Cisco Secure Email vs Abnormal Security -- Enterprise Email Gateway Compared
Cisco Secure Email vs Abnormal Security
Abnormal Security and Cisco Secure Email are both ai email security solutions. Abnormal Security aI-powered email security platform specializing in behavioral detection of social engineering attacks, while Cisco Secure Email enterprise email security gateway with Cisco Talos threat intelligence integration. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.
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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 Cisco Secure Email if strong malware detection powered by Cisco Talos threat intelligence matters most and cisco-centric enterprises wanting email security that integrates with their existing Cisco networking and security stack.
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Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Abnormal Security | Cisco Secure Email |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Custom enterprise pricing / per-user licensing | Custom pricing / per-user licensing |
| Pricing Model | Per-user subscription or appliance license | Per-user subscription |
| Open Source | No | No |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-Hosted | Cloud |
| Best For | Cisco-centric enterprises wanting email security that integrates with their existing Cisco networking and security stack | Organizations facing sophisticated social engineering and BEC attacks that bypass traditional email gateways |
| Behavioral AI threat detection | Not available | Supported |
| Business email compromise prevention | Not available | Supported |
| Vendor and supply chain fraud detection | Not available | Supported |
When to Choose Each Tool
Choose Abnormal Security when:
- +You value strong malware detection powered by Cisco Talos threat intelligence
- +You value deep integration with Cisco SecureX and broader Cisco security stack
- +You value flexible deployment options including on-premises appliance
- +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 Cisco Secure Email 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 bEC detection significantly behind Proofpoint and Abnormal Security
- +You want to avoid administration interface feels dated and complex
Other Cisco Secure Email Alternatives
Enterprise email security platform for advanced threat protection, compliance, and data loss prevention
Cloud email security platform with threat protection, archiving, and continuity
Microsoft's native email security for Microsoft 365 with XDR integration
Email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service
Cloud email security gateway with AI-powered BEC detection and XDR integration
AI-powered anti-phishing platform with crowdsourced threat intelligence
Human layer security platform preventing inbound threats and outbound misdirected emails
Pros & Cons Comparison
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
Cisco Secure Email
Pros
- +Strong malware detection powered by Cisco Talos threat intelligence
- +Deep integration with Cisco SecureX and broader Cisco security stack
- +Flexible deployment options including on-premises appliance
- +Reliable email gateway with long enterprise track record
- +Graymail management reduces user complaints about bulk email
Cons
- –BEC detection significantly behind Proofpoint and Abnormal Security
- –Administration interface feels dated and complex
- –Innovation pace slower than cloud-native email security vendors
- –Best value only realized within broader Cisco security ecosystem
- –Cloud-native capabilities less mature than born-in-cloud competitors
Sources & References
- Abnormal Security — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
- Cisco Secure Email — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
- Abnormal Security Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
- Cisco Secure Email Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
- Abnormal Security Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
- Cisco Secure Email Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
- Abnormal Security Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
- Cisco Secure Email Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
- Gartner Magic Quadrant for Email Security 2024[Analyst Report]
- Forrester Wave: Enterprise Email Security, Q2 2024[Analyst Report]
- SE Labs: Email Security Gateway Tests[Independent Testing]
- Anti-Phishing Working Group: Phishing Activity Trends[Industry Research]
- Gartner Peer Insights: Email Security[Peer Reviews]
Cisco Secure Email vs Abnormal Security FAQ
Common questions about choosing between Cisco Secure Email and Abnormal Security.
What is the main difference between Cisco Secure Email and Abnormal Security?
Abnormal Security and Cisco Secure Email are both ai email security solutions. Abnormal Security aI-powered email security platform specializing in behavioral detection of social engineering attacks, while Cisco Secure Email enterprise email security gateway with Cisco Talos threat intelligence integration. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.
Is Abnormal Security better than Cisco Secure Email?
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 Cisco Secure Email if strong malware detection powered by Cisco Talos threat intelligence matters most and cisco-centric enterprises wanting email security that integrates with their existing Cisco networking and security stack.
How much does Abnormal Security cost compared to Cisco Secure Email?
Abnormal Security pricing: Custom pricing / per-user licensing. Cisco Secure Email pricing: Custom enterprise pricing / per-user licensing. Abnormal Security's pricing model is per-user subscription, while Cisco Secure Email uses per-user subscription or appliance license pricing.
Can I migrate from Cisco Secure Email to Abnormal Security?
Yes, you can migrate from Cisco Secure Email to Abnormal Security. 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.
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