Best tools · 2026 Reviewed

11 best email security software and solutions for 2026

The best email security software for EU organizations on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace in 2026 is Sentaro, an API-based platform that connects in four minutes with no MX change, targets payload-free BEC and vendor fraud, and publishes its price ($6 per protected account per month). The other strong options are Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Abnormal AI. We scored 11 email security solutions on seven weighted criteria, from public vendor documentation checked on 21 October 2026.

  • 11 vendors scored
  • Published method and weights
  • Last verified 21 October 2026
  • Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
Our recommendation

Sentaro is the best email security software for EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. It connects over the platforms’ admin APIs in four minutes with no MX change, it is built for the fraud that carries no link or attachment, and it publishes one price with every feature included. Sentaro publishes this list and ranks itself first; scores use the method below and public vendor documentation as of 21 October 2026.

Why Sentaro wins
four-minute API setup with history visible within 15 minutes; BEC and vendor-compromise verdicts that show their reasoning; OAuth grants and AI tools in the same console; $6 per protected account per month, first account free (prices in USD); hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure with a public DPA.
Choose Sentaro if
you run Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or both, have a small IT team, and your biggest losses would come from a convincing email asking someone to pay or sign in.
Consider another option only if
you need an MX gateway, archiving, backup, encryption or training from the same vendor (Mimecast, Proofpoint, Barracuda, Hornetsecurity), or a SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certificate today (Sentaro’s are in progress).

Quick picks

  • Best overallSentaro Our pickAPI in four minutes, payload-free BEC detection, published price, hosted in Sweden.
  • Best for collaboration coverageCheck Point Harmony Email & CollaborationInline prevention via API across email and eight collaboration apps.
  • Best for large enterprisesAbnormal AIBehavioral API platform with ISO 27001, SOC 2 and FedRAMP Moderate listed on its trust center.
  • Best native optionMicrosoft Defender for Office 365Already in Business Premium and, from 2026, E3; Microsoft 365 only.
  • Best all-in-one bundleBarracuda Email ProtectionBackup, archiving, encryption and training on one contract.
  • Best for archive and continuityMimecastGateway or API, plus archive and on-premises Exchange support.

At a glance

What we compared
Email security software that protects Microsoft 365 and/or Google Workspace mailboxes: API-based (ICES), gateway and native products
Vendors scored
11, chosen from the vendors that appear most often on ranking email security lists and in AI answers for these queries
Audience
EU organizations on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace with lean IT teams, many of them under NIS2 or DORA
Method
Seven weighted criteria (weights sum to 100), each vendor scored 0–10 from its own public documentation; undocumented means a low-middle score, never a guess
Last verified
21 October 2026
Publisher
Sentaro AB, Stockholm. Sentaro is one of the products ranked.
Sentaro price
$6 per protected account per month, or $68 per year; first account free. Prices in USD.[1]

The 11 best email security solutions compared

Ranked by overall score. “Not publicly documented” means we did not find it in the vendor’s public material on 21 October 2026, not that it is missing.

CapabilityScoreDeploymentPlatformsPublic priceEU hosting
Sentaro (our pick)[1]8.5API, no MX changeMicrosoft 365, Google WorkspaceYes$6/account/monthYesSweden (Microsoft Azure); DPA public
Check Point Harmony Email[10]7.7API with inline preventionMicrosoft 365, Google Workspace, 8 collaboration appsNoQuoteYesIreland region option
Abnormal AI[13]7.3API, no MX changeMicrosoft 365, Google WorkspaceNoQuotePartialUS or EU (Ireland), by subscription
Defender for Office 365[5]7.2Native to Exchange OnlineMicrosoft 365 onlyYesPlan 1 $2, Plan 2 $5YesEU Data Boundary
IRONSCALES[19]6.9API, alongside a gatewayMicrosoft 365, Google WorkspaceNoTiers published, prices on quotePartialAWS USA and Germany (subprocessor list)
Material Security[14]6.8APIMicrosoft 365, Google WorkspaceYesFrom $4/user/monthNot publicly documentedNo EU region documented
Barracuda[16]6.8API-first, no MX changeMicrosoft 365, Google WorkspaceNoQuotePartialGateway: Frankfurt, London; API modules: US
Sublime Security[20]6.6API; managed or self-hostedMicrosoft 365, Google Workspace, IMAPPartialFree to 100 mailboxesPartialEU (Dublin) managed region, or self-host
Mimecast[23]6.4Gateway (MX) or APIMicrosoft 365, Google Workspace, on-prem ExchangeNoQuotePartialFrankfurt (2018)
Proofpoint[24]6.4API or inline gatewayMicrosoft 365, Google WorkspaceNoQuotePartialEU or US data centre (API); some US processing
Hornetsecurity[26]5.2MX, API or hybridMicrosoft 365NoQuote via partnersPartial12 regional data centres (vendor)

