Best Cloud Email Security Solutions
Cloud email security solutions are secure email platforms used to prevent phishing scams that trick users into divulging privileged information. The platforms, hosted by the cloud email security vendor, also ensure emails containing links to malicious sites or trigger malware downloads are blocked before reaching the end user. Businesses use cloud email security solutions to prevent data loss and the release of privileges or credentials, and increase endpoint security by blocking malware and other web-based threats.
These tools emerged as portions of the secure email gateway market have adapted to the digital transformation and reduced the need for on-premise email security tools and appliances. There is some overlap between cloud email security tools and email anti-spam software and email encryption software, but those tools typically serve one single purpose and may be delivered in both cloud and on-premise forms.
To qualify for inclusion in the Cloud Email Security category, a product must:
Featured Cloud Email Security Solutions At A Glance
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Proofpoint’s Core Email Protection (CEP) stops 99.99% of all email threats before they become compromises. It stops the broadest range of email cyberattacks, spam and graymail. For security analysts,
31,106 Twitter followers
Acronis delivers the world’s most complete cyber resilience platform, combining backup, disaster recovery, cybersecurity, RMM, and business operations tools into a single, natively integrated solution
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is a unified platform that integrates backup, cybersecurity, disaster recovery and endpoint protection into a single solution. Users like the platform's ability to combine backup, disaster recovery, and cybersecurity into one platform, its user-friendly dashboard, and its reliable backup and recovery process. Reviewers noted that some features can feel complex to configure initially, especially for new users, and the interface could be more intuitive in certain areas, and the pricing can also be slightly high compared to basic backup-only solutions, especially for smaller organisations.
94,907 Twitter followers
Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration, protects enterprise data by preventing targeted attacks on SaaS applications and cloud-based email.
Check Point Anti-Spam & Email Security is a tool designed for the detection and prevention of spam and phishing attacks, integrating with platforms like Microsoft 365 and providing real-time threat prevention. Reviewers frequently mention the product's seamless integration with platforms like Microsoft 365, its user-friendly interface, and its effective blocking of spam, phishing, and malicious emails, which enhances productivity and reduces IT overhead. Reviewers mentioned issues such as the limited range of supported email platforms, the need for more granular control over policies and rules, and the occasional flagging of secure emails as suspicious, which can slow down workflows and require manual review.
71,026 Twitter followers
Barracuda Email Protection helps organizations of all sizes and industries defend against increasingly sophisticated, frequent, and targeted attacks, including phishing, ransomware, business email com
15,260 Twitter followers
Paubox is a HIPAA compliant email security platform designed for healthcare organizations. It provides outbound email encryption and AI-powered inbound email protection, helping organizations safeguar
Paubox is a HIPAA compliant email encryption service that allows users to send secure emails without taking extra steps. Reviewers like the ease of use, seamless integration with existing email platforms, and the peace of mind provided by the automatic encryption of both incoming and outgoing emails. Reviewers noted occasional issues with emails being held up in quarantine, difficulty understanding the technology, and concerns about the cost, especially for small practices.
16,536 Twitter followers
Coro is the easy cybersecurity company. We designed an all-in-one platform that every lean IT team will master. While other solutions scare people into buying complicated, confusing products, we lead
Coro Cybersecurity is a product that provides a variety of cybersecurity functions through a single dashboard, including end user security, email security, and device security. Users frequently mention the ease of use, the intuitive design, the quick setup, and the dedicated customer support as standout features of Coro Cybersecurity. Users reported issues with the sensitivity of detection leading to false positives, compatibility issues with some macOS versions, and a desire for more individual configuration options and additional features.
