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McAfee Institute Certifications & Training vs Sophos Phish Threat comparison

McAfee Institute and Sophos are both solutions in the Security Awareness Training category. McAfee Institute is ranked #6 with an average rating of 10.0, while Sophos is ranked #3 with an average rating of 9.3. McAfee Institute holds a 0.5% mindshare in SAT, compared to Sophos’s 4.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of McAfee Institute users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Sophos users who would recommend it.
McAfee Institute Certificat...
Read 1 McAfee Institute Certifications & Training review
  • 135 Views
  • 15 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
Sophos Phish Threat
Read 12 Sophos Phish Threat reviews
  • 331 Views
  • 164 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between McAfee Institute Certifications & Training and Sophos Phish Threat based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about KnowBe4, Proofpoint, Sophos and others in Security Awareness Training.

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To learn more, read our detailed Security Awareness Training Report (Updated: May 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Security Awareness Training
May 2025
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Helped 855,080 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

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

Categories and Ranking

McAfee Institute Certificat...
Ranking in Security Awareness Training
6th
Average Rating
10.0
Number of Reviews
1
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Sophos Phish Threat
Ranking in Security Awareness Training
3rd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
12
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Security Awareness Training category, the mindshare of McAfee Institute Certifications & Training is 0.5%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Phish Threat is 4.2%, down from 5.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Security Awareness Training
 

Featured Reviews

TF
Helps with cybersecurity readiness, enhances awareness, and provides essential tools for investigations
While the program is comprehensive, there is always room for improvement. Specifically, I would love to see more focus on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and blockchain as they relate to cybersecurity. As these technologies become increasingly integrated into our professional and personal lives, understanding their security implications is critical. Also, a more advanced follow-up course would be beneficial for keeping professionals updated on the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape.
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Shaun Gordon - PeerSpot reviewer
Identifies vulnerable employees through customized simulations
Sophos Phish Threat effectively identifies susceptible employees. It depends on knowing my staff. For example, if I receive an email claiming my Facebook account is compromised, I immediately recognize it as suspicious, as I don't have Facebook. If I know my staff use LinkedIn, I utilize the LinkedIn simulation. Similarly, if they bank with Absa, I use the Absa simulation. There isn't a single 'one size fits all' approach. Sophos Phish Threat ensures users do not click on dodgy emails or dodgy links within an environment.
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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 standout features of the CECI program were undoubtedly the hands-on labs and real-world case studies."
"It is easy to use."
"The installation is straightforward. You only need to upload the user's email address to the cloud and you can start using it."
"It is very simple to install and you can do it by yourself."
"It is simple to push tests out to a group of users."
"Sophos Phish Threat is valuable as it is easy to use and effectively educates end users on the threats they may face and how to identify them."
"The scalability is very good."
"I have found the implementation process to be simple and straightforward."
"Sophos Phish Threat effectively identifies susceptible employees."
More Sophos Phish Threat pros
 

Cons

"A more advanced follow-up course would be beneficial for keeping professionals updated on the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape."
"Sophos should offer tests where we can emulate new attacks happening now."
"Integration with other products could be improved."
"The solution could be much more secure."
"Sophos Phish Threat can improve load balancing."
"The product's price is an area of concern, and it can be improved if Sophos reduces the prices by seven to nine percent, considering the current market price at which the product is offered."
"The security could be simplified within the product."
"The security of the solution could improve."
"There is a need for improvement regarding false negatives dealing with Office 365."
More Sophos Phish Threat cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"Licensing fees are paid annually."
"There is a license required for this solution and the cost depends on the number of users."
"The pricing is very good, and some of my customers who have used other vendors say that Sophos is priced well within the market."
"The license for the product comes with the firewall offered by Sophos, so a user need not buy it separately."
"There are monthly and annual subscriptions available to use Sophos Phish Threat. The price is reasonable."
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Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about McAfee Institute Certifications & Training?
I heard from other peers that their course and training quality are really good, so I bought a Crimelab a few days ago. Unfortunately, the material is outdated, but I believe their other course mat...
See all answers
What needs improvement with McAfee Institute Certifications & Training?
While the program is comprehensive, there is always room for improvement. Specifically, I would love to see more focus on emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, ...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for McAfee Institute Certifications & Training?
My primary reason for enrolling in the CECI program was to build on my existing skills in cybersecurity, particularly in the area of cyber investigations. I work in a large financial organization t...
See all answers
What do you like most about Sophos Phish Threat?
I find the solution's reports very valuable.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Sophos Phish Threat?
There is a need for improvement regarding false negatives dealing with Office 365. The issue stems from policies in Office 365 that prevent scanning certain elements, which might trigger errors. I ...
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Sophos Phish Threat?
I use Sophos Phish Threat to test employee security awareness. Essentially, my clients utilize Phish Threat to ensure that users are not clicking on suspicious emails or links. It is a simulated ca...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

No data available
KnowBe4 vs Sophos Phish Threat Logo
KnowBe4 vs Sophos Phish Threat
Compared 73% of the time
Proofpoint’s ZenGuide vs Sophos Phish Threat Logo
Proofpoint’s ZenGuide vs Sophos Phish Threat
Compared 27% of the time
More Sophos Phish Threat Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Security Awareness Training
May 2025
McAfee Institute Certifications & Training reportDownload McAfee Institute Certifications & Training product report
Buyer's Guide
Sophos Phish Threat
May 2025
Sophos Phish Threat reportDownload Sophos Phish Threat product report
 

Also Known As

No data available
Phish Threat
 

Overview

McAfee Institute LLC. is a professional certification body that administers several board certifications for the intelligence and investigative sectors. Topics available for training include cryptocurrency investigations, cyber intelligence, and investigations, counterintelligence, human trafficking, workplace violence, active shooter, organized retail crime, leadership, incident response, digital forensics, fraud, deception detection, and more.

McAfee Institute

Sophos Phish Threat emulates a range of phishing attack types to help you identify areas of weakness in your organization’s security posture, and empower users through engaging training to strengthen your organizations defenses.

Sophos
Buyer's Guide
Security Awareness Training
May 2025
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