In an period the place electronic mail stays each the important software for enterprise communication and a first-rate goal for cybercriminals, Outlook customers face unprecedented safety challenges.
Whereas Microsoft’s native protections provide fundamental safeguards, they fall dangerously quick towards at this time’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 E-mail Safety in Outlook
E-mail is among the predominant channels of enterprise correspondence and, along with it, one of the crucial weak factors to cyberattacks. Confidential paperwork, logins, monetary data, and private information cross by way of Microsoft Outlook.
If electronic mail is just not effectively secured, it might result in information breaches, phishing assaults, malware infections, and regulatory violations (e.g. GDPR, HIPAA, and many others.). That’s why it’s necessary to make use of further 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. Because of their integration, they shield Outlook customers once they work together with the e-mail, which is crucial 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 test emails for phishing and malicious hyperlinks
- Encrypt messages and attachments
- Stop confidential emails from being forwarded
- Monitor who opened an electronic mail and when
- Combine with DLP techniques (information loss prevention)
Benefits of utilizing add-ins
Trendy Outlook add-ins present complete electronic mail safety whereas working as discreetly and effectively as doable. The primary benefit is that they improve the extent of safety with out the necessity for extra actions on the a part of customers.
Add-ins perform within the background, robotically making use of the desired safety insurance policies, which considerably reduces the dangers related to human error.
The monitoring and reporting perform is equally necessary. The IT division will get full entry to detailed logs, can monitor electronic mail safety in real-time, and reply shortly to potential threats.
An extra benefit is the power to combine with different firm safety techniques. The add-ins can work together with company anti-viruses, SIEM techniques, identification instruments, and different data safety instruments, making a unified protecting circuit.
The right way to Select the Greatest Outlook Add-Ins for Safety?
When selecting safety add-ins for Outlook, there are a number of crucial elements you need to contemplate. Trendy safety techniques should present full information safety whereas remaining simple to attach and straightforward to make use of.
1. Safety towards phishing and spam
A dependable add-in must 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 menace 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 necessary for transmitting delicate data – particularly in authorized, finance, and HR departments. It’s additionally price being attentive to the place and the way the information 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 should not overloaded.
4. Person expertise and suggestions
Safety shouldn’t intrude together with your work. Good add-ins work unobtrusively, with a transparent interface and minimal clicks. Take note of person opinions and scores on Microsoft AppSource – that is typically essentially the most sincere indicator of reliability and usefulness.
Prime 15 Outlook Add-Ins for Information Privateness & Safety
In at this time’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 may hold you secure when working with electronic mail.
Microsoft Purview Message Encryption — Greatest for Enterprise-Grade E-mail Encryption
Microsoft’s built-in electronic mail safety answer for Outlook supplies end-to-end encryption for emails and attachments. It’s absolutely built-in with Workplace 365 and Azure, enabling safe messaging each inside and outdoors your group.
Key Options:
- Automated and handbook encryption of emails
- Attachment safety (information, PDF, photos)
- Help for DLP insurance policies (leak prevention)
- GDPR, HIPAA, FZ-152 compliant
- Potential to retract despatched messages
Execs: Deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, centralized administration, compliance with strict requirements
Cons: Requires Microsoft 365 E5 subscription or separate license, tough to configure for smaller corporations
Greatest For: Giant 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 E-mail Encryption
Virtru supplies a easy but highly effective answer for end-to-end encryption of emails and attachments straight in Outlook. It permits customers to guard delicate information with out difficult settings whereas sustaining the comfort of working together with your mail.
Key Options:
- Simple encryption of emails and attachments with out technical abilities
- Potential to retract despatched emails or prohibit their forwarding
- Compliant with GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and different necessities
- Potential to learn encrypted emails with out putting in further software program
- Automated encryption by key phrase or information kind
Execs: Intuitive interface, cross-platform assist (Outlook, Gmail, cellular gadgets), capacity to retract emails
Cons: Requires subscription for full performance
Greatest For: Small and medium-sized companies, healthcare suppliers, legal professionals, and freelancers who want easy however dependable electronic mail safety.
Pricing: Free trial, paid plans beginning at $5 per 30 days.
Mimecast Safe E-mail Gateway
Mimecast supplies a cloud-based electronic mail safety service that filters incoming and outgoing electronic 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 E-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
Execs: Extremely efficient towards advanced threats, cloud-based structure, integration with Workplace 365
Cons: Tough to configure, requires administrator coaching, excessive price
Greatest For: Giant enterprises and organizations that deal with confidential information and wish complete safety towards superior threats.
Pricing: Paid, the fee will depend on the variety of customers and chosen options.