1,900 Twitter followers
Abnormal AI is the leading AI-native human behavior security platform, leveraging machine learning to stop sophisticated inbound attacks and detect compromised accounts across email and connected appl
Email Security, Cloud Integrated (CI) protects organizations against all forms of email-based attacks, from phishing and credential theft to ransomware and zero-day threats. This solution deploys behi
18,070 Twitter followers
Guardz is the unified cybersecurity platform purpose-built for MSPs. We consolidate the essential security controls, including identities, endpoints, email, awareness, and more, into one AI-native fra
111 Twitter followers
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a comprehensive security solution designed to protect organizations from advanced threats targeting email and collaboration tools within the Microsoft 365 environm
13,088,482 Twitter followers
Protect your business from disruption, financial loss and reputational damage. Libraesva Email Security stops known and emerging email threats from reaching their target, so you only receive legiti
326 Twitter followers
365 Total Protection is the only solution on the market to cover all aspects of security, compliance and backup for Microsoft 365. Choose from various bundles to suit your business needs, and enjo
1,125 Twitter followers
IRONSCALES is a cloud-native email security platform that helps enterprises and MSPs close gaps with mailbox-level detection, autonomous remediation, and built-in user training. It combines AI and hum
3,535 Twitter followers
Impersonation Protection protects against business email compromise, account takeover, spear phishing, and other cyber fraud. It combines artificial intelligence and deep integration with Microsoft Of
15,260 Twitter followers
Valimail: The Leader in Email Authentication & Brand Protection Valimail is the trusted leader in automated email authentication, helping organizations achieve and maintain DMARC enforcement up
1,102 Twitter followers
Learn More About Cloud Email Security Solutions
What is Cloud Email Security Software?
Using cloud email security software, companies can protect their systems from unwanted emails or malicious email threats. Cloud email security software tools detect and quarantine unwanted emails including those containing spam and bulk emails; malware, ransomware, spyware, and other viruses in malicious links or attachments; phishing and spear-phishing attempts; C-level executive impersonation attacks; advanced targeted attacks; and more. Cloud email security software may also provide other features such as email archiving, email encryption, and data loss prevention functions for outgoing email.
Cloud email security software shares similarities with secure email gateways, which are designed to protect on-premises email. Cloud email security software, alternatively, is designed to protect cloud-based email environments and does not require on-premises hardware installations.
Key Benefits of Cloud Email Security Software
- Offer a cloud-based, rather than on-premises, email security solution
- Include anti-spam, anti-malware, and anti-phishing capabilities
- Detect and quarantine suspicious emails, including links and attachments
Why Use Cloud Email Security Software?
Cloud email security software helps companies protect their cloud-based email communications. Email is one of the most commonly used points of entry hackers use to gain access to corporate systems or to trick recipients into divulging sensitive information; often, these attacks lead to information or financial losses and reputational damage. Cloud email security software protects against email-focused attacks by blocking or quarantining suspicious emails. Given many companies have migrated from on-premises to cloud-based email solutions, the tools to secure their email need to evolve to face new threats emerging every day.
In particular, cloud email security software protects against spam, malware, and phishing attacks. Malware attacks, which often originate from emails with malicious links or attachments that unsuspecting users click or open. Malware can include ransomware, spyware, or other viruses. Ransomware encrypts company files and demands a random to decrypt them. Spyware usually sits silently on company systems stealing sensitive information such as intellectual property or trade secrets. Other viruses seek to embarrass companies and can damage a company’s brand and reputation. For example, a virus that sends an email to all of the user’s contacts, would fall in this category.
Cloud email security software also protects against social-engineering attacks such as phishing, spear-phishing, and c-level executive impersonation attacks. Phishing attacks are emails sent in bulk aiming to get employees to divulge information, such as sensitive financial information. Spear-phishing is a type of phishing that is targeted to a specific individual; in spear-phishing attacks, hackers spend time getting to know the targeted employee’s habits and preferences in order to send a personalized malicious email. The newest kind of phishing attacks are known as “impersonation attacks," which are often emails sent to company employees impersonating C-level executives which ask employees to make large financial transactions or purchases.
Additionally, companies use cloud email security software to meet regulatory compliance regarding data protection. Most notably, data loss prevention functions in cloud email security solutions help prevent data leakage on outgoing emails. For example, hacked email accounts (known as account takeover) can email out sensitive information. A less sinister example would be when a legitimate employee mistakenly sends out sensitive information such as personally identifiable information (PII), Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and other confidential data. Additionally, when a breach occurs, reporting functions in the cloud email security software can assist IT administrators in understanding which accounts were impacted in the incident.
