In an period the place e mail stays each the important instrument for enterprise communication and a first-rate goal for cybercriminals, Outlook customers face unprecedented safety challenges.
Whereas Microsoft’s native protections provide primary safeguards, they fall dangerously quick towards as we speak’s subtle phishing schemes, AI-powered BEC assaults, and regulatory compliance calls for.
The answer? Specialised safety add-ins that remodel Outlook from a vulnerability right into a fortified communications heart.
The Significance of Electronic mail Safety in Outlook
Electronic mail is among the important channels of enterprise correspondence and, along with it, some of the susceptible factors to cyberattacks. Confidential paperwork, logins, monetary info, and private information move via Microsoft Outlook.
If e mail isn’t nicely secured, it could possibly result in information breaches, phishing assaults, malware infections, and regulatory violations (e.g. GDPR, HIPAA, and so forth.). That’s why it’s essential to make use of extra safety instruments proper inside Outlook.
Why Outlook add-in can considerably enhance information safety
Add-ins are extensions that add new options to Outlook, together with these associated to safety. Due to their integration, they shield Outlook customers once they work together with the e-mail, which is important as a result of most errors happen once they work together with the content material. They work proper within the mail interface and may:
- Routinely verify emails for phishing and malicious hyperlinks
- Encrypt messages and attachments
- Forestall confidential emails from being forwarded
- Monitor who opened an e mail and when
- Combine with DLP techniques (information loss prevention)
Benefits of utilizing add-ins
Trendy Outlook add-ins present complete e mail safety whereas working as discreetly and effectively as doable. The principle benefit is that they enhance the extent of safety with out the necessity for extra actions on the a part of customers.
Add-ins operate within the background, robotically making use of the required safety insurance policies, which considerably reduces the dangers related to human error.
The monitoring and reporting operate is equally essential. The IT division will get full entry to detailed logs, can monitor e mail safety in real-time, and reply shortly to potential threats.
An extra benefit is the flexibility to combine with different firm safety techniques. The add-ins can work along side company anti-viruses, SIEM techniques, identification instruments, and different info safety instruments, making a unified protecting circuit.
Tips on how to Select the Finest Outlook Add-Ins for Safety?
When selecting safety add-ins for Outlook, there are a number of important components you need to take into account. Trendy safety techniques should present full information safety whereas remaining simple to attach and simple to make use of.
1. Safety towards phishing and spam
A dependable add-in ought to be like an attentive safety guard – recognizing suspicious emails at a look: pretend addresses, harmful hyperlinks and lure attachments. The most effective options use synthetic intelligence and consistently up to date risk intelligence databases to intercept threats earlier than they attain your inbox.
2. Encryption and safe information storage
Excessive-quality add-ins provide automated or handbook encryption of emails and attachments. That is particularly essential for transmitting delicate info – particularly in authorized, finance, and HR departments. It’s additionally price being attentive to the place and the way the info is saved (on gadgets, within the cloud, with backup and entry safety).
3. Simple integration and customization
The add-in ought to set up shortly and seamlessly on each native variations of Outlook and Outlook 365. It’s handy if there’s centralized administration, coverage templates, and AD/SSO (single sign-on) assist in order that directors and customers aren’t overloaded.
4. Consumer expertise and suggestions
Safety shouldn’t intervene together with your work. Good add-ins work unobtrusively, with a transparent interface and minimal clicks. Take note of person opinions and rankings on Microsoft AppSource – that is usually essentially the most trustworthy indicator of reliability and value.
Prime 15 Outlook Add-Ins for Information Privateness & Safety
In as we speak’s world of threats, Outlook’s built-ins defenses can’t cease subtle phishing, information breaches, or regulatory violations. That’s why we’ve compiled a choice of 15 specialised add-ins that can maintain you protected when working with e mail.
