Abnormal Security vs Mimecast -- AI Email Security Compared

Abnormal Security vs Mimecast

Abnormal Security and Mimecast are both ai email security solutions. Abnormal Security aI-powered email security platform specializing in behavioral detection of social engineering attacks, while Mimecast cloud email security platform with threat protection, archiving, and continuity. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Last updated

The Verdict

Choose Abnormal Security if superior detection of socially-engineered attacks with no malicious payload is your priority and organizations facing sophisticated social engineering and BEC attacks that bypass traditional email gateways. Choose Mimecast if email continuity keeps mail flowing during outages — unique differentiator matters most and mid-to-large enterprises wanting a unified email security, archiving, and continuity platform with strong API integrations.

Used Abnormal Security or Mimecast? Share your experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureMimecastAbnormal Security
PricingCustom pricing / per-user licensingCustom pricing / per-user licensing
Pricing ModelPer-user subscriptionPer-user subscription
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloudCloud
Best ForMid-to-large enterprises wanting a unified email security, archiving, and continuity platform with strong API integrationsOrganizations facing sophisticated social engineering and BEC attacks that bypass traditional email gateways
Behavioral AI threat detectionNot availableSupported
Business email compromise preventionNot availableSupported
Vendor and supply chain fraud detectionNot availableSupported

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Mimecast when:

  • +You value email continuity keeps mail flowing during outages — unique differentiator
  • +You value strong impersonation and brand protection capabilities
  • +You value unified platform covering security, archiving, and continuity
  • +You want to avoid does not replace a full email gateway — typically layers on top of one
  • +You want to avoid less effective against traditional malware and payload-based attacks

Choose Abnormal Security when:

  • +You value superior detection of socially-engineered attacks with no malicious payload
  • +You value aPI-based deployment requires no MX record changes — deploys in minutes
  • +You value behavioral AI catches novel attacks that signature-based tools miss
  • +You want to avoid detection efficacy slightly behind Proofpoint for advanced threats
  • +You want to avoid email archiving search performance can be slow on large datasets

Pros & Cons Comparison

Mimecast

Pros

  • +Email continuity keeps mail flowing during outages — unique differentiator
  • +Strong impersonation and brand protection capabilities
  • +Unified platform covering security, archiving, and continuity
  • +Good API ecosystem for SIEM and SOAR integrations
  • +Easier administration compared to Proofpoint for mid-market teams

Cons

  • Detection efficacy slightly behind Proofpoint for advanced threats
  • Email archiving search performance can be slow on large datasets
  • Pricing is still premium and comparable to Proofpoint
  • URL rewriting can break some legitimate links
  • Security awareness training less mature than dedicated platforms

Abnormal Security

Pros

  • +Superior detection of socially-engineered attacks with no malicious payload
  • +API-based deployment requires no MX record changes — deploys in minutes
  • +Behavioral AI catches novel attacks that signature-based tools miss
  • +Extremely low false positive rate due to identity-based detection
  • +Strong vendor and supply chain fraud detection capabilities

Cons

  • Does not replace a full email gateway — typically layers on top of one
  • Less effective against traditional malware and payload-based attacks
  • Premium pricing for what is an additional security layer
  • Behavioral models need time to learn organization communication patterns
  • No email archiving, DLP, or compliance capabilities

Sources & References

  1. Abnormal Security — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  2. Mimecast — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  3. Abnormal Security Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  4. Mimecast Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  5. Abnormal Security Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  6. Mimecast Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  7. Abnormal Security Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  8. Mimecast Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  9. Gartner Magic Quadrant for Email Security 2024[Analyst Report]
  10. Forrester Wave: Enterprise Email Security, Q2 2024[Analyst Report]
  11. SE Labs: Email Security Gateway Tests[Independent Testing]
  12. Anti-Phishing Working Group: Phishing Activity Trends[Industry Research]
  13. Gartner Peer Insights: Email Security[Peer Reviews]

Abnormal Security vs Mimecast FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Abnormal Security and Mimecast.

What is the main difference between Abnormal Security and Mimecast?

Abnormal Security and Mimecast are both ai email security solutions. Abnormal Security aI-powered email security platform specializing in behavioral detection of social engineering attacks, while Mimecast cloud email security platform with threat protection, archiving, and continuity. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Is Mimecast better than Abnormal Security?

Choose Abnormal Security if superior detection of socially-engineered attacks with no malicious payload is your priority and organizations facing sophisticated social engineering and BEC attacks that bypass traditional email gateways. Choose Mimecast if email continuity keeps mail flowing during outages — unique differentiator matters most and mid-to-large enterprises wanting a unified email security, archiving, and continuity platform with strong API integrations.

How much does Mimecast cost compared to Abnormal Security?

Mimecast pricing: Custom pricing / per-user licensing. Abnormal Security pricing: Custom pricing / per-user licensing. Mimecast's pricing model is per-user subscription, while Abnormal Security uses per-user subscription pricing.

Can I migrate from Abnormal Security to Mimecast?

Yes, you can migrate from Abnormal Security to Mimecast. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.