Who Uses Cloud Email Security Software?
All companies that use email systems, whether on-premises or cloud-based, should have an email security tool in place. Cloud email security software is used to protect cloud-based email systems. Typically, a company's IT administrators manage the deployment and monitoring of these tools. Using cloud-based solutions instead of on-premises solutions, IT administrators can save time by not patching software or hardware.
Cloud Email Security Software Features
At minimum, cloud email security software offers advanced filtering functionality and rule-based actions to prevent email-based spam, malware, viruses, and phishing attempts. Many cloud email security software providers include additional functionality including advanced threat protection, encryption, and data loss prevention tools, among others.
Anti-spam — This functionality prevents unwanted emails (bulk, mass, or other junk emails) from reaching recipients mailboxes. Filtering out spam emails can improve employee productivity, because employees are not sifting through unwanted emails.
Anti-malware — This feature prevents emails with malicious links or attachments embedded with malware (ransomware, spyware, other viruses, etc.) from reaching email recipients.
Anti-phishing — This functionality helps prevent social engineering attacks such as phishing, spear-phishing, and C-level executive impersonation attacks.
Filtering functionality — With filters, IT administrators can allow and prevent the delivery of certain kinds of emails to end users. Filters can include: approved senders, approved lists, greylists such as bulk emails that may not be malicious, blocked senders, blocklists, IP reputation, content (such as profanity, credit card numbers, password protected files, and other sensitive information), virus detection, redirects and malicious URLs, newsletter detection, attachment size, and invalid recipients.
Rule-based actions — Using rule-based actions, the cloud email security software can automatically block, delete, route to, tag a subject, copy an administrator, and redirect emails to another email address, among other actions.
Granular search functionality — Cloud email security solutions enable IT administrators to locate specific emails using granular search functionality. Users can narrow emails down from sender, recipient, content, and many other factors.
User groups settings — With user group settings, IT administrators can easily manage users by assigning them to groups and applying group settings.
Reporting — One of the major benefits of using cloud email security software is the ability to create reports to understand unique threats over time. Many cloud email security solutions provide incident logging with granular detail, which is required for regulatory compliance. Reports often come in PDF or CSV formats.
Dashboards (administrator and end-user) — Cloud email security solutions offer dashboards for administrators to manage their company’s email security, as well as quarantine dashboard for end users to review suspicious email activity related to their user account.
Additional Cloud Email Security Features
Advanced threat protection — As email-borne threats become more sophisticated, so must the security tools needed to thwart these attacks. Many cloud email security solutions include further security tools, providing an additional layer of protection on top of standard anti-spam, anti-malware, and anti-phishing functions. Advanced threat protections often include machine learning to conduct abnormal behavioral analysis, display name spoof detection (especially regarding C-level impersonation attacks), detecting lookalike email domains that are visually confusing (such as the letters “RN" looking like the letter “M" when in lowercase. Example, “name@ernail.com" visually looks like “name@email.com"), compromised email account detection, and other anomalies.
Embedded data loss protection — While cloud email security is mostly concerned with ensuring the safety of incoming mail, some tools monitor outgoing mail, as well. Monitoring can prevent employees from sending sensitive information externally via email. Monitoring can also include things such as ensuring employees do not use profanity or other non-approved language in their emails to prevent reputational damage.
Multi-language — Some cloud email security software providers support email analysis in multiple languages and allow custom dictionaries.
Embedded encryption — Some cloud email security solutions offer embedded encryption functions, which apply encryption to a company’s outgoing emails based on specific policies.
Archiving — Some cloud email security solutions also offer archiving solutions, which are helpful for companies in regulated industries to properly store, secure, and search emails as needed.
Other Features of Cloud Email Security Solutions: Account takeover prevention, Advanced threat protection (ATP)
