Avanan vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365 comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary
Updated on Sep 5, 2023

We compared Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Avanan across several parameters based on our users' reviews. After reading the collected data, you can find our conclusion below:

  • Features: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 stands out for its thorough email scanning, ease of use, and anti-phishing capabilities. Avanan is highly praised for its customizability as well as its consistent advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

  • Room for Improvement: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 can improve integration with non-Microsoft solutions and offer better documentation for its advanced security features. Avanan can enhance its alert clearance speed, decrease false positives, and improve scanning and backup options.

  • Service and Support: Microsoft customer service has received mixed feedback. While some customers find it responsive and prompt, others believe it could be more advanced and attentive. Avanan's customer service is consistently commended for its exceptional quality, efficiency, and expertise.

  • Ease of Deployment: The setup for Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is generally considered effortless. Users appreciate its seamless integration with Office 365 and the minimal maintenance it requires. Users like Avanan's trouble-free setup and easy updates.

  • Pricing: Some reviewers found Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to be reasonably priced, and others consider it expensive. Defender is typically sold in a bundle, so it’s challenging to compare the cost to other solutions. Avanan offers affordable, transparent SaaS-based pricing. Users find it cost-effective, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

  • ROI: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 helps users prevent ransomware and malware while enhancing email security and providing cost savings through its subscription-based service. Avanan has consistently provided positive results by enhancing email network security and contributing to revenue growth.

Comparison Results: Defender is praised for its thorough email scanning and integration into a single console. Defender users desire a more centralized interface and improved spam and malware detection. Avanan is praised for its ease of implementation, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness. Users say Avanan could improve by reducing false positives and providing better documentation.

To learn more, read our detailed Avanan vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,386 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
"Email Attachment Protection detects any insecure files and quickly blocks them to prevent the spread of viruses to other secure documents.""It is simple to deploy this platform and interact with the set features.""Email inspection has saved many employees from spam attacks and viruses from unauthorized sources.""It can detect corrupted files and filters out documents with viruses.""Email encryption enhances end to end security of any data before it passes through the networking system.""Easy to use for non-technical users.""The threat detection tools enable us to ascertain malware and phishing messages across the email network infrastructure.""The program has reduced the dangers related to phishing, malware, ransomware, and other vulnerabilities."

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"I would say that 90% of the spam and phishing attack emails get blocked right off the bat.""The good part is that you don't have to configure it, which is very convenient.""The most valuable feature is the integration. It's a single console, so we don't have to switch around between multiple products. Another valuable feature is the ease of operations and maintenance.""The product's scalability is good.""Our customers are satisfied with Defender for 365 because Microsoft products are easy to use and customize to meet the client's needs. Everything is in one place, so we can adjust policies as needed for phishing, DLP, ATP, or any other security features that our clients want to apply.""The deployment capability is a great feature.""Microsoft Defender for Office 365 has improved my organization's security. It makes it easier to manage the infrastructure without the help of third-party applications.""There are several features that I consider valuable."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Pros →

Cons
"It is complicated for new users unfamiliar with the modern cloud networking infrastructure.""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.""They should come up with a mobile application so that it can be more flexible.""When sending bulky emails, the system slows down and takes a long time before it responds effectively to our requests.""It should reduce the amount of time needed for thorough scanning.""The cost can be reviewed to enable SMEs to acquire it and enjoy great security features.""The user experience must be improved.""Familiarization with performance for new teams may take a long time."

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"It would be better if it were more scalable. It depends on the architecture, but we would like to make it more scalable for both data centers.""Configuration requires going to a lot of places rather than just accessing one tab.""The phishing and spam filters could use some improvement.""The certification training for Defender for 365 needs to be deeper and incorporate Sentinel. I took all the security courses except one, and Sentinel isn't included.""Microsoft wants its well-paying customers to finish testing some of its half-baked products, find bugs, and report bugs back to Microsoft's team, which is a little frustrating for those who have to manage it and roll it up to thousands of people across the organization.""Microsoft should provide more documentation for users so they can self-educate. I would like to see more documentation for advanced security features.""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.""They can improve their security in a way where a customer can know if all their attachments are safe or not to open through a report. The solution does its job perfectly, but it never reports to the customer whether those attachments have been stopped before or not."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Good pricing arrangement as an SaaS offering."
  • "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."
  • "We have a monthly license that is $4 to $8 per user."
  • "The pricing of Avanan is reasonable."
  • "The product is not the cheapest in the market."
  • "Avanan’s price is comparable to Barracuda."
  • More Avanan 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 →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The ease of installation and the AI capacity of the product are valuable.
    Top Answer:The product is not the cheapest in the market. Some people might say it's expensive for what it is, but I don't think so. I think the price is very appropriate.
    Top Answer:The solution can be confusing because it’s a Check Point product under the Harmony banner. We get lost a little bit in terms of where it fits. The user experience must be improved. The front-end user… more »
    Top Answer:Threat Explorer is an invaluable tool for me, and it plays a crucial role in helping me discern the origins of various email campaigns, pinpointing where they emanate from, and identifying the… more »
    Top Answer:The product must provide better malware detection. The detection algorithms don't perform the way I hope they would.
    Ranking
    6th
    out of 107 in Email Security
    Views
    3,017
    Comparisons
    1,821
    Reviews
    16
    Average Words per Review
    586
    Rating
    9.1
    1st
    out of 107 in Email Security
    Views
    13,167
    Comparisons
    10,373
    Reviews
    28
    Average Words per Review
    653
    Rating
    8.4
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    MS Defender for Office 365
    Learn More
    Overview

    Avanan is a comprehensive cloud security platform that protects organizations from advanced email and collaboration threats. With its multi-layered approach, Avanan provides real-time protection against phishing, malware, data leakage, and account takeover attacks. 

    By integrating with popular cloud applications such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Slack, Avanan ensures seamless security without disrupting user experience. Its advanced AI and machine learning algorithms analyze billions of data points to detect and block threats, while its granular policy controls allow organizations to customize their security settings. 

    Avanan also offers robust threat intelligence and incident response capabilities, enabling organizations to proactively identify and mitigate security risks. 

    With Avanan, organizations can confidently embrace the cloud while keeping their sensitive data and communications secure.

    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.

    Sample Customers
    Bethel School District, ServiceSource, Capital Caring
    Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is trusted by companies such as Ithaca College.
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Recruiting/Hr Firm19%
    Security Firm19%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Energy/Utilities Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization47%
    Computer Software Company8%
    Manufacturing Company5%
    Construction Company4%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company16%
    Computer Software Company16%
    Comms Service Provider13%
    Government6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company17%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    Government7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business33%
    Midsize Enterprise33%
    Large Enterprise33%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business19%
    Midsize Enterprise57%
    Large Enterprise24%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business42%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise42%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business29%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise51%
    Buyer's Guide
    Avanan vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Avanan vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Avanan is ranked 6th in Email Security with 21 reviews while Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is ranked 1st in Email Security with 41 reviews. Avanan is rated 9.2, while Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Avanan writes "We've noticed a significant decline from people accidentally or intentionally clicking on things". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 writes "Allows for easy reporting of problems, valuable anti-phishing, and anti-malware support". Avanan is most compared with Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration, IRONSCALES, Abnormal Security, Perception Point Advanced Email Security and Mimecast Email Security, whereas Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is most compared with Proofpoint Email Protection, Mimecast Email Security, Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP), Barracuda Email Security Gateway and AppRiver Email Security. See our Avanan vs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 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.