Abnormal Security vs Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense comparison

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Microsoft Logo
12,858 views|10,247 comparisons
97% willing to recommend
Abnormal Security Logo
2,243 views|1,609 comparisons
100% willing to recommend
Cisco Logo
1,706 views|1,338 comparisons
90% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Mar 17, 2024

Abnormal Security focuses on uncommon attacks, particularly advanced phishing and social engineering attempts. Their AI analyzes email content, sender/recipient information, user behavior, and email patterns to identify anomalies suggesting malicious intent. Cisco SETD employs a multi-layered approach, commended for its strong spam filtering, customizable security policies, and detailed reporting features, with users noting a need for improved integration options. Both products offer reasonable pricing and positive results, but Abnormal Security excels in customer service while Secure Email Threat Defense stands out for its real-time threat detection and automatic updates.

  • Features: Abnormal Security stands out for its behavioral AI engine, advanced threat protection and protection against phishing. The behavioral AI engine used to analyze email activity and identify anomalies that deviate from normal user behavior. On the other hand, Cisco SETD stands out for its strong spam filtering, real-time threat detection, and customizable security policies.
  • Pricing and ROI: Abnormal Security offers a straightforward licensing model with minimal setup costs, competitive pricing, and overall user satisfaction. Cisco SETD also provides affordable setup costs, customizable licensing options, and no hidden fees, giving users flexibility and value for their investment.
  • Room for Improvement: Cisco SETD may need increased customization options for email filtering, better integration with existing email platforms, and faster customer support response times. Abnormal Security's email analysis should better integrate with the email clients to prevent malicious emails from reaching the third-party systems before being blocked.
  • Deployment and customer support: Abnormal Security has a wider range of deployment timeframes mentioned, with some users requiring three months for deployment and others just a week. On the other hand, Cisco SETD had more consistent feedback, with users mentioning three months for deployment and another week for setup. Abnormal Security's customer service is commended for being particularly attentive, knowledgeable, and quicker to resolve issues when compared with Cisco SETD.

The summary above is based on 20 interviews we conducted recently with Abnormal Security and Secure Email Threat Defense users. To access the review's full transcripts, download our report.

To learn more, read our detailed Abnormal Security vs. Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense Report (Updated: March 2024).
768,857 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The email protection is excellent, especially in terms of anti-phishing policies.""Defender for 365 is a comprehensive cloud-based solution. The value of the cloud is that you aren't alone. Threat intelligence and analytics are shared in the cloud. We don't have to find the solution alone. If you face an unknown threat with traditional solutions like Trend Micro and Symantec, you need to open a case and send your information to them to analyze forensically and identify the source of the attack.""Defender enables us to secure all 365-related activity from a single place. It gives us visibility into everything happening in Outlook, protecting us against phishing and other email-based threats. Defender helps us detect any suspicious behaviors.""Microsoft Defender for Office 365's most valuable feature is its performance.""The solution is very easy to use. All you have to do is to assign the license to the end-user and it's done. The customer will only have the feature activated, and the solution will monitor the emails to determine if they are a threat or not.""Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a stable solution.""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.""Defender for Office 365 has helped eliminate having to look at multiple dashboards and that is the aspect I like most about it. It is simpler, effective, and convenient. The users like the process efficiency."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Pros →

"I have never encountered any stability issues with Abnormal.""Their ability to take things out of the mailbox and catch things much faster than users is excellent.""The features that appeal to me most are the combination of auto-remediation and Detection 360.""It does some really cool stuff that other tools aren't doing. We found it to be really effective, and the AI/ML functionality is really what differentiates them.""One of the things that I love about them is that the setup and installation are super easy. All you do is give them access to your Microsoft 365 tenant, and through APIs, they are able to do their work. They are doing all this through APIs, so you do not have to install the software and take a month to get it all set up to even see the value of the solution. You could be up and running in less than an hour.""What I like about Abnormal Security is that it notifies me if any of my partners or suppliers are experiencing a security breach by analyzing their database and identifying potential cyber threats.""Ease of use is undoubtedly one of the most valuable features of Abnormal Security.""Initial auto-remediation allows us to auto-remediate before the email lands in the end user's inbox for a split second."

