Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs Proofpoint Email Protection comparison

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Executive Summary
Updated on Mar 29, 2024

Proofpoint Email Protection and Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) designed to secure your organization's email from spam, phishing attacks, malware, and other threats. However, Microsoft EOP is a basic email filtering service included with most Microsoft 365 subscriptions, while Proofpoint is a third-party, advanced email security solution. They can also be considered complementary, with Proofpoint offering a more robust layer of protection on top of EOP's foundation.

  • Features: Proofpoint is known for its advanced threat detection capabilities, customizable email filtering, including sandboxing and machine learning to identify zero-day attacks and sophisticated phishing attempts. In comparison, Microsoft EOP is praised for its reliable email filtering, integration with Office 365, customization options, and robust security measures. Proofpoint provides a wider range of security features, including email encryption, data loss prevention (DLP), and advanced threat intelligence. Microsoft EOP has some of these features but in a more limited capacity. Finally, Proofpoint offers integrated user awareness training programs to educate employees and reduce the risk of falling for phishing attacks. EOP has limited training options.
  • Integration: Microsoft EOP integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 services, but provides limited third-party support. Proofpoint integrates with a wider range of platforms but may require additional configuration.
  • Pricing and ROI: Microsoft EOP is generally less expensive than Proofpoint since it's included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions. However, users find Proofpoint's pricing to be reasonable and competitive, since it can offer a better return on investment (ROI) for organizations that require a higher level of protection and experience frequent email security incidents.
  • Room for Improvement: Microsoft EOP could benefit from improved training options, stronger encryption, and better handling of uncertain emails (greymail). Proofpoint's reviews highlight areas for improvement in the interface and administrative console, making them more user-friendly.
  • Deployment: Microsoft EOP is generally considered easier to deploy and manage since it's already integrated with Microsoft 365. Proofpoint requires some configuration but offers more granular control over settings. Users reported varying implementation durations for Proofpoint Email Protection, ranging from one week to three months with an extra setup week. In comparison, Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) had deployment times ranging from one week to three weeks with additional setup of two days. Both solutions have detailed documentation available.
  • Customer support: Reviews indicate that both Proofpoint and Microsoft EOP offer good customer support, with Proofpoint receiving slightly higher marks for its responsiveness and technical expertise.

The summary above is based on 152 interviews we conducted recently with Proofpoint Email Protection and Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) users. To access the review's full transcripts, download our report.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs. Proofpoint Email Protection Report (Updated: January 2024).
769,976 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
"The solution's stability is very, very good. I didn't face any problems in the last year.""It provides security to both on-premises and Azure infrastructures.""The initial setup of Microsoft Exchange Online Protection was easy.""The pre-set policies and configuration analyzer are the most valuable features.""The product protects against malware.""Online Protection's most valuable feature is its admin interface.""The solution uses artificial intelligence and machine learning, so you don't need train it to detect something. The detection and response times are short. It's an excellent product.""Microsoft Exchange Online Protection has features like DLP (data loss protection), Safe Attachment, and Safe Links."

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"The solution scales well.""The most valuable feature of Proofpoint Email Protection is the dashboards and their visibility, easy configuration, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, the reports are very important and helpful.""The spam filter for email is good.""They have customized security rules, mature rules, anti-virus protection, as well as email authentication similar to SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.""The solution's technical support is good. I rate the technical support a ten out of ten.""There is no downtime.""Proofpoint Email Protection offers an additional layer of protection compared to other brands like Microsoft, Mimecast, and Barracuda. While these major companies excel at detecting malicious attachments, the solution goes further by analyzing the context of emails, allowing for more nuanced decision-making.""The solution is very user-friendly."

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Cons
"The security features could be better.""The solution needs to improve its backup.""They should specify the difference between Defender for Office 365 and Exchange Online Protection.""The tool's classification for bulk email is cumbersome.""We would like the solution to have more in-built intelligence in the way that it reviews potential security risks, rather than our team constantly having to update the policies.""The product could be more stable. Microsoft products could be more stable because sometimes, even though they are updating some things, we cannot find those updates.""Microsoft 365 Defender and EOP policies are stable with the proper license. However, with the basic policy, it's hard to say it's stable due to configuration limitations.""The licensing can be on the expensive side, especially in the cloud space."

More Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) Cons →

"The accessibility of Proofpoint Email Protection, particularly access to product trials, could be improved. It's hard to get a trial for Proofpoint Email Protection, and many customers prefer not just to do the POC or demo but try the product out.""The reporting section could be enhanced. I like some reports but if they could allow us to create custom reports with more flexibility it would enhance the reports more.""They do not have an on-demand scan for the internal viruses and internal users, and they don't have a scan for the exchange server against viruses and spam as Symantec does.""Pricing for the platform could still be cheaper.""The scalability can be improved, and the solution can be optimized.""The solution's server console and cluster dashboard have been the same for four years so need to be upgraded.""I want Security Awareness Training in there as a package deal. A lot of companies are starting to value email security a little bit more and take it a little bit more seriously, and the great product that we link together with a lot of these sales is a training product called Security Awareness Training. It is an upsell that we do with Proofpoint, and it is definitely something that I recommend everybody with email security to look into. It would be great if Security Awareness Training is included with the email security.""Sometimes it detects false positives."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The price could be lower."
  • "The solution is priced high and could be less expensive compared to other solutions."
  • "The solution is expensive but is backed by Microsoft's reputation."
  • "The price of Microsoft Exchange Online Protection is reasonable."
  • "It is a low-price solution."
  • "Apart from the license fee for the solution, there are no additional costs."
  • "Online Protection is fairly expensive."
  • "The tool's pricing is excellent."
  • More Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Annually, it costs us about $92,000. This is pretty much what it costs us. There is no additional cost."
  • "The price is reasonable."
  • "Proofpoint is fairly expensive."
  • "The licensing is basically $8/user."
  • "It is multiple times more expensive, which made it very much less attractive."
  • "Pricing has recently been increased and the cost is a downside"
  • "The solution charges per user per month to use it. There are not any additional fees in addition to the standard living fees."
  • "Clients pay for an annual subscription of Proofpoint Email Protection. Every client always finds it expensive."
  • More Proofpoint Email Protection Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:The initial setup was easy. The configuration process is very straightforward.
    Top Answer:We face challenges with reporting features and the lack of a proper dashboard in Microsoft's portal. There's no graphical interface, which other products offer. The reporting features need… more »
    Top Answer:The main use case is to block suspicious links in emails. However, some functionalities like SIPP attachment are not available in the basic EOP. Alos, complete phishing protection is also not… more »
    Top Answer:The product is costly. I rate the product price a seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is low price and ten is high price. When you want to change what capabilities you want in the product, you… more »
    Top Answer:The whole configuration management piece of the product requires some work, as it is one of the areas where the tool has certain shortcomings. Though it is an easy-to-install product, it might be… more »
    Ranking
    11th
    out of 110 in Anti-Malware Tools
    Views
    1,084
    Comparisons
    944
    Reviews
    28
    Average Words per Review
    446
    Rating
    8.2
    Views
    2,042
    Comparisons
    1,499
    Reviews
    23
    Average Words per Review
    460
    Rating
    8.1
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Microsoft EOP, MS Exchange Online Protection
    Proofpoint Enterprise Protection, Cofense PhishMe
    Learn More
    Overview

    Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) is a comprehensive email filtering and security service designed to protect organizations from spam, malware, and other email-based threats. It provides advanced threat protection, anti-malware and anti-spam filtering, and data loss prevention capabilities.

    With EOP, organizations can ensure the security and integrity of their email communications. It uses multiple layers of filtering and scanning to detect and block malicious content, including phishing attempts, viruses, and ransomware. EOP also leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to continuously improve its threat detection capabilities.

    In addition to its robust security features, EOP offers advanced anti-spam filtering to reduce unwanted and unsolicited emails. It uses a combination of reputation-based filtering, content filtering, and sender authentication techniques to identify and block spam messages.

    EOP also includes data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities to prevent sensitive information from being leaked or shared inappropriately. It allows organizations to define policies to detect and prevent the transmission of sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or social security numbers, via email.