Microsoft Purview Message Encryption — Finest for Enterprise-Grade Electronic mail Encryption
Microsoft’s built-in e mail safety resolution for Outlook gives end-to-end encryption for emails and attachments. It’s absolutely built-in with Workplace 365 and Azure, enabling safe messaging each inside and out of doors your group.
Key Options:
- Computerized and handbook encryption of emails
- Attachment safety (information, PDF, pictures)
- Help for DLP insurance policies (leak prevention)
- GDPR, HIPAA, FZ-152 compliant
- Means to retract despatched messages
Professionals: Deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, centralized administration, compliance with strict requirements
Cons: Requires Microsoft 365 E5 subscription or separate license, troublesome to configure for smaller corporations
Finest For: Massive enterprises and authorities companies that want safe encryption with authorized assist.
Pricing: Paid (Included in Microsoft 365 E5/A5/G5 or as a separate service).
Virtru Electronic mail Encryption
Virtru gives a easy but highly effective resolution for end-to-end encryption of emails and attachments straight in Outlook. It permits customers to guard delicate information with out sophisticated settings whereas sustaining the comfort of working together with your mail.
Key Options:
- Simple encryption of emails and attachments with out technical expertise
- Means to retract despatched emails or prohibit their forwarding
- Compliant with GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and different necessities
- Means to learn encrypted emails with out putting in extra software program
- Computerized encryption by key phrase or information sort
Professionals: Intuitive interface, cross-platform assist (Outlook, Gmail, cell gadgets), capability to retract emails
Cons: Requires subscription for full performance
Finest For: Small and medium-sized companies, healthcare suppliers, attorneys, and freelancers who want easy however dependable e mail safety.
Pricing: Free trial, paid plans beginning at $5 per 30 days.
Mimecast Safe Electronic mail Gateway
Mimecast gives a cloud-based e mail safety service that filters incoming and outgoing e mail messages, blocking spam, phishing, viruses, and focused assaults earlier than they attain customers’ inboxes.
Key Options:
- Combines antivirus, antispam, and phishing safety
- Detects BEC (Enterprise Electronic mail Compromise) and different subtle threats
- Routinely backs up all correspondence
- Prevents confidential information leaks
- Analyzes information and hyperlinks in a sandbox earlier than emails are delivered
Professionals: Extremely efficient towards complicated threats, cloud-based structure, integration with Workplace 365
Cons: Tough to configure, requires administrator coaching, excessive price
Finest For: Massive enterprises and organizations that deal with confidential information and want complete safety towards superior threats.
Pricing: Paid, the price is dependent upon the variety of customers and chosen options.
Proofpoint Electronic mail Safety
Proofpoint gives complete enterprise e mail safety towards phishing, focused assaults (BEC), and malicious attachments utilizing synthetic intelligence and behavioral evaluation.
Key Options:
- Detects spoofed domains and social engineering
- Blocks govt spoofing assaults
- Inspects information in an remoted setting
- DLP for e mail
- Analyzes and intercepts malicious hyperlinks in actual time
Professionals: Extremely correct risk detection, integration with SIEM techniques, deep analytics
Cons: Requires coverage customization, premium worth
Finest For: Massive companies and authorities companies the place safety towards focused assaults and information breaches is important.
Pricing: Paid (requested individually).
Cisco Safe Electronic mail
Cisco Safe Electronic mail (previously Cisco Electronic mail Safety) protects company e mail from threats together with phishing, spam, viruses, and focused assaults utilizing cloud and hybrid applied sciences.
Key Options:
- Actual-time evaluation of attachments and hyperlinks
- Remoted setting for detailed evaluation of suspicious information
- Safety primarily based on a world risk database
- DLP and encryption
- Integration with Cisco SecureX – a single safety platform
Professionals: Highly effective safety towards complicated threats, integration with Cisco ecosystem, excessive scalability
Cons: Problem of preliminary configuration, requires administrator qualification
Finest For: Massive enterprises and organizations already utilizing Cisco merchandise, or those that want complete e mail safety within the cloud.
