Kaspersky Security for Mail Server vs Sophos Email comparison

Kaspersky and Sophos are both solutions in the Email Security category. Kaspersky is ranked #30 with an average rating of 7.0, while Sophos is ranked #10 with an average rating of 8.0. Kaspersky holds a 0.9% mindshare in Email Security, compared to Sophos’s 2.2% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Kaspersky users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 3, 2024

Kaspersky Security for Mail Server and Sophos Email both operate in the email security solutions market. Based on advanced capabilities, Sophos stands out due to its innovative features, though at a higher price point.

Features: Kaspersky Security for Mail Server is known for strong malware protection, efficient spam filtering, and a straightforward setup process that supports integration into existing systems. Sophos Email provides advanced threat protection with AI-driven threat intelligence and sandboxing, includes inbound email scanning, and offers comprehensive data loss prevention. Sophos leverages AI technologies for better threat detection and response, offering a proactive approach to new security challenges.

Room for Improvement: Kaspersky can enhance its email security by integrating AI-driven technologies to tackle emerging threats more effectively. Its user interface could be modernized for better user experience, and expanding its feature set to include direct data loss prevention can provide added value. Sophos Email, on the other hand, could improve by minimizing the complexity of deployment, reducing false positives, especially with firewall integration, and offering more competitive pricing options without sacrificing features.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Kaspersky Security for Mail Server offers an easy deployment process, allowing it to fit smoothly into most business infrastructures. The customer service is reliable, ensuring seamless operation. Sophos Email, despite its complexity due to advanced features, provides exceptional customer support that helps guide clients effectively through setup, reducing disruptions and ensuring optimal deployment.

Pricing and ROI: Kaspersky Security for Mail Server is recognized for its competitive pricing, providing robust security solutions at a lower cost, resulting in strong ROI for cost-conscious businesses. Sophos Email, while requiring a higher upfront investment, presents superior ROI through its comprehensive set of advanced features, which justify the cost for businesses prioritizing state-of-the-art security.

To learn more, read our detailed Kaspersky Security for Mail Server vs. Sophos Email Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Kaspersky Security for Mail Server vs. Sophos Email

April 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Defender for Offi...

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Email Security category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is 12.9%, down from 18.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Kaspersky Security for Mail Server is 0.9%, down from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos Email is 2.2%, down from 2.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Email Security

Featured Reviews

Tolu Omolaja

Head of Department of Network Communications at Eko electricity

Great URL scanning and attachment scanning, but I would like more proactive threat analysis

The two main features that prove most beneficial for us are URL scanning and attachment scanning. URL scanning involves an automatic scan of links and emails. When a user clicks on a link within an email, the system promptly checks the link's safety. If the link is deemed safe, access is granted automatically. However, if it is flagged as unsafe, we receive feedback and notification to caution us about the potentially harmful link. At this point, we are presented with the option to proceed or return. I have personally witnessed the system identify a few unsafe links, making this the primary advantage of using the solution. The second crucial aspect is the scanning of attachments. When an email containing an attachment arrives, we receive a notification of the new email, along with information that the attachment is being scanned for threats. This additional layer of security provides peace of mind for our organization. While Microsoft Defender for Office 365 offers numerous features, these two stand out as particularly impressive and valuable to us.

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Taha Khaleel

Chief Operations Officer at PRO-VISION

A highly reliable solution that provides monitoring capabilities and protection to multiple types of devices

The initial setup of Kaspersky Security for Mail Server is very easy. The initial setup of Kaspersky Security for Mail Server takes around four minutes. The solution is deployed on the cloud and on-premises. For the deployment process, you can buy the solution in a CD form or purchase it directly from the company website and activate it. My company needs managers, engineers, and developers to deploy the solution. The number of people required for the deployment process changes from time to time, so all the staff are included not just for the deployment of the solution but also to make improvements to the solution in the future. You can contact Kaspersky to see if they can provide the solution with integration capabilities for your company by providing you with an open account, which I haven't tried yet, though I plan to try it in the future.