More Abnormal Security Pros →

"Cisco Secure Email Cloud Mailbox can handle a complete portfolio, which is required to protect any kind of attack coming from emails. However, it does not have advanced phishing, but it is available through Cisco. If you compare Cisco Secure Email Cloud Mailbox with the competition, in the competition you have to have one or two solutions together to address the customer's requirement, whereas Cisco Secure Email Cloud Mailbox is addressing everything, such as web domain and email protection. If there is any kind of challenge it will come across through email.""The features and functionalities are much better than Microsoft's in-built Defender plan.""On ease of use, it rates very high. It's something that I was able to get into without really looking at any documentation. I wanted to see what it felt like before I started looking at any documentation on how to use it, and it was very easy to use. It works very smoothly. The user experience is very intuitive. They did an amazing job on that.""Secure Email Threat Defense's scalability is good.""It has an efficient email filtering feature.""The ability to see east-west traffic is its most valuable feature. Traditionally, email defense focuses on north-south, inbound-outbound, egress-ingress traffic. With Cisco Secure Email Cloud Mailbox, it's able to quickly identify, track, tag, and categorize emails that are internal. That can typically give us visibility into if there's an internal compromised account (for example). Someone can then use that internal compromised account to email additional accounts with either malicious software or links, but internal within that Office tenant. Effectively, that email message never leaves the tenant. Any of the mail gateways really do not have any method or way of seeing this traffic since it's not leaving the environment.""Cisco has a threat mechanism called cloud-based Talos, where all the threats are inbuilt.""I would say it's very comprehensive, with multiple antivirus OEMs, virus encrypt features, encryption, and more."

More Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense Pros →

Cons
"We need to be able to whitelist data at the backend.""In some situations, it has not been able to pick impersonated emails having no attachments. Technical support definitely has a scope for improvement.""You should be able to deploy Defender for every subscription without the need to add servers.""There needs to be an improvement in integrating the product to work across multiple operating systems, and to have better support for non-Microsoft file types.""The GUI is sometimes slow to fetch the device report and could be improved.""The company should focus on adding threats that the solution is currently unable to detect.""This product's effectiveness could be improved, in terms of detecting unwanted spam or even malware between the emails, compared to other products.""The custom alerts have to improve a lot."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Cons →

"When we're working on something as engineers, and we find an idea or a method of doing something that would be greatly improved by doing it another way, there should be an ability for me to click the ideas button, type in an idea that I have, and submit it to a product review team or developers to have them think through the process a little bit more.""The pricing for academic institutions and student mailboxes is challenging.""There could be room for improvement in enhancing integration with other cybersecurity tools.""I would like to have the ability to customize the auto-remediation feature.""The biggest pain point for us is the lack of support for on-premise email systems.""The ideal scenario would be for Abnormal Security to work in tandem with Microsoft to analyze incoming emails.""I, as such, do not have anything that I do not like or would like to add, but you could argue that because they are doing it API-based, there is a chance that something could slip through temporarily before they are able to pull it out. In theory, it could happen just because of the nature of the system. They are not in line with the delivery of the mail. They are kind of asynchronous, which is a pro as well as a con. If it is synchronous, then I know it would always stop them, but because it is asynchronous, things could get through temporarily or because of some system issues on the Microsoft side or their side. It is the nature of the beast, but it is a little bit of a con.""One feature I'd love to see is outbound scanning."

More Abnormal Security Cons →

"This solution could be improved by integration with Sandbox.""The search area has room for improvement. When you go to the next page, it remains at the bottom of the current page that you're on. Also, under the reports section, it allows you to see any "convictions," but if you want to search for those convictions you have to remember when they all came in and go back and edit the search accordingly. You cannot click on the list of convictions to actually see if you had a spike at a certain time.""The solution is a bit expensive.""From a technical point of view, Cisco is far behind in terms of cybersecurity, and it has to improve very much.""Cisco Secure Email Cloud Mailbox can improve by adding advanced phishing, then the solution would become the best in the market. However, this could increase the price even more. Additionally, if CES with domain protection could be added it would be an even better solution.""There is still room for improvement in terms of integrations with other Cisco tools and non-Cisco tools. There is also some room for improvement needed in terms of the reporting.""The pricing could always be better.""We encounter issues while searching for missing emails."

More Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "It's a user-base subscription."
  • "From the pricing point of view, like any other product in the market, there is scope for negotiation."
  • "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."
  • "For licensing, it's usually a yearly package for customers who are subscribed to Office 365, but they can also pay on a monthly basis."
  • "Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is an add-on to the Office license. Many customers are purchasing this solution."
  • "Microsoft Defender for Office 365 comes with Microsoft Windows. It is free with the operating system."
  • "The solution saves money so we have seen a return on investment."
  • "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."
  • More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The license is based on the user count, so the number of users that have an email address in the organization."
  • "Overall, we'd certainly prefer lower pricing, but Abnormal Security doesn't seem unreasonable compared to similar offerings in the market."
  • "The pricing appears fair, and they demonstrate a genuine willingness to work with us on it."
  • "Abnormal Security, on the other hand, provides the same level of functionality for just over $60,000 – that's half the price!"
  • More Abnormal Security Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The feedback from vendors and customer is that it is expensive."
  • "Cisco Secure Email Cloud Mailbox does not have any competition with Sophos, Trend Micro, or other vendors of the world. However, there is a pricing premium for the solution. One has to look at it from that angle that while they are buying Cisco, there will be a premium, and Cisco justifies that premium value. That's why they're charging a high price."
  • "It is expensive compared to other vendors."
  • "The solution’s pricing is manageable."
  • More Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:Threat Explorer is an invaluable tool for me, and it plays a crucial role in helping me discern the origins of various… more »
    Top Answer:The product must provide better malware detection. The detection algorithms don't perform the way I hope they would.
    Top Answer:The features that appeal to me most are the combination of auto-remediation and Detection 360.
    Top Answer:The pricing appears fair, and they demonstrate a genuine willingness to work with us on it. The media and entertainment… more »
    Top Answer:One feature I'd love to see is outbound scanning. Currently, the system detects malicious outbound messages originating… more »
    Top Answer:Secure Email Threat Defense's scalability is good.
    Top Answer:The tool gives false positives and it needs to be more accurate. I would like to see AI as a new feature.
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    MS Defender for Office 365
    Cisco Secure Email Cloud Mailbox, Cisco CMD, Cisco Cloud Mailbox Defense
    Learn More
    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.