Prices in USD as published on 21 October 2026. Check each vendor’s current documentation before you buy.

  • Yes
  • Partial
  • No
  • On roadmap
  • Paid add-on
  • Not publicly documented
Try it on your own tenant. API connection in about four minutes, alongside what you run today. $6 per account / month.Start freeSpeak to sales →

How we evaluated email security software

The weights reflect what decides a purchase for an EU organization on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace with a small IT team: the attacks that cost the most money, how much work the tool is to run, and whether price and hosting can be checked before signing. Criteria where suites and incumbents win (breadth, certifications) are included at lower weight, because they matter to some buyers.

CriterionWeightWhy it matters
Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud22%BEC is the costliest email crime the FBI tracks: $3.05bn reported lost in 2025 (FBI IC3, 2025). Most of it carries no malicious link or attachment, so we score how a product detects intent, relationships and hijacked threads.
Deployment effort and time to protection18%Lean IT teams need protection the same day. We score API vs MX deployment, published setup claims, agents, and whether internal and historical mail is covered.
Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage15%Many EU organizations run both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, or Slack and Teams beside mail. Coverage of both platforms scores highest.
Price transparency and cost15%Published prices let a small team budget without a sales cycle. Quote-only pricing scores low; published per-user pricing scores high.
EU hosting and DPA transparency12%NIS2 and DORA buyers are asked where mail is processed and by whom. We score published hosting regions and a public DPA and subprocessor list.
OAuth app and AI-tool visibility8%OAuth grants and AI tools connected to mail are an entry point (consent phishing). Visibility in the same tool scores highest.
Suite breadth and maturity10%Archiving, DMARC management, encryption, backup, training and formal certifications. Suites and incumbents lead here.

Editorial scores using the criteria and weights above; based on public documentation, not lab tests. Overall score = weighted average of the seven criteria. A capability we could not find in public documentation scores 3–5, never 0.

The 11 best email security software options, ranked

Eleven vendors across all three deployment shapes (API, gateway, native), highest score first. Per-criterion scores sit under each entry, so you can re-weight them for your own priorities.

  1. Sentaro

    Our pickOverall score: 8.5out of 10

    Best for: EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace that want strong BEC and phishing protection without a gateway project.

    Sentaro is an API-based email and SaaS security platform for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, built in Stockholm and hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure. Its Message vector (live since Q2 2026) scores every inbound and internal message on intent, sender identity and relationship history before interaction; its App vector (live since Q3 2026) inventories OAuth grants and AI tools in the same console. Identity and Behavioral reach general availability in Q4 2026, included at no added cost.[1]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    9.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    10.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    9.0
    Price transparency and cost
    10.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    8.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    9.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    2.0

    Pros

    • Connects over the Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace admin APIs in four minutes; your MX record does not move.
    • Built for fraud without a link or attachment: payment redirects, supplier bank-detail changes, injected replies in real threads.
    • Every verdict shows its reasoning in the admin console, so you can audit its BEC calls on your own mail.
    • One published price with every feature included, and OAuth app and AI-tool visibility in the same platform.