Pricing: Paid, the price is dependent upon the variety of customers and choices chosen.
Barracuda Electronic mail Safety Gateway
Barracuda Electronic mail Safety Gateway is a complete resolution to guard company e mail from spam, phishing, viruses, and focused assaults (BEC) with multi-level filtering and AI evaluation.
Key Options:
- Detecting Faux Emails and CEO Fraud
- Zero Risk Safety – Sandbox for attachment evaluation
- DLP and Encryption
- Mail backup
- Workplace 365 integration – cloud and hybrid assist
Professionals: Simple to deploy, automated safety updates, built-in archiving
Cons: Restricted analytics in comparison with opponents
Finest For: Medium and huge companies, particularly corporations with hybrid infrastructure (Workplace 365 + on-premises servers).
Pricing: Paid (from $3/person per 30 days).
Zix Electronic mail Encryption
Zix gives automated e mail encryption to adjust to trade requirements (HIPAA, GDPR), defending delicate information in transit.
Key Options:
- Computerized encryption primarily based on DLP insurance policies
- HIPAA/GDPR assist for regulated industries
- Safe portal for exterior recipients
- Monitoring emails with learn affirmation
- Integration with Outlook and cell purchasers
Professionals: Ease of use, give attention to compliance, dependable supply
Cons: Fundamental performance, restricted analytics
Finest For: Medical establishments, monetary organizations, and authorities companies that require compliance.
Pricing: Paid (worth on request).
Egress Forestall
Egress Forestall makes use of synthetic intelligence to forestall delicate information leaks through e mail by robotically analyzing e mail content material and person conduct.
Key Options:
- AI evaluation identifies leakage dangers
- Takes into consideration person conduct and correspondence content material
- Computerized encryption
- Alerts on potential DLP violations
- Integration with Outlook and Workplace 365
Professionals: Clever safety with out false alarms, user-friendly interface, minimal impression on workflow
Cons: Excessive price, requires worker coaching
Finest For: Legislation corporations, monetary establishments, and firms coping with extremely delicate information.
Pricing: Paid (worth on request).
Development Micro Electronic mail Safety
Development Micro Electronic mail Safety is a cloud-based resolution to guard company e mail from spam, phishing, viruses, and focused assaults with multi-level filtering and behavioral evaluation.
Key Options:
- Block phishing, BEC assaults and ransomware
- Analyze suspicious information in an remoted setting
- AI-antispam – filter unsolicited mail
- Actual-time hyperlink verification
- Workplace 365 integration – full assist for Microsoft’s cloud suite
Professionals: Simple deployment, efficient safety towards new threats, user-friendly management panel
Cons: Restricted customization choices, common efficiency beneath heavy masses
Finest For: Medium-sized companies and corporations utilizing cloud companies (particularly Workplace 365) that want dependable safety with out complicated customizations.
Pricing: Paid (beginning at $5 per person per 30 days).
Mailock Safe Electronic mail
Mailock gives a easy resolution for safe correspondence with exterior recipients, permitting you to ship encrypted emails straight from Outlook with out sophisticated settings.
Key Options:
- One-time passwords – recipients open emails via a safe portal
- Retraction of despatched emails
- Notifications when emails are seen
- GDPR-compliant – complies with private information safety necessities
- Outlook integration
Professionals: Simple to make use of, doesn’t require software program set up on the recipient, appropriate for one-off shipments
Cons: Restricted performance for inside correspondence, primary interface
Finest For: Firms that have to shortly set up GDPR-compliant correspondence with purchasers and companions (regulation corporations, HR departments, small companies).
Pricing: Paid (from £3 per person per 30 days).
PreVeil Finish-to-Finish Encryption
PreVeil gives end-to-end encryption of company correspondence utilizing state-secret degree algorithms, defending information even from insider threats.