    Abnormal Security is a cloud-based email security platform designed to protect organizations from advanced targeted attacks, such as phishing and business email compromise (BEC), and account takeovers. Their approach is centered on using artificial intelligence (AI) and behavioral data science to detect anomalies in email activity.

    Abnormal Security is specializes in protecting email communications, detecting and preventing threats, filtering out spam and phishing emails, and blocking malicious attachments. Users rely on Abnormal Security to enhance their email security, identify and stop sophisticated attacks, safeguard sensitive information, and improve overall cybersecurity measures.

    Abnormal Security targets sophisticated attacks that traditional email security measures might miss. Their system analyzes various data points to build an understanding of email behavior within your organization. This includes emails themselves, sender and recipient information, and even business context. By understanding these patterns, they can identify anomalies that might indicate a malicious attempt. Their solution is designed for the cloud, offering quick deployment and minimal configuration. This eliminates the need for complex setup processes often associated with security software.

    Abnormal Security customers appreciate the ease of use in setting up and managing the platform, along with its ability to accurately filter out suspicious emails and prevent potential cyber threats. Abnormal Security has been praised for streamlining processes, boosting productivity, improving communication within teams, providing valuable analytics for informed decision-making, and driving success in various projects. Experience the robust security measures and benefits of Abnormal Security to safeguard your sensitive information and maintain a secure email environment.

    Cisco's secure email threat defense is designed to provide comprehensive protection against email-based threats. With the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks, it is crucial for organizations to have a robust solution in place to safeguard their email communications.

    The product offers advanced threat detection capabilities, leveraging machine learning algorithms and real-time analysis to identify and block malicious emails. It scans incoming and outgoing emails for suspicious attachments, links, and content, ensuring that only safe and legitimate emails reach the users' inbox.

    To combat phishing attacks, our solution employs advanced anti-phishing techniques, including URL reputation analysis and email header analysis. It proactively detects and blocks phishing emails, preventing users from falling victim to fraudulent schemes and protecting sensitive information.

    The Secure Email Threat Defense also includes robust anti-malware and anti-spam features. It scans email attachments for malware and viruses, preventing them from infiltrating the organization's network. Additionally, it filters out spam emails, reducing the clutter in users' inboxes and improving productivity.

    Administrators have full visibility and control over email security. They can set up customizable policies to enforce security measures, such as blocking specific file types or restricting email access from certain domains. Detailed reports and analytics provide insights into email threats and help in fine-tuning the security settings.

    Sample Customers
    Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is trusted by companies such as Ithaca College.
    Foot Lcoker, Xerox, Liberty Mutual, Mattel, Boston Scientific
    Luiss University, Lone Star College, T-Systems, Magyar Telekom
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company16%
    Computer Software Company16%
    Comms Service Provider13%
    Logistics Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Government7%
    REVIEWERS
    Energy/Utilities Company13%
    Educational Organization13%
    Real Estate/Law Firm13%
    Construction Company13%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Government7%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company29%
    Transportation Company14%
    Government14%
    Construction Company14%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company37%
    Comms Service Provider8%
    Financial Services Firm6%
    Government6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business42%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise42%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business30%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise51%
    REVIEWERS
    Midsize Enterprise25%
    Large Enterprise75%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business21%
    Midsize Enterprise24%
    Large Enterprise55%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business18%
    Midsize Enterprise36%
    Large Enterprise45%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business19%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise69%
    Buyer's Guide
    Abnormal Security vs. Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Abnormal Security vs. Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    768,857 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Abnormal Security is ranked 9th in Email Security with 8 reviews while Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense is ranked 16th in Email Security with 11 reviews. Abnormal Security is rated 9.6, while Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of Abnormal Security writes "Provides comprehensive email security management, effective in detecting a wide range of email threats". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense writes "Easy to deploy and configure with excellent support". Abnormal Security is most compared with Mimecast Email Security, Egress Intelligent Email Security, Cloudflare Area 1 Email Security and Cisco Secure Email, whereas Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense is most compared with Cisco Secure Email, Kiteworks, Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) and Armorblox. See our Abnormal Security vs. Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense report.

    See our list of best Email Security vendors.

    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.