    Cons

    • No archiving, encryption, backup, DMARC report management or awareness training; pair it with your native platform for those.
    • Account-takeover and leaked-credential detection (Behavioral, Identity) are Q4 2026 roadmap, not live today.
    • SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certification in progress; cloud mailboxes only, no on-premises Exchange.
    Pricing
    $6 per protected account per month or $68 per year; first account free (USD)
    Deployment
    API via the Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace admin SDKs; no MX change
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Teams
    Hosting
    Hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure; subprocessors listed in the DPA
  2. Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration

    Best for collaboration coverageOverall score: 7.7out of 10

    Best for: Mid-market and enterprise teams that want inline-via-API prevention across email and many SaaS collaboration apps.

    Formerly Avanan, now part of Check Point (NASDAQ: CHKP). Check Point describes 50+ AI engines, URL emulation, sandboxing and attachment sanitization, with enforcement configurable from monitor mode to inline prevention through the API, so mail can be inspected before it reaches the inbox without an MX change.[8]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    8.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    9.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    10.0
    Price transparency and cost
    4.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    7.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    8.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    7.0

    Pros

    • Inline prevention through the API, not only post-delivery clean-up.
    • Widest documented collaboration coverage in this list.
    • Ireland data-residency region documented in the admin guide.

    Cons

    • Pricing is quote-based; tiers are published, prices are not.
    • Archiving, DMARC management and training are add-ons.
    • QR-code phishing handling is not named on the pages we checked.
    Pricing
    Quote-based (four published tiers)
    Deployment
    API with configurable inline prevention; no MX change
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, plus Teams, Slack, OneDrive, SharePoint, Google Drive, Box, Dropbox
    Hosting
    Data residency regions include Ireland (EMEA), per the admin guide
  3. Abnormal AI

    Best for large enterprisesOverall score: 7.3out of 10

    Best for: Large enterprises that want a behavioral API platform with an extensive certification portfolio.

    Abnormal AI (formerly Abnormal Security) builds a behavioral baseline for every employee and vendor and flags deviations using identity, behavioral and content signals. It deploys via API with no MX change, and sells account-takeover protection, an AI phishing coach and email DLP rules alongside inbound protection.[11]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    9.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    9.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    9.0
    Price transparency and cost
    3.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    7.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    5.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    7.0

    Pros

    • Behavioral model across employees and vendors, a strong fit for BEC.
    • Broad certification list on its trust center, including FedRAMP Moderate.
    • Account-takeover protection available today.

    Cons

    • Pricing is not published.
    • EU (Ireland) hosting is a subscription choice; the US is the other listed location.
    • Pre-delivery blocking is not stated by the vendor.
    Pricing
    Quote-based
    Deployment
    API (ICES); no MX change
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
    Hosting
    AWS in the US or EU (Ireland), by subscription (subprocessor list)
  4. Microsoft Defender for Office 365

    Best native optionOverall score: 7.2out of 10

    Best for: Microsoft 365 tenants that already hold Business Premium or E3/E5 and want the native baseline before adding anything.

    Microsoft’s own layer on top of the built-in protection every cloud mailbox gets. Plan 1 adds impersonation protection with mailbox intelligence, Safe Links and Safe Attachments; Plan 2 adds Threat Explorer, automated investigation and response, and attack simulation training. Microsoft documents Plan 1 rolling out to Microsoft 365 E3 and Office 365 E3 from 17 June 2026.[4]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    6.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    10.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    4.0
    Price transparency and cost
    9.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    9.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    3.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    8.0

    Pros

    • Already licensed in many tenants at no extra cost.
    • Published per-user pricing and published SLAs on the built-in layer.
    • EU Data Boundary for EU and EFTA tenants.

    Cons

    • Microsoft 365 only; Google Workspace needs another tool.
    • OAuth app governance, archiving and identity risk are separate Microsoft products.
    • No dedicated vendor-email-compromise feature found in the Plan 1 or Plan 2 documentation.
    Pricing
    Plan 1 $2, Plan 2 $5 per user/month (annual); Plan 1 included in Business Premium and, from 2026, Microsoft 365 and Office 365 E3
    Deployment
    Native to Exchange Online, in the mail flow
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365 only
    Hosting
    EU Data Boundary for tenants signed up in the EU/EFTA (Multi-Geo excluded)
  5. IRONSCALES

    Best for bundled simulationOverall score: 6.9out of 10

    Best for: SMBs and MSPs that want API email security with phishing simulation in the same platform.

