Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs Sophos Email comparison

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs. Sophos Email

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Microsoft Defender for Offi...

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Email Security category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is 15.8%, down from 20.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) is 8.2%, down from 12.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Email is 3.1%, down from 3.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Email Security

Featured Reviews

Jamie LeClair

IT Collaboration Services Manager at Dow

File-sharing options and ease of collaboration or meetings allow for quick collaborations and chats

I work in my company's IT department, so I use all of the products under Office 365 daily, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams, and all the other components in the product. My company can't make it through a day or go by without using the products offered under Office 365. Some of our manufacturing workers may use Office 365 a lot less, but it is still necessary for things like Microsoft Outlook and Exchange. I found Microsoft Teams to be the most valuable feature of the solution, along with all of the products and features offered under Office 365. My organization has remote workers, and we can't run the company without meetings organized with the help of Microsoft Teams.

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Nur Mohammad

Deputy Manager at B-Trac Technologies Ltd.

An effective email security solution that provides DLP, Safe Attachment, and Safe Links

If you want extensive email security, you need to purchase a Plan 2 license. Plan 1 and Plan 2 are the two plans for Microsoft Exchange Online Protection. Some customers hesitate to purchase this product because it adds some costs to them, which is necessary for them. It would be helpful for customers if Plan 1 features were included with EOP. However, they still need to purchase Plan 2 for advanced security features. One of our clients recently requested to compare Zimbra's features with Microsoft Exchange Online Protection. Zimbra is open source, while Microsoft Exchange Online Protection is not. When I compare both the products, many free features are available in Zimbra because it is open-source software. It makes no sense to request Microsoft Exchange Online Protection add all the features people get on open-source software like Zimbra. Hence, I would say whatever features Microsoft Exchange Online Protection has are enough. Microsoft has a dedicated research team that should research and add new techniques like phishing and spamming solutions to the product.

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NaveedAli

Senior manager IT infrastructure at Machine Learning 1 Limited ·

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

"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is the ease of use."

"The benefit that stands out to me is the ability for multiple individuals to collaborate simultaneously within the same document. Additionally, there is the option to save the document directly in the integrated OneDrive or SharePoint."

"One of the best features of the tool is its capability to aggregate insights from different workloads, basically from the Office 365 and endpoints part."

"Defender is a SaaS platform, so it offers more flexibility. Managing the permissions is easier. The solution's automated detection and response features are scalable."

"Microsoft Defender has a feature to protect each and every attachment. Even if it's an encrypted attachment, it will check for any potential threats."

"The email protection is excellent, especially in terms of anti-phishing policies."

"Microsoft Defender for Office 365's most valuable feature is its performance."

"The initial setup was easy."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 pros

"It is easy to configure, easy to use, easy to add exclusions, easy to track, and easy to add anything else if you want."

"It provides security to both on-premises and Azure infrastructures."

"You can use the product to create special accounts."

"The scalability is pretty good; it does what it is supposed to do."

"It's definitely scalable."

"Online Protection's most valuable feature is its admin interface."

"The initial setup of Microsoft Exchange Online Protection was easy."

"The solution's stability is very, very good. I didn't face any problems in the last year."

More Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) pros

"The tool's most valuable feature is the anti-spam detection filter. Its threat email intelligence features help to identify email data."

"I have found Sophos Email to be scalable."

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

"It's easy to use and the configuration is straightforward."

"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."

"Sophos Email offers encryption and malware protection, provides visibility into emails, has 99% accuracy in catching spam, enhances organizational safety, integrates with various vendors like Microsoft, is deployable with any email service, prevents data loss, features authentication rules, synchronizes with Active Directory and Azure, and includes a self-service portal. The product is very flexible."

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

More Sophos Email pros

Cons

"Microsoft Defender for Office 365 should improve the troubleshooting tools. It's unclear whether the device is blocked at the firewall level or at the device itself. The granularity needed for troubleshooting is currently lacking. From my perspective, Microsoft should address this issue to benefit many users who likely share the same sentiment."

"One area for improvement is integration. For example, when it comes to external SaaS platforms, we were not able to get a lot of information on integrations with such apps for security and authentication."

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

"Configuration at the mid-level could be improved for the support team."

"There's room for improvement regarding the time frame for retrieving emails."

"Microsoft Defender for Office 365 could improve by giving customers information on techniques to prevent threats. For example, information about best practices on how to protect their own devices against hackers and scammers, such as educational information or training. This would help others have a better understanding of cyber security. Additionally, there can be more security features added."

"The phishing and spam filters could use some improvement."

"The custom alerts have to improve a lot."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 cons

"When you're using a Microsoft product solution, you can scale it, but if you're not, there are limitations."

"The tool is not 100% stable."

"Some of the searchability when looking for specifics in Exchange logs is tedious."

"Some features, like encryption, are not available."

"When the product is being updated, it changes some of the setups. The support team is also not good."

"They should specify the difference between Defender for Office 365 and Exchange Online Protection."

"Having orchestration features added to Microsoft Exchange Online Protection, particularly automation and remediation, would be quite useful."

More Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) cons

"However, the setup was tricky, particularly with the DNS routing between Microsoft Exchange Online and Sophos cloud services. It took me about four attempts to get it working correctly. Despite that, Sophos Email does everything we need, so we don't require any additional capabilities now."

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

"The tool’s stability should be improved."

"The tool's pricing is expensive. In its future release, the tool should make reporting easier to view."

"The solution's technical support is slow and unresponsive. You need to book time in order to get support."

"The solution should be able to support the cloud environment."

"The installation of Sophos Email could be easier. It's a bit difficult because setting up the email virtually requires some bit of technical knowledge."

"The security of the solution could improve."

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."

"The license is expensive because the cost is based on the number of users."

"I know that the product is incredibly expensive."

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

"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."

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

"Compared to other brands, Microsoft Defender for Office 365's pricing is competitive."

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

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 pricing and cost advice

"The product is bundled with Microsoft 365."

"The solution is priced high and could be less expensive compared to other solutions."

"Microsoft Exchange Online Protection is a good solution at an affordable price. It is a good investment."

"The price of Microsoft Exchange Online Protection is reasonable."

"The solution should reduce the cost."

"On a scale of one to ten, where one is cheap, and ten is very expensive, I rate the pricing a six. For licensing, we can make monthly or yearly payments. Right now, we pay 5 USD per month to secure a person's license."

"Regarding the price, it's comparable to other service providers. We've also looked at Check Point's offerings, and the pricing doesn't seem to be an issue."

"It is a low-price solution."

More Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) pricing and cost advice

"The tool's price is reasonable. On a yearly basis, there is a 20 percent increase in prices, but it is not an issue."

"The pricing is fair."

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

"Sophos Email is priced lower than its competitors."

"I would rate the pricing of Sophos Email as a six. It is considered affordable as a standalone product, and there are no additional costs besides licensing. The pricing is fixed."

"The tool's pricing is medium."

"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."

"There is an additional fee for their central managed console."

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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824,053 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

15%

Government

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Retailer

Healthcare Company

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...

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.

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

Microsoft needs to broaden its global support presence by establishing teams of subject-matter experts in all regions.

What do you like most about Microsoft Exchange Online Protection?

The initial setup was easy. The configuration process is very straightforward.

What needs improvement with Microsoft Exchange Online Protection?

The product's end-of-life cycle could be extended. When it gets upgraded, we should receive some incentives. For exam...

What is your primary use case for Microsoft Exchange Online Protection?

The main use case is to block suspicious links in emails. However, some functionalities like SIPP attachment are not ...

What do you like most about Sophos Email?

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

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 ...

What needs improvement with Sophos Email?

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

Proofpoint Email Protection vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Comparisons

Compared 13% of the time

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

Compared 8% of the time

Cisco Secure Email vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 5% of the time

Mimecast Email Security vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 5% of the time

Abnormal Security vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 3% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Competitors

Proofpoint Email Protection vs Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP)

Compared 14% of the time

Cisco Secure Email vs Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP)

Compared 11% of the time

Fortinet FortiMail vs Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP)

Compared 9% of the time

Mimecast Email Security vs Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP)

Compared 7% of the time

Hornetsecurity 365 Total Protection vs Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP)

Compared 2% of the time

More Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) Competitors

Fortinet FortiMail vs Sophos Email

Compared 8% of the time

Hornetsecurity 365 Total Protection vs Sophos Email

Compared 6% of the time

Barracuda Email Protection vs Sophos Email

Compared 4% of the time

Perception Point Advanced Email Security vs Sophos Email

Compared 4% of the time

Barracuda Email Security Gateway vs Sophos Email

Compared 4% of the time

More Sophos Email Competitors

Product Reports

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Download Microsoft Defender for Office 365 product report

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 report

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP)

Download Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) product report

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) report

Download Sophos Email product report

Sophos Email

November 2024

Also Known As

MS Defender for Office 365

Microsoft EOP, MS Exchange Online Protection

Sophos Email Security

Learn More

Microsoft

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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.

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) is a comprehensive email filtering and security service designed to protect organizations from spam, malware, and other email-based threats. It provides advanced threat protection, anti-malware and anti-spam filtering, and data loss prevention capabilities.

With EOP, organizations can ensure the security and integrity of their email communications. It uses multiple layers of filtering and scanning to detect and block malicious content, including phishing attempts, viruses, and ransomware. EOP also leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to continuously improve its threat detection capabilities.

In addition to its robust security features, EOP offers advanced anti-spam filtering to reduce unwanted and unsolicited emails. It uses a combination of reputation-based filtering, content filtering, and sender authentication techniques to identify and block spam messages.

EOP also includes data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities to prevent sensitive information from being leaked or shared inappropriately. It allows organizations to define policies to detect and prevent the transmission of sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or social security numbers, via email.

Furthermore, EOP integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange Online and other Office 365 services, providing a unified and integrated email security solution. It can be easily managed through the Exchange admin center, allowing administrators to configure and monitor security settings, review reports, and manage quarantined emails.

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.

Information Not Available

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

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs. Sophos Email