Proofpoint E-mail Safety
Proofpoint supplies complete enterprise electronic 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 government spoofing assaults
- Inspects information in an remoted setting
- DLP for electronic mail
- Analyzes and intercepts malicious hyperlinks in actual time
Execs: Extremely correct menace detection, integration with SIEM techniques, deep analytics
Cons: Requires coverage customization, premium worth
Greatest For: Giant companies and authorities companies the place safety towards focused assaults and information breaches is crucial.
Pricing: Paid (requested individually).
Cisco Safe E-mail
Cisco Safe E-mail (previously Cisco E-mail Safety) protects company electronic 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 based mostly on a world menace database
- DLP and encryption
- Integration with Cisco SecureX – a single safety platform
Execs: Highly effective safety towards advanced threats, integration with Cisco ecosystem, excessive scalability
Cons: Problem of preliminary configuration, requires administrator qualification
Greatest For: Giant enterprises and organizations already utilizing Cisco merchandise, or those that want complete electronic mail safety within the cloud.
Pricing: Paid, the fee will depend on the variety of customers and choices chosen.
Barracuda E-mail Safety Gateway
Barracuda E-mail Safety Gateway is a complete answer to guard company electronic mail from spam, phishing, viruses, and focused assaults (BEC) with multi-level filtering and AI evaluation.
Key Options:
- Detecting Pretend Emails and CEO Fraud
- Zero Risk Safety – Sandbox for attachment evaluation
- DLP and Encryption
- Mail backup
- Workplace 365 integration – cloud and hybrid assist
Execs: Simple to deploy, automated safety updates, built-in archiving
Cons: Restricted analytics in comparison with rivals
Greatest For: Medium and huge companies, particularly corporations with hybrid infrastructure (Workplace 365 + on-premises servers).
Pricing: Paid (from $3/person per 30 days).
Zix E-mail Encryption
Zix supplies automated electronic mail encryption to adjust to trade requirements (HIPAA, GDPR), defending delicate information in transit.
Key Options:
- Automated encryption based mostly on DLP insurance policies
- HIPAA/GDPR assist for regulated industries
- Safe portal for exterior recipients
- Monitoring emails with learn affirmation
- Integration with Outlook and cellular shoppers
Execs: Ease of use, deal with compliance, dependable supply
Cons: Primary performance, restricted analytics
Greatest For: Medical establishments, monetary organizations, and authorities companies that require compliance.
Pricing: Paid (worth on request).
Egress Stop
Egress Stop makes use of synthetic intelligence to forestall delicate information leaks through electronic mail by robotically analyzing electronic mail content material and person conduct.
Key Options:
- AI evaluation identifies leakage dangers
- Takes into consideration person conduct and correspondence content material
- Automated encryption
- Alerts on potential DLP violations
- Integration with Outlook and Workplace 365
Execs: Clever safety with out false alarms, user-friendly interface, minimal affect on workflow
Cons: Excessive price, requires worker coaching
Greatest For: Regulation corporations, monetary establishments, and firms coping with extremely delicate information.
Pricing: Paid (worth on request).
Pattern Micro E-mail Safety
Pattern Micro E-mail Safety is a cloud-based answer to guard company electronic 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
Execs: Simple deployment, efficient safety towards new threats, user-friendly management panel
Cons: Restricted customization choices, common efficiency beneath heavy hundreds
Greatest For: Medium-sized companies and corporations utilizing cloud companies (particularly Workplace 365) that want dependable safety with out advanced customizations.
Pricing: Paid (beginning at $5 per person per 30 days).
Mailock Safe E-mail
Mailock supplies a easy answer for safe correspondence with exterior recipients, permitting you to ship encrypted emails straight from Outlook with out difficult settings.
Key Options:
- One-time passwords – recipients open emails by way of a safe portal
- Retraction of despatched emails
- Notifications when emails are seen
- GDPR-compliant – complies with private information safety necessities
- Outlook integration
Execs: Simple to make use of, doesn’t require software program set up on the recipient, appropriate for one-off shipments
Cons: Restricted performance for inner correspondence, fundamental interface
Greatest For: Corporations that must shortly manage GDPR-compliant correspondence with shoppers and companions (regulation corporations, HR departments, small companies).
Pricing: Paid (from £3 per person per 30 days).
PreVeil Finish-to-Finish Encryption
PreVeil supplies end-to-end encryption of company correspondence utilizing state-secret stage 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, cellular gadgets, and within the browser
- Easy key administration – no advanced PKI infrastructures required
Execs: Most safety, user-friendly, safety from insider threats
Cons: Restricted integration with third-party companies, requires adaptation of workflows
Greatest For: Organizations with high-security necessities: protection enterprises, regulation corporations, and monetary establishments.
