Email Security: 18 Tools compared

Abnormal Security is an AI-native email security platform that uses behavioral AI to detect and block socially-engineered email attacks that bypass traditional email security gateways. Rather than relying on signatures, threat feeds, or URL scanning, Abnormal builds behavioral profiles of every identity in the organization and detects anomalies in communication patterns, writing style, and email metadata. This approach is particularly effective against business email compromise, vendor fraud, and account takeover attacks that contain no malicious payloads for traditional tools to catch.

Cisco Secure Email (formerly Cisco Email Security Appliance / IronPort) is an enterprise email security gateway that provides protection against phishing, malware, ransomware, and business email compromise. As part of Cisco's broader security portfolio, it integrates with Cisco SecureX, Talos threat intelligence, and Cisco's network security products to provide cross-domain threat visibility. Cisco Secure Email is available as a cloud-hosted service or on-premises appliance and is particularly strong in organizations that have standardized on Cisco networking and security infrastructure.

Egress provides intelligent email security that combines adaptive encryption with AI-powered risk detection. Rather than applying blanket encryption rules, Egress analyzes each email's content, recipients, and context to dynamically determine the right level of protection. From automatic TLS to full end-to-end encryption. Now part of KnowBe4, Egress signs BAAs for HIPAA compliance and is widely used in healthcare, legal, and financial services.

LuxSci provides HIPAA-compliant email hosting and encryption as a combined service, eliminating the need for separate email and encryption vendors. It offers multiple encryption methods. TLS, portal pickup, PGP, and S/MIME. With policy-based automation that selects the right method per message. LuxSci signs BAAs and provides dedicated infrastructure for healthcare organizations that need both email hosting and encryption under one HIPAA-compliant umbrella.

Mimecast is a cloud-based email security platform that provides comprehensive protection against advanced email threats including phishing, ransomware, impersonation attacks, and business email compromise. Its Targeted Threat Protection suite uses multiple detection layers including URL rewriting, attachment sandboxing, and impersonation detection to block threats before they reach the inbox. Mimecast also offers email continuity, archiving, and security awareness training, positioning it as a direct competitor to Proofpoint across the full email security lifecycle.

Proofpoint is a email security and cybersecurity platform that protects organizations from advanced threats targeting their people through email, cloud, and social media channels. Its Threat Protection platform combines machine learning, behavioral analysis, and threat intelligence to block phishing, business email compromise, malware, and ransomware attacks before they reach end users. Proofpoint also provides email data loss prevention, encryption, archiving, and compliance capabilities, making it a comprehensive platform for securing enterprise email communications and meeting regulatory requirements.

Tessian (now part of Proofpoint following acquisition) is a human layer security platform that uses machine learning to protect against inbound email threats and prevent outbound data loss caused by human error. Its AI engine analyzes email communication patterns to detect phishing, BEC, account takeover, and misdirected emails. Where users accidentally send sensitive data to the wrong recipient. Tessian's unique strength is its ability to prevent accidental data loss alongside inbound threat protection, addressing the human risk layer that traditional gateways miss.

Tuta (formerly Tutanota) is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted email provider based in Germany. Every email, contact, and calendar entry is encrypted at rest with zero-access architecture. Tuta uses its own encryption protocols rather than PGP, encrypting subject lines in addition to message bodies. While primarily focused on GDPR compliance and personal privacy, Tuta's business plans offer custom domains, team management, and whitelabel options.

Zix, now part of OpenText, is one of the longest-established email encryption platforms with a massive install base across healthcare, finance, and government. Zix provides policy-based encryption that automatically secures emails containing sensitive data, using TLS and a secure portal fallback. Its ZixDirectory enables direct encrypted delivery between Zix customers without portal friction. Zix signs BAAs and meets HIPAA, PCI DSS, and SOX requirements.