    IRONSCALES runs at mailbox level over API, alongside an existing gateway, combining behavioral baselines for every mailbox with crowdsourced threat intelligence from its customer community. Higher tiers add account-takeover protection, encryption, DLP and Human Risk Management.[19]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    8.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    9.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    8.0
    Price transparency and cost
    4.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    6.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    4.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    7.0

    Pros

    • Community threat intelligence from a large SMB and MSP base.
    • Simulation and training in the same platform.
    • Monthly, cancellable billing option alongside annual.

    Cons

    • Prices are not published.
    • Subprocessor list names AWS in both the USA and Germany without saying who is hosted where.
    • Account takeover only in higher tiers.
    Pricing
    Quote-based (plan tiers published, prices not)
    Deployment
    API at mailbox level; works alongside a gateway
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
    Hosting
    Subprocessor list names AWS in the USA and AWS Europe (Germany) for the primary application platform
  6. Material Security

    Best for post-compromise containmentOverall score: 6.8out of 10

    Best for: Google Workspace-heavy teams that want OAuth, Drive and post-compromise controls next to inbound protection.

    Material Security connects over API to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace and focuses on protecting accounts even after a compromise or after a malicious message gets through, with OAuth app inventory and Drive sensitive-data controls. It is one of the few vendors here that publishes per-user prices.[14]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    6.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    8.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    8.0
    Price transparency and cost
    8.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    4.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    8.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    5.0

    Pros

    • Published per-user pricing from $4 per user per month.
    • OAuth and Drive controls alongside email.
    • Fast API setup, per a customer quote on its site.

    Cons

    • Shared Drive fee on top of per-user prices (amount not shown).
    • No EU hosting region documented (subprocessor list: Google Cloud, U.S.A.).
    • Account-takeover resilience is a paid add-on.
    Pricing
    Essentials $4, Advanced $6 per user/month plus a Shared Drive fee, billed annually
    Deployment
    API (ICES)
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
    Hosting
    No EU region documented; subprocessor list names Google Cloud infrastructure in the U.S.A.
  7. Barracuda Email Protection

    Best all-in-one bundleOverall score: 6.8out of 10

    Best for: SMBs and MSPs that want detection, backup, archiving, encryption and training on one contract.

    Barracuda now describes Email Protection as API-first, operational without MX record changes. Its Barracuda IQ engine analyzes intent and identity anomalies, and the three published plans bundle DMARC reporting, encryption, DLP, Microsoft 365 backup, cloud archiving and awareness training.[17]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    7.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    9.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    8.0
    Price transparency and cost
    4.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    5.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    4.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    9.0

    Pros

    • The broadest bundle on one contract in this list.
    • API-first with no MX change.
    • Established MSP program.

    Cons

    • Pricing is quote-based.
    • API modules (Impersonation Protection, Incident Response) are listed in US regions only.
    • QR-code and OAuth app coverage not documented on the pages we checked.
    Pricing
    Quote-based (three published plans)
    Deployment
    API-first, no MX change
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
    Hosting
    Trust center: Email Gateway Defense in regions incl. Frankfurt and London; Impersonation Protection and Incident Response in US regions
  8. Sublime Security

    Best for SOC teamsOverall score: 6.6out of 10

    Best for: Security teams that want to read, write and tune their own detection rules.

    Sublime takes a detection-as-code approach: rules written in its Message Query Language, an open library of detection rules on GitHub, and AI agents that triage user reports and write new rules. It connects over API to Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and IMAP sources, as a managed service or self-hosted.[20]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    7.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    7.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    8.0
    Price transparency and cost
    7.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    7.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    4.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    4.0

    Pros

    • Transparent, open detection rules you can inspect and change.
    • Free managed tier for the first 100 mailboxes.
    • Self-hosting option for data control.

