services like Microsoft Office 365 to guard against phishing, malware, and ransomware while offering user-friendly, seamless, and comprehensive protection for all users.

Avanan leverages AI to detect and block threats before they reach inboxes, offering real-time protection, data leak prevention, and advanced email screening. The solution is easy to deploy and can be used effectively by both technical and non-technical users to secure email environments. Integrating seamlessly with Microsoft 365, it provides continuous protection, efficiently sandboxing suspicious emails and responding swiftly to emerging threats. While recognizing its performance in threat detection, users suggest improvements in AI logic to reduce false positives and enhance user experience.

What are the key features of Avanan?

Advanced AI: Leverages artificial intelligence for superior threat detection and blocking.
Real-Time Protection: Offers real-time monitoring for consistent threat detection.
Easy Deployment: Simple to implement across various platforms.
Cost-Effective: Provides robust security solutions at a competitive price.
Customizable Rules: Allows users to tailor security settings to their needs.
End-to-End Encryption: Ensures data security throughout transmission.
Seamless Integration: Integrates smoothly with Microsoft Office 365.
Efficient Sandboxing: Isolates and inspects suspicious emails effectively.
Responsive Support: Offers quick customer support for resolving issues.
Cloud-Native Controls: Provides continuous protection against evolving cyber threats.

What benefits or ROI should users look for in reviews?

Improved Security: Enhanced protection against phishing, malware, and ransomware.
Ease of Use: User-friendly interface suitable for both technical and non-technical users.
Time Efficiency: Rapid deployment and seamless integration save valuable time.
Cost Savings: Affordable pricing with comprehensive features offers high ROI.
Data Integrity: Maintains data security with end-to-end encryption and real-time protection.
User Satisfaction: Efficient threat detection and responsive customer support.

In industries like finance, healthcare, and education, Avanan's security measures are critically important for protecting sensitive information. Financial organizations benefit from advanced threat detection to safeguard transactions, while healthcare entities use robust security protocols to protect patient data. Educational institutions use Avanan to secure communications, ensuring the safety and privacy of students and staff.

Sophos Email is a comprehensive email security solution designed to protect organizations from advanced threats and data loss. It offers robust protection against malware, phishing attacks, and spam, ensuring that only legitimate emails reach users' inboxes.

With advanced threat intelligence and machine learning algorithms, it can detect and block sophisticated attacks in real-time. Additionally, it provides encryption and data loss prevention capabilities to safeguard sensitive information.

The solution is easy to deploy and manage, with a user-friendly interface and centralized control. Sophos Email offers seamless integration with popular email platforms, ensuring uninterrupted communication while maintaining security.

With its comprehensive features and proactive approach, Sophos Email is a reliable choice for organizations looking to enhance their email security.

Sample Customers

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is trusted by companies such as Ithaca College.

Bethel School District, ServiceSource, Capital Caring

Del Monte Foods, Terra Verde, spicerhaart, RIVERLITE, Dataprise, SureBridge, Reed's School, Sayfol International School

Buyer's Guide

Avanan vs. Sophos Email

October 2024

Free Report: Avanan vs. Sophos Email

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We monitor all Email Security reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.