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NaveedAli

Senior manager IT infrastructure at Machine Learning 1 Limited ·

Provides good identity proxy features, but sandboxing and spam control features could be improved

Sophos gives you a feature set to manage your on-premises firewall on the cloud. I just integrated my on-premises firewall into the cloud, and I can manage the tool through the cloud as well if needed. I recommend using Sophos Email as a proxy. For email gateways, I advise choosing mature products with rich feature sets, like Trend Micro or CrowdStrike. The solution's integration with other tools is very simple. I easily integrated Sophos Email with my Active Directory. My organization needs a WAF with a limited feature set, which we use through Sophos. Purchasing additional WAF will be costly, but I get sandboxing and WAF features free of cost with Sophos, which is included in the license. Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"One of the best features of the tool is its capability to aggregate insights from different workloads, basically from the Office 365 and endpoints part."

"Defender for 365 is a comprehensive cloud-based solution. The value of the cloud is that you aren't alone. Threat intelligence and analytics are shared in the cloud. We don't have to find the solution alone. If you face an unknown threat with traditional solutions like Trend Micro and Symantec, you need to open a case and send your information to them to analyze forensically and identify the source of the attack."

"At the moment we are satisfied with this product. It's a stable, scalable, and resilient solution for us."

"Does a thorough job of examining email and URLs for malicious content."

"Overall, I would rate Microsoft Defender for Office 365 at a ten."

"Threat Explorer is an invaluable tool for me, and it plays a crucial role in helping me discern the origins of various email campaigns, pinpointing where they emanate from, and identifying the individuals within our organization who are affected."

"Microsoft Defender for Office 365's most valuable feature is its performance."

"The initial setup is straightforward. You just add the license, click it, and then you can set up the rules. It is quite simple."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 pros

"The most valuable feature is the straightforward setup."

"We have achieved cost savings of up to thirty percent by using Kaspersky Security for Mail Server."

"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is a highly reliable and dependable solution."

"I find the product valuable because it provides easy integration with other platforms like Fortinet firewalls."

"The integration rate is very high in Kaspersky, which is why most of our customers like it."

"The most valuable features are the anti-phishing and anti-spam capabilities."

"You can install the plugins on the same machine hosting your exchange solution. It's a good complement for Sophos security, which scans the traffic before it reaches your mail service. Kaspersky is on the mail server itself while Sophos handles the incoming traffic. With both of them working together, we have the perfect solution for mail."

"The solution protects users from phishing links and spam."

"Endpoint and server protection are very effective."

"The filtering capabilities are precious and far superior to others I've used. It's intuitive in what it pushes to quarantine, and users can quickly review, free, or delete items without needing an administrator, making it ideal for a multi-user environment."

"The speed and stability were fine."

"I found the user interface friendly."

"It has enhanced our approach to tackling malware and spam. It is a reliable product with a good user interface."

"Sophos Email provides both inbound and outbound filtering."

"Sophos Email offers encryption and malware protection, provides visibility into emails, has 99% accuracy in catching spam, enhances organizational safety, integrates with various vendors like Microsoft, is deployable with any email service, prevents data loss, features authentication rules, synchronizes with Active Directory and Azure, and includes a self-service portal. The product is very flexible."

More Sophos Email pros

Cons

"The UI needs to be more user-friendly."

"Microsoft wants its well-paying customers to finish testing some of its half-baked products, find bugs, and report bugs back to Microsoft's team, which is a little frustrating for those who have to manage it and roll it up to thousands of people across the organization."

"There is a different console for different things; I just want one consolidated console."

"The custom alerts have to improve a lot."

"The pre-sales cost calculations could be more transparent."

"Specifically, within Microsoft Defender for Office 365, I want it to improve the DLP capabilities."

"The visibility for the weaknesses in the system and unauthorized access can be improved."

"We are always looking for others tools to increase automation on tasks. There can be better integration with other solutions, such as PowerPoint and email."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 cons

"Kaspersky lacks in the area of customization, so simpler customization options need to be provided to users."

"Encrypted email attachments are not being monitored by this solution, which is an area that they need to work on."

"I have only made contact via email, and it is a little slow. I would give customer service a rating of six or seven. Improving Spanish support would greatly benefit users."