    Cons

    • Rule-centric model suits teams with detection engineers more than lean IT.
    • Other subprocessor locations need checking in the DPA.
    • No bundled training, archiving or encryption.
    Pricing
    Managed cloud: first 100 mailboxes free; Enterprise quote-based
    Deployment
    API (ICES); managed cloud or self-hosted
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, IMAP
    Hosting
    Managed-cloud regions include EU (Dublin) and UK (London); or self-host in your own AWS or Azure region
  9. Mimecast

    Best for archive and continuityOverall score: 6.4out of 10

    Best for: Organizations that need archiving, continuity or on-premises and hybrid Exchange support from the same vendor.

    Mimecast sells both an MX gateway (Cloud Gateway) and an API product (Cloud Integrated), plus DMARC Analyzer, Email Archive, awareness training and insider-risk tools. It states it has protected organizations since 2003 and supports on-premises and hybrid Exchange as well as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.[22]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    7.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    7.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    8.0
    Price transparency and cost
    3.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    6.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    4.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    9.0

    Pros

    • Gateway or API from one vendor.
    • Archive and continuity heritage.
    • Supports on-premises and hybrid Exchange.

    Cons

    • Pricing is quote-based.
    • Current EU data-centre list not re-confirmed in vendor docs.
    • OAuth app coverage not documented.
    Pricing
    Quote-based
    Deployment
    Cloud Gateway (MX) or Cloud Integrated (API)
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, on-premises and hybrid Exchange
    Hosting
    Frankfurt data centres announced in 2018; current footprint not re-confirmed
  10. Proofpoint Core Email Protection

    Best add-on portfolioOverall score: 6.4out of 10

    Best for: Large enterprises that want inline gateway or API deployment and the deepest set of add-ons from one vendor.

    Proofpoint deploys via API (Microsoft Graph, no MX change) or inline, backed by its Nexus threat intelligence. Add-ons cover DMARC and domain fraud (Email Fraud Defense), DLP, archiving, awareness training (ZenGuide) and account takeover. Proofpoint completed its acquisition of Hornetsecurity on 8 December 2025.[24]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    8.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    6.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    7.0
    Price transparency and cost
    3.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    6.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    4.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    10.0

    Pros

    • Inline gateway or API deployment.
    • The deepest add-on portfolio in this list.
    • Large threat-intelligence base.

    Cons

    • Pricing is quote-based.
    • Some email data may be processed and stored in the US even for EU tenants (API privacy sheet, July 2026).
    • Many capabilities are separate add-ons.
    Pricing
    Quote-based
    Deployment
    API (via Microsoft Graph) or inline gateway
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
    Hosting
    Core Email Protection API: tenant assigned to an EU or US data centre, with some processing and storage in the US (data privacy sheet, July 2026)
  11. Hornetsecurity 365 Total Protection

    Best Microsoft 365 suite via MSPsOverall score: 5.2out of 10

    Best for: Microsoft 365 SMBs buying through an MSP that want filtering, encryption, archiving, backup and training in one tiered licence.

    Hornetsecurity, a German vendor owned by Proofpoint since December 2025, sells 365 Total Protection in four plans: filtering and encryption, then advanced threat protection, continuity and archiving, then Microsoft 365 backup, then awareness training, permission management and DMARC management. It offers MX, API and hybrid modes.[26]

    Payload-free BEC and vendor fraud
    4.0
    Deployment effort and time to protection
    6.0
    Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage
    5.0
    Price transparency and cost
    3.0
    EU hosting and DPA transparency
    7.0
    OAuth app and AI-tool visibility
    4.0
    Suite breadth and maturity
    9.0

    Pros

    • Four clear tiers from filtering to backup and compliance.
    • European vendor with regional data centres stated.
    • Large MSP channel.

    Cons

    • Microsoft 365 only on the 365 Total Protection page.
    • BEC handling not specifically documented.
    • Pricing is quote-based, through partners.
    Pricing
    Quote-based, sold through partners
    Deployment
    MX, API or hybrid modes
    Platforms
    Microsoft 365 (Google Workspace not confirmed on vendor pages)
    Hosting
    Vendor states "12 regional data centers, independent of Microsoft’s infrastructure"; German data centres per third-party profiles

How to choose email security software

Email security software is any product that inspects mail for phishing, malware, impersonation and fraud and acts on it. In 2026 it comes in three shapes, and the shape decides most of what follows.