Pricing: Paid (from $10 per person per 30 days).
Test Level Concord E-mail & Workplace
Test 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 answer
Execs: Deep integration with Workplace 365/G Suite, automated electronic mail response to threats
Cons: Requires coverage customization, premium worth
Greatest For: Companies that use cloud-based workplace suites and wish 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 if you’re misdirected
- Detects suspicious worker conduct
- Blocks harmful emails earlier than they’re despatched
- Detects abnormalities in communications
- Worker coaching – interactive danger alerts
Execs: Minimizes human error, automated safety with out guidelines
Cons: Requires a “studying” interval for the system, excessive price
Greatest For: Giant corporations with high-risk operations (finance, legal professionals, 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
- Automated elimination of phishing emails from inboxes
- Report Phishing button – staff assist to enhance safety
- Simulated assaults – testing the vulnerability of employees
- Integration with Outlook/Workplace 365
Execs: Quick deployment, automated adaptation to new threats
Cons: Restricted performance towards BEC assaults
Greatest For: Medium and huge companies the place phishing is a serious menace (retail, schooling, public sector).
Pricing: Paid (from $3.75/person/month).
SpamTitan E-mail Safety
SpamTitan supplies cloud and on-premises options for filtering spam, viruses, and phishing assaults with easy administration and excessive accuracy of menace detection.
Key Options:
- Analyze incoming/outgoing emails
- Blocking pretend websites and emails
- Customise filtering guidelines to satisfy enterprise wants
- Actual-time menace monitoring
- Workplace 365 assist – cloud and hybrid safety
Execs: Low price, simple deployment, excessive filtering accuracy
Cons: Restricted performance towards subtle BEC assaults
Greatest For: Small and medium-sized companies, colleges, and non-profit organizations that want dependable safety with out advanced customizations.
Pricing: Paid (from $2.50 per person per 30 days).
Comparability Desk: Greatest Outlook Add-Ins for Safety
Discover the right safety add-ins for Outlook: the desk reveals the highest 5 options with a comparability of encryption, anti-phishing, DLP, and worth classes for various enterprise wants.
Add-In | Greatest For | Encryption | Anti-Phishing | DLP | Sandbox | Pricing |
Microsoft Purview | Giant enterprises (compliance focus) | Finish-to-end encryption | Superior (AI-based) | Full assist | Full assist | Premium (E5/G5) |
Virtru | Person-friendly encryption | Finish-to-end encryption | Primary safety | Sure | No | From $5/person |
Mimecast | Superior menace 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 Customary Safety Options Aren’t Sufficient
At this time’s electronic mail threats have develop into so subtle that Outlook’s built-in defenses are not sufficient. Let’s discover out why.
Customary Outlook affords fundamental safety features: a easy anti-spam filter, handbook encryption functionality, and minimal virus safety. Nevertheless, these instruments have critical limits:
- The anti-phishing filter typically misses focused assaults, particularly when attackers use precise copies of company electronic mail addresses, pretend domains with letter substitutions (“amaz0n.com” with a zero as a substitute of “o”), and even psychological strategies (“urgently pay the invoice from the administration”).
- Constructed-in encryption requires handbook activation for every electronic mail. However as apply reveals, staff typically overlook to activate the safety, could make a mistake when setting it up, or lose entry keys.
- There isn’t any information leakage safety (DLP). Which means an worker can by accident ship a buyer database to an unauthorized particular person, ahead a monetary report back to a private electronic mail, or publish confidential paperwork.
- There isn’t any 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 custom-made instruments which are tailor-made to their particular wants. At SCAND we specialise in customized Outlook add-in improvement that goes past off-the-shelf options.
Why would it’s worthwhile to order a customized answer?
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 drugs or regulation.
- Built-in together with your infrastructure – works together with your inner CRM, DLP, or SIEM techniques.
- Scalable to your enterprise – you can begin with fundamental safety and add options as you develop.
What options will we implement most frequently?
1. Automated 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 additionally explains to staff find out how to acknowledge an assault (e.g., by highlighting pretend domains within the handle).
3. Safe work with attachments
- Sandbox to test information earlier than opening.
- Automated 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 staff are most probably 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 answer is precisely what you want. We’ve developed a handy software 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 necessary addition of built-in company electronic mail safety.
The important thing function of our strategy is that we don’t simply join Gmail to Outlook, we create a safe working software that mixes the comfort of a well-known interface with the fashionable safety necessities of company communication. That is particularly necessary for corporations which are migrating to Gmail however wish to retain management over their electronic mail correspondence and shield themselves from fashionable threats.
Want a custom-made 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 is going to actually shield your enterprise.