"The solution is not 100 percent stable and that can use improvement."

"The biggest problem in the solution is related to its license renewal since it is pretty hard in Kaspersky to find out the procedure to renew a license."

"I rated the overall solution a five out of ten. If a user is looking for a low-budget solution with mid-level security without AI features, Kaspersky Security for Mail Server is suitable."

"It would be great if Kaspersky could do what Sophos does for us. However, we love having these two different technologies doing the same thing. Sometimes Sophos has the patch to block a novel threat, but Kaspersky doesn't."

"The solution should be able to support the cloud environment."

"The tool has some performance issues and bugs, making it an area where improvements are required."

"Enhancing rule creation and customization features would provide users with greater control over their email security settings."

"Sophos Email does not work with split delivery. If I have a domain with 100 mailboxes and want to protect only 50, it is not recommended by Sophos or not possible to configure."

"The solution's sandboxing and spam control features could be improved."

"Email installation could be more user-friendly so that it can be done without involving the partner"

"Sophos Email could improve DLP features."

"However, the setup was tricky, particularly with the DNS routing between Microsoft Exchange Online and Sophos cloud services. It took me about four attempts to get it working correctly. Despite that, Sophos Email does everything we need, so we don't require any additional capabilities now."

More Sophos Email cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product is very expensive."

"Defender for 365 comes in various plans and licenses, along with other Microsoft security solutions. Purchasing this kind of package or security bundle gives good value for money, and that's what I recommend."

"The license is expensive because the cost is based on the number of users."

"I was working in the government and it was too expensive for us to use our Microsoft products."

"Microsoft Defender for Office 365 comes with Microsoft Windows. It is free with the operating system."

"It is much more expensive than using another solution because we have had to include some options and upgrade our license."

"The product is expensive."

"While Microsoft Defender for Office 365 necessitates pricier E3 or E5 subscriptions, the extensive functionality offered by these licenses across various Microsoft products justifies the investment."

More Microsoft Defender for Office 365 pricing and cost advice

"Price-wise, I would rate this product a four out of five. It could be a bit cheaper."

"My company makes annual payments towards the licensing costs solution."

"The solution offers one of the best prices possible to its users, making it even better than Barracuda. Kaspersky Security for Mail Server is ten times cheaper than Barracuda."

"The solution is not expensive."

"The tool's pricing is medium."

"The pricing is fair."

"It is an expensive solution. On a scale of one to ten, where one is low price, and ten is high price, I rate the pricing a seven."

"The tool's price is reasonable. On a yearly basis, there is a 20 percent increase in prices, but it is not an issue."

"I rate the price of Sophos Email a four out of five."

"The platform is inexpensive. It offers a cost-effective licensing model. We purchase its yearly license."

"Sophos Email is neither cheap nor expensive."

"I rate the product's pricing a seven out of ten."

More Sophos Email pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

15%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

University

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

Threat Explorer is an invaluable tool for me, and it plays a crucial role in helping me discern the origins of variou...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

Microsoft is quite affordable with a lot of features available for any size organization.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

Microsoft could improve by offering recommendations for domain spoofing attacks, especially scenarios where DNS recor...

See all answers

What do you like most about Kaspersky Security for Mail Server?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is a highly reliable and dependable solution.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Kaspersky Security for Mail Server?

The pricing is moderate. It is not expensive but not cheap either. For Mexico, a good price is about 20 dollars per a...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Kaspersky Security for Mail Server?

I believe integration with other platforms like Fortinet firewalls and a feature similar to a SIEM ( /categories/secu...

See all answers

What do you like most about Sophos Email?

The solution's identity proxy feature is very good and reliable.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sophos Email?

Sophos Email pricing is a bit high, especially since I purchase through a partner, and they sell it at a higher price...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos Email?

Sophos Email does not work with split delivery. If I have a domain with 100 mailboxes and want to protect only 50, it...