    Furthermore, EOP integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange Online and other Office 365 services, providing a unified and integrated email security solution. It can be easily managed through the Exchange admin center, allowing administrators to configure and monitor security settings, review reports, and manage quarantined emails.

    Proofpoint Email Protection is a machine learning email gateway that catches both known and unknown threats. Through Target Attack Protection, emails will be analyzed and potentially blocked from advanced threats while users gain visibility around these threats. The technology can also classify various types of email and can be deployed both on premises or as a cloud service. In addition, users can tag suspicious emails to help raise user awareness and track down any email quickly.

    Proofpoint Email Protection offers Advanced BEC Defense, which can precisely detect and block different types of emails, even if they don’t involve a malicious payload, such as business email compromise (BEC). Email Protection, which is powered by NexusAI, is a sophisticated detection technique developed to stop a variety of kinds of email fraud from affecting compromised accounts. It’s specifically designed to analyze message components, such as the sender’s IP address (including reputation and x-originating IP), the message header, and the message body. Using machine learning and AI, it will then determine if that message is a BEC threat.

    Benefits of Proofpoint Email Protection

    Proofpoint Email Protection is a favorite for organizations looking to utilize their cybersecurity budget accurately, and provides the user with incredible visibility. While preventing email fraud, the technology can also detect and block advanced malware as well as identifying possible risks.

    Email Protection offers many benefits, including:

    • Email warning tag - Raise user awareness and reduce the risk of possible compromises by automatically tagging suspicious emails.

    • Gain granular control of unwanted email - Gain control over low-priority emails through granular email filtering, which can pinpoint gray mail, like newsletters and bulk mail.

    • Multi-layered detection - Defend against continuous evolving threats with reputation and content analysis. Email Protection offers a dynamic classification of various emails, including malware, spam, phishing, imposter threats, and bulk email.

    • Smart search - Track down an email based on dozens of search criteria in seconds. Smart search also provides the ability to trace where emails came from.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Proofpoint Email Protection enables business continuity capabilities through their machine learning, AI-powered email gateway. With its innovative approach toward detecting, analyzing, identifying, and blocking advanced threats, users can gain unique visibility into their business data environments. Users especially like the ability to block spam, as well as the business email compromise protection.

    An anonymous reviewer who is a principal consultant at a tech company, notes, "Proofpoint is the main tool for blocking spam because it denies the connection altogether."

    Sridhar R., a security professional at Qatar Computer Services WLL, writes, "The most valuable features are the business email compromise protection and targeted attack prevention."

    Sample Customers
    Information Not Available
    Blocket, University of Waterloo, Lincoln Memorial University, WellSpan Health, U-Haul, Carestream Health, Westinghouse
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company25%
    Retailer13%
    Financial Services Firm13%
    Construction Company6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Government9%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Financial Services Firm15%
    Retailer12%
    Healthcare Company12%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization25%
    Computer Software Company12%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business64%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise21%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business27%
    Midsize Enterprise18%
    Large Enterprise55%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business46%
    Midsize Enterprise22%
    Large Enterprise32%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business20%
    Midsize Enterprise34%
    Large Enterprise46%
    Buyer's Guide
    Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs. Proofpoint Email Protection
    January 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs. Proofpoint Email Protection and other solutions. Updated: January 2024.
    769,976 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) is ranked 11th in Anti-Malware Tools with 34 reviews while Proofpoint Email Protection is ranked 1st in Secure Email Gateway (SEG) with 44 reviews. Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) is rated 8.2, while Proofpoint Email Protection is rated 8.4. The top reviewer of Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) writes "An effective email security solution that provides DLP, Safe Attachment, and Safe Links". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Proofpoint Email Protection writes "A reasonably priced product that offers protection to emails, along with spam filters". Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) is most compared with Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Cisco Secure Email, Mimecast Email Security, Fortinet FortiMail and Barracuda Email Security Gateway, whereas Proofpoint Email Protection is most compared with Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Palo Alto Networks WildFire, Cisco Secure Email, Fortinet FortiMail and KnowBe4. See our Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs. Proofpoint Email Protection report.

    We monitor all Anti-Malware Tools 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.