Key Options:
- AES-256 encryption
- Zero-Information structure – even PreVeil can’t entry your information
- Safety towards BEC assaults
- Works on PCs, cell gadgets, and within the browser
- Easy key administration – no complicated PKI infrastructures required
Professionals: Most safety, user-friendly, safety from insider threats
Cons: Restricted integration with third-party companies, requires adaptation of workflows
Finest For: Organizations with high-security necessities: protection enterprises, regulation corporations, and monetary establishments.
Pricing: Paid (from $10 per person per 30 days).
Verify Level Concord Electronic mail & Workplace
Verify Level is a complete safety of cloud-based workplace companies (Workplace 365, Gmail) from phishing, BEC assaults, and information leaks with a single administration console.
Key Options:
- AI detection of CEO Fraud and spoofed domains
- File evaluation in an remoted setting
- DLP for cloud companies – management information in Outlook and Groups
- Routinely take away malicious hyperlinks from emails
- Unified safety – mail, information, and chats in a single resolution
Professionals: Deep integration with Workplace 365/G Suite, automated e mail response to threats
Cons: Requires coverage customization, premium worth
Finest For: Firms that use cloud-based workplace suites and want centralized communications safety.
Pricing: Paid (worth on request).
Tessian Human Layer Safety
Proofpoint makes use of synthetic intelligence to research person conduct and stop errors that result in information breaches or phishing assaults.
Key Options:
- AI safety alerts you in case you are misdirected
- Detects suspicious worker conduct
- Blocks harmful emails earlier than they’re despatched
- Detects abnormalities in communications
- Worker coaching – interactive danger alerts
Professionals: Minimizes human error, automated safety with out guidelines
Cons: Requires a “studying” interval for the system, excessive price
Finest For: Massive corporations with high-risk operations (finance, attorneys, pharma) the place the human issue is the primary vulnerability.
Pricing: Paid (worth on request).
IRONSCALES Anti-Phishing
IRONSCALES combines synthetic intelligence and crowdsourced information to robotically detect and block phishing assaults in real-time.
Key Options:
- Self-learning safety system
- Computerized removing of phishing emails from inboxes
- Report Phishing button – workers assist to enhance safety
- Simulated assaults – testing the vulnerability of workers
- Integration with Outlook/Workplace 365
Professionals: Quick deployment, automated adaptation to new threats
Cons: Restricted performance towards BEC assaults
Finest For: Medium and huge companies the place phishing is a significant risk (retail, schooling, public sector).
Pricing: Paid (from $3.75/person/month).
SpamTitan Electronic mail Safety
SpamTitan gives cloud and on-premises options for filtering spam, viruses, and phishing assaults with easy administration and excessive accuracy of risk detection.
Key Options:
- Analyze incoming/outgoing emails
- Blocking pretend websites and emails
- Customise filtering guidelines to fulfill enterprise wants
- Actual-time risk monitoring
- Workplace 365 assist – cloud and hybrid safety
Professionals: Low price, simple deployment, excessive filtering accuracy
Cons: Restricted performance towards subtle BEC assaults
Finest For: Small and medium-sized companies, faculties, and non-profit organizations that want dependable safety with out complicated customizations.
Pricing: Paid (from $2.50 per person per 30 days).
Comparability Desk: Finest Outlook Add-Ins for Safety
Discover the proper safety add-ins for Outlook: the desk exhibits the highest 5 options with a comparability of encryption, anti-phishing, DLP, and worth classes for various enterprise wants.
Add-In | Finest For | Encryption | Anti-Phishing | DLP | Sandbox | Pricing |
Microsoft Purview | Massive enterprises (compliance focus) | Finish-to-end encryption | Superior (AI-based) | Full assist | Full assist | Premium (E5/G5) |
Virtru | Consumer-friendly encryption | Finish-to-end encryption | Fundamental safety | Sure | No | From $5/person |
Mimecast | Superior risk safety | Sure | AI-powered + CEO fraud detection | Sure | Sure | Enterprise pricing |
Proofpoint | Focused assault prevention | Sure | AI/BEC safety | Superior | Sure | Excessive-end |
Cisco Safe | Cisco ecosystem customers | Sure | Sure | Sure | Sure | $$$ |
Barracuda | Multi-layered safety | Sure | Sure | Sure | Sure | From $3/person |
A comparability of the very best Outlook safety add-ins.