See all answers

Comparisons

Proofpoint Email Protection vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 13% of the time

Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 7% of the time

Mimecast Email Security vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 5% of the time

Barracuda Email Protection vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 5% of the time

Avanan vs Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Compared 3% of the time

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Fortinet FortiMail vs Kaspersky Security for Mail Server

Compared 34% of the time

Barracuda Email Security Gateway vs Kaspersky Security for Mail Server

Compared 13% of the time

Fortinet FortiMail Cloud vs Kaspersky Security for Mail Server

Compared 10% of the time

Security Gateway vs Kaspersky Security for Mail Server

Compared 10% of the time

Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration vs Kaspersky Security for Mail Server

Compared 8% of the time

More Kaspersky Security for Mail Server Competitors

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection (EOP) vs Sophos Email

Compared 12% of the time

Hornetsecurity 365 Total Protection vs Sophos Email

Compared 7% of the time

Fortinet FortiMail vs Sophos Email

Compared 7% of the time

Barracuda Email Protection vs Sophos Email

Compared 6% of the time

IRONSCALES vs Sophos Email

Compared 3% of the time

More Sophos Email Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

May 2025

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 report

Download Microsoft Defender for Office 365 product report

Buyer's Guide

Email Security

May 2025

Kaspersky Security for Mail Server report

Download Kaspersky Security for Mail Server product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos Email

April 2025

Download Sophos Email product report

Also Known As

MS Defender for Office 365

No data available

Sophos Email Security

Overview

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a comprehensive security solution designed to protect organizations against advanced threats in their email, collaboration, and productivity environments. It combines the power of Microsoft's threat intelligence, machine learning, and behavioral analytics to provide real-time protection against phishing, malware, ransomware, and other malicious attacks.

With Microsoft Defender for Office 365, organizations can safeguard their email communication by detecting and blocking malicious links, attachments, and unsafe email content. It employs advanced anti-phishing capabilities to identify and prevent sophisticated phishing attacks that attempt to steal sensitive information or compromise user credentials.

This solution also offers robust protection against malware and ransomware. It leverages machine learning algorithms to analyze email attachments and URLs in real-time, identifying and blocking malicious content before it reaches users' inboxes. Additionally, it provides advanced threat-hunting capabilities, allowing security teams to proactively investigate and respond to potential threats.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 goes beyond email protection and extends its security features to other collaboration tools like SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams. It scans files and documents stored in these platforms, ensuring that they are free from malware and other malicious content. It also provides visibility into user activities, helping organizations detect and mitigate insider threats.

Furthermore, this solution offers rich reporting and analytics capabilities, providing organizations with insights into their security posture and threat landscape. It enables security administrators to monitor and manage security incidents, track trends, and take proactive measures to enhance their overall security posture.

Microsoft

Email is the number one vector used by cybercriminals to penetrate and attack enterprise IT systems.

Kaspersky Security for Mail Server uses Next Generation technologies including advanced heuristics, machine learning and sandboxing to detect and protect against ransomware, spam, phishing, data loss and even unknown threats penetrating your IT systems through emails and malicious attachments.

Kaspersky

Sophos Email is a comprehensive email security solution designed to protect organizations from advanced threats and data loss. It offers robust protection against malware, phishing attacks, and spam, ensuring that only legitimate emails reach users' inboxes.

With advanced threat intelligence and machine learning algorithms, it can detect and block sophisticated attacks in real-time. Additionally, it provides encryption and data loss prevention capabilities to safeguard sensitive information.

The solution is easy to deploy and manage, with a user-friendly interface and centralized control. Sophos Email offers seamless integration with popular email platforms, ensuring uninterrupted communication while maintaining security.

With its comprehensive features and proactive approach, Sophos Email is a reliable choice for organizations looking to enhance their email security.

Sophos

Sample Customers

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is trusted by companies such as Ithaca College.

Vimpel Com, Estrella Galicia, Krombacher

Del Monte Foods, Terra Verde, spicerhaart, RIVERLITE, Dataprise, SureBridge, Reed's School, Sayfol International School

Buyer's Guide

Kaspersky Security for Mail Server vs. Sophos Email

April 2025

Free Report: Kaspersky Security for Mail Server vs. Sophos Email

Find out what your peers are saying about Kaspersky Security for Mail Server vs. Sophos Email and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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