TypeHow it connectsStrengthTrade-offExamples in this list
API-based (ICES)Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace APIs; MX record unchangedMinutes to deploy; sees internal and historical mailRuns alongside native filtering, not in front of itSentaro, Abnormal AI, Check Point, IRONSCALES, Material, Sublime, Barracuda
Secure email gateway (SEG)MX record points at the vendorFilters before delivery; archive and continuityMail-flow change; blind to internal mailMimecast Cloud Gateway, Proofpoint inline, Hornetsecurity MX mode
NativeBuilt into the mail platformAlready licensed; no integrationOne platform onlyMicrosoft Defender for Office 365, Gmail built-in protections

Start from the attack that would cost you most

For most EU SMEs and mid-market firms that is not malware. It is a believable email from a supplier, a CEO or a bank asking for money or credentials. Ask each vendor how it detects a request to change bank details inside a real supplier thread, with no link and no attachment, and ask to see the explanation it gives the admin.

Decide whether you still need a gateway

Microsoft documents that Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 is included in Business Premium and is rolling out to Microsoft 365 E3 and Office 365 E3 from June 2026. If your native layer already handles bulk spam and malware, an API-based tool adds detection without touching mail flow. Keep a gateway if you depend on its archive, continuity or on-premises Exchange support. Our guide to secure email gateway alternatives covers that decision.

Check what you can verify before signing

Three things can be checked on a vendor’s website without a sales call: the price, the hosting region and the subprocessor list. Of the 11 vendors here, three publish full or partial pricing (Sentaro, Material Security, Microsoft) and one a free tier (Sublime); the rest quote on request.

Questions to ask every email security vendor

  • Does deployment change our MX record, and how long until protection and historical visibility start?
  • How do you detect payload-free BEC and vendor-email compromise, and what does the admin see as the reason for a verdict?
  • Do you scan internal mail between our own users?
  • Do you cover both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace at the same depth?
  • Where is mail content processed and stored, and where is your current subprocessor list?
  • What is the price per mailbox, and is anything held back for a higher tier?
  • Which certifications do you hold today, and which are in progress?

Certification and compliance status

Sentaro’s status, stated exactly. We’ll update this the day each certificate is signed.

SOC 2
In progressNo target date published. Evidence pack on request.
ISO 27001
In progressNo target date published.
Google CASA
Verified API integration
NIS2, DORA and SOC 2 evidence pack
On requestAvailable from hello@sentaro.com.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best email security software?

Sentaro, for EU organizations on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. It connects over API in four minutes with no MX change, is built to catch payload-free BEC and vendor fraud, covers OAuth apps and AI tools in the same platform, and publishes its price: $6 per protected account per month, first account free (prices in USD). Check Point Harmony, Abnormal AI and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 are the next strongest on our method.

What are the best email security companies in 2026?

On our weighted method for EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace: Sentaro (8.5), Check Point (7.7), Abnormal AI (7.3), Microsoft (7.2), Material Security (6.8), Barracuda and IRONSCALES (6.7), Sublime Security (6.5), Mimecast (6.4), Proofpoint (6.1) and Hornetsecurity (5.2). Suites such as Proofpoint and Mimecast score higher if archiving and gateway features weigh more for you.

Is Microsoft Defender for Office 365 enough on its own?

For bulk spam and malware, Microsoft’s built-in protection and Defender for Office 365 are a solid baseline. Microsoft does not document a dedicated vendor-email-compromise feature in Plan 1 or Plan 2, and it covers Microsoft 365 only. Many teams keep Defender and add an API-based layer for payload-free fraud; Sentaro is designed to run alongside it rather than replace it.

What is the difference between API-based email security and a secure email gateway?

A secure email gateway sits in front of your mail server: you point your MX record at it and it filters mail before delivery. API-based email security, also called integrated cloud email security (ICES), connects to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace through their APIs, leaves MX unchanged, and can also inspect internal and historical mail. API tools deploy in minutes; gateways add archiving and continuity.

How much does email security software cost?