Why Commonplace Safety Options Aren’t Sufficient
In the present day’s e mail threats have change into so subtle that Outlook’s built-in defenses are not sufficient. Let’s discover out why.
Commonplace Outlook provides primary safety features: a easy anti-spam filter, handbook encryption functionality, and minimal virus safety. Nonetheless, these instruments have critical limits:
- The anti-phishing filter usually misses focused assaults, particularly when attackers use precise copies of company e mail addresses, pretend domains with letter substitutions (“amaz0n.com” with a zero as a substitute of “o”), and even psychological methods (“urgently pay the invoice from the administration”).
- Constructed-in encryption requires handbook activation for every e mail. However as follow exhibits, workers usually neglect to activate the safety, might make a mistake when setting it up, or lose entry keys.
- There is no such thing as a information leakage safety (DLP). Because of this an worker can unintentionally ship a buyer database to an unauthorized particular person, ahead a monetary report back to a private e mail, or publish confidential paperwork.
- There is no such thing as a attachment evaluation within the sandbox. Harmful information (Phrase, PDF, Excel) are opened straight, permitting macro viruses to contaminate the system, spy ware to activate, and malicious scripts to execute.
SCAND: Customized Outlook Add-Ins for Your Safety Wants
Off-the-shelf Outlook safety options are good, however many corporations want personalized instruments which are tailor-made to their particular wants. At SCAND we concentrate on customized Outlook add-in improvement that goes past off-the-shelf options.
Why would you’ll want to order a customized resolution?
Off-the-shelf plugins are sometimes both redundant (with a bunch of pointless options) or not versatile sufficient. We create options that:
- Tailored to your trade – for instance, particular encryption necessities in medication or regulation.
- Built-in together with your infrastructure – works together with your inside CRM, DLP, or SIEM techniques.
- Scalable to your corporation – you can begin with primary safety and add options as you develop.
What options can we implement most frequently?
1. Computerized encryption.
Not simply handbook activation, however clever guidelines: for instance, all emails from accounting or marked “Confidential” are encrypted robotically.
2. Phishing safety with coaching
The system not solely blocks suspicious emails but in addition explains to workers easy methods to acknowledge an assault (e.g., by highlighting pretend domains within the deal with).
3. Safe work with attachments
- Sandbox to verify information earlier than opening.
- Computerized conversion of dangerous codecs (e.g. .exe → .zip with password).
- Watermarks for confidential paperwork.
4. Leak Management (DLP)
- Block emails containing card numbers, passport numbers, and different delicate information.
- Warning when an try is made to ship a file labeled “Inner Solely” to an exterior recipient.
5. Analytics and stories
The IT division sees: who tried to ship dangerous information, and which phishing assaults have been blocked, which workers are more than likely to make errors.
Outlook4Gmail: Sync your Google Calendars and Contacts with Outlook
If your organization makes use of Gmail, however you want the acquainted Outlook interface with all its options and added safety, our Outlook4Gmail resolution is precisely what you want. We’ve developed a handy instrument that gives full synchronization between Gmail and Outlook, permitting you to work together with your mail, contacts, and calendars in a well-known interface, however with the essential addition of built-in company e mail safety.
The important thing function of our strategy is that we don’t simply join Gmail to Outlook, we create a safe working instrument that mixes the comfort of a well-known interface with the trendy safety necessities of company communication. That is particularly essential for corporations which are migrating to Gmail however need to retain management over their e mail correspondence and shield themselves from fashionable threats.
Want a personalized safety module for Outlook?
Contact SCAND to debate your undertaking. We are going to analyze your dangers and suggest an answer with out pointless options – solely what’s going to actually shield your corporation.