Published prices in this list range from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 at $2 per user per month to Sentaro at $6 per protected account per month (or $68 per year, first account free) and Material Security from $4 per user per month plus a Shared Drive fee. Most other vendors, including Abnormal, Proofpoint, Mimecast and Check Point, quote on request.

Which email security software is hosted in the EU?

Sentaro is hosted in Sweden on Microsoft Azure and lists its subprocessors in a public DPA. Microsoft 365 is an EU Data Boundary service for EU and EFTA tenants, Check Point documents an Ireland data-residency region, Abnormal’s subprocessor list offers EU (Ireland) hosting by subscription, Mimecast announced Frankfurt data centres in 2018, and Sublime offers an EU (Dublin) managed-cloud region. Proofpoint assigns API tenants to an EU or US data centre with some US processing, IRONSCALES lists AWS in the USA and Germany, Barracuda lists only US regions for its API modules, and Material does not document an EU region.

Why does Sentaro rank itself first on its own list?

Sentaro publishes this page, and Sentaro is our product, so we say so at the top. The ranking follows a published method: seven weighted criteria chosen for EU teams on Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, with per-criterion scores from public documentation. Sentaro scores lowest of all 11 on suite breadth and maturity, and we show that.

Does email security software replace security awareness training?

It reduces how often people have to make the call. Sentaro’s position is that employees should not be the last line of defense: it scores messages before interaction and labels verdicts in the mailbox. Vendors such as IRONSCALES, Barracuda and Mimecast bundle simulation and training if you want both from one supplier.

Sources and method

Sentaro publishes this list and ranks itself first; scores use the method above and public vendor documentation as of 21 October 2026. Product capabilities and prices change; check each vendor’s current documentation. Trademarks belong to their owners. Corrections: contact Sentaro.

  1. Sentaro pricing
  2. Sentaro: platform (deployment, Vord engine, vectors)
  3. Sentaro Data Processing Agreement and subprocessor list
  4. Microsoft Learn: Why do I need Microsoft Defender for Office 365? (accessed 2026-10-18)
  5. Microsoft: Defender for Office 365 pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
  6. Microsoft Tech Community: Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 rolling out to Microsoft 365 E3 (2026-06-17)
  7. Microsoft Learn: EU Data Boundary (accessed 2026-10-18)
  8. Check Point: Harmony Email & Collaboration (accessed 2026-10-18)
  9. Check Point: Harmony Email & Collaboration pricing tiers (accessed 2026-10-18)
  10. Check Point: Harmony Email & Collaboration admin guide, data residency
  11. Abnormal AI: Inbound Email Security (accessed 2026-10-18)
  12. Abnormal AI: Trust center (certifications)
  13. Abnormal AI: Subprocessors (updated 31 July 2026, accessed 2026-10-21)
  14. Material Security: Pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
  15. Material Security: home page (products, setup quote)
  16. Barracuda: Email Protection (accessed 2026-10-18)
  17. Barracuda: Email Protection plans (accessed 2026-10-18)
  18. IRONSCALES: Home page (accessed 2026-10-18)
  19. IRONSCALES: Pricing (accessed 2026-10-18)
  20. Sublime Security docs: Installation (accessed 2026-10-18)
  21. GitHub: sublime-security/sublime-rules detection rules
  22. Mimecast: Email Security (accessed 2026-10-18)
  23. Datacentre News: Mimecast opens two Frankfurt data centres (2018)
  24. Proofpoint: Core Email Protection (accessed 2026-10-18)
  25. Proofpoint: Proofpoint completes acquisition of Hornetsecurity (December 2025)
  26. Hornetsecurity: 365 Total Protection (accessed 2026-10-18)
  27. Hornetsecurity: Email security modes
  28. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): Internet Crime Report 2025
  29. IRONSCALES: List of current sub-processors (PDF, December 2024; accessed 2026-10-21)
  30. Material Security: Subprocessors (updated 12 June 2025; accessed 2026-10-21)
  31. Barracuda Trust Center: Data center locations (accessed 2026-10-21)
  32. Sublime Security docs: Sublime Cloud regions (accessed 2026-10-21)
  33. Proofpoint: Data privacy information sheet, Core Email Protection API (updated 24 July 2026; accessed 2026-10-21)

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