# Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense vs Proofpoint Core Email Protection Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Proofpoint Core Email Protection excels in overall user satisfaction, boasting a significantly higher G2 Score compared to Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense. Users appreciate its **immediate impact on risk reduction** and effective email filtering capabilities.
- **Users say** that Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense offers robust features for detecting phishing emails, with a scoring system that helps assess threat levels. This flexibility and high performance make it a trusted choice for organizations looking for comprehensive email protection.
- **Reviewers mention** that Proofpoint's user-friendly interface and effective quarantine features, such as the TAB and trap systems, make it easy to manage spam and phishing threats. This usability is a key factor in its popularity among enterprise users.
- **According to verified reviews** , Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense is praised for its **advanced security features** and ability to protect both on-premise and cloud environments. Users highlight its capability to scan sent emails, ensuring a thorough security approach.
- **G2 reviewers note** that while Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense has strong performance in areas like **anti-phishing** and **filtering functionality** , it struggles with overall market presence and user engagement, as evidenced by fewer recent reviews compared to Proofpoint.
- **Users highlight** that Proofpoint Core Email Protection provides detailed threat information for investigation and remediation, which enhances its value for organizations needing to respond quickly to potential threats. This level of detail is a significant advantage for users focused on security compliance.



| | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 28 | 601 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (46.2% of reviews) | Enterprise (66.0% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | Free Trial 0 Mailbox Per Year | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense

**Not enough data**

### Proofpoint Core Email Protection

Pros:
- Effective (52 reviews)
- Features (33 reviews)

Cons:
- Poor Customer Support (19 reviews)
- Limited Features (17 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.0 (19 reviews) | 9.3 (290 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.4 (19 reviews) | 8.5 (529 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.5 (8 reviews) | 8.3 (465 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 9.0 (8 reviews) | 8.5 (251 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.9 (17 reviews) | 8.8 (285 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.6 (8 reviews) | 9.2 (247 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.4 (19 reviews) | 9.2 (277 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Proofpoint Core Email Protection

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Proofpoint Core Email Protection

Price: Free Trial 0 Mailbox Per Year

Key Features:
- Core Email Protection

[Learn more about Proofpoint Core Email Protection](https://www.g2.com/products/proofpoint-core-email-protection/reviews)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Cloud Email Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense** | 9.0/10 | 5 |
| **Proofpoint Core Email Protection** | 8.9/10 | 148 |

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Intelligence Reporting** | 9.7 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.8 (126 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Email Integration Suppor** | 9.3 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.1 (130 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Access Management** | Not enough data | 9.0 (123 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Data Loss Prevention** | 9.3 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.4 (84 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Maintenance

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Auditing** | Not enough data | 8.8 (125 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Allow and block lists** | Not enough data | 9.2 (140 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Compliance** | 9.0 (5 reviews) | 9.0 (125 reviews) | 
| **Archiving** | Not enough data | 8.2 (101 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Security

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Anti-Malware/Anti-Spam** | 9.0 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.3 (141 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Encryption** | Not enough data | 8.8 (114 reviews) | 
| **Quarantine** | 8.3 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.4 (137 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)** | 8.7 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.1 (99 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Anti-Phishing** | 9.0 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.1 (103 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Account takeover prevention** | Not enough data | 8.6 (87 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

### Intelligent Email Protection

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Core Email Protection** | 9.0/10 | 98 |

#### Administration

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | 9.1 (84 reviews) | 
| **Intelligence Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.7 (91 reviews) | 
| **Email Clients** | Not enough data | 9.0 (90 reviews) | 
| **Role-Based Rules** | Not enough data | 8.9 (86 reviews) | 

#### Detection

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Exfiltration Detection** | Not enough data | 8.5 (79 reviews) | 
| **Activity Monitoring** | Not enough data | 8.9 (84 reviews) | 
| **Real-Time Detection** | Not enough data | 9.1 (93 reviews) | 

#### Protection

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Targeted Attack Prevention** | Not enough data | 9.2 (90 reviews) | 
| **Policy Enforcement** | Not enough data | 9.1 (93 reviews) | 
| **Spam Filtering** | Not enough data | 9.2 (95 reviews) | 

#### Agentic AI - Intelligent Email Protection

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 9.3 (10 reviews) | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | 9.3 (10 reviews) | 

### Secure Email Gateway

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense** | 9.5/10 | 5 |
| **Proofpoint Core Email Protection** | 8.9/10 | 117 |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Anti-Spam** | 9.3 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.3 (112 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Anti-Malware** | 8.0 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.3 (112 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Anti-Phishing** | 10.0 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.2 (111 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Filtering Functionality** | 10.0 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.9 (112 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Quarantine** | 9.7 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.2 (114 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Outbound Email Monitoring** | 9.3 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.9 (106 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Advanced Threat Intelligence/Protection** | 9.3 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 9.0 (111 reviews) | 
| **Archiving** | 9.3 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.3 (91 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Reporting** | 9.7 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.5 (111 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **On-prem deployment** | 10.0 (5 reviews) ✓ Verified | 8.6 (49 reviews) | 

#### Agentic AI - Secure Email Gateway

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | 8.7 (23 reviews) | 

### Email Encryption

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Core Email Protection** | 8.7/10 | 22 |

#### Encryption Techniques - Email Encryption

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Encryption Algorithms** | Not enough data | 9.0 (21 reviews) | 
| **Transport Encryption** | Not enough data | 9.0 (21 reviews) | 
| **End-to-End Encryption** | Not enough data | 9.3 (20 reviews) | 

#### Authentication, Verification, and Access Controls - Email Encryption

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Revocation Mechanisms** | Not enough data | 8.9 (20 reviews) | 
| **Access Controls** | Not enough data | 8.4 (20 reviews) | 
| **Digital Signatures** | Not enough data | 8.5 (20 reviews) | 
| **Certificate Authorities** | Not enough data | 8.5 (20 reviews) | 

#### Security Enhancements and Auditing - Email Encryption

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Malware Scanning** | Not enough data | 8.7 (21 reviews) | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.7 (21 reviews) | 
| **Audit Trails** | Not enough data | 8.6 (21 reviews) | 
| **Data Loss Prevention (DLP)** | Not enough data | 8.5 (21 reviews) | 

#### Integration, Compatibility, and Usability - Email Encryption

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **User-Friendly Interfaces** | Not enough data | 8.6 (22 reviews) | 
| **APIs and SDKs** | Not enough data | 8.3 (20 reviews) | 
| **Email Client Integration** | Not enough data | 8.7 (21 reviews) | 
| **Automation** | Not enough data | 8.1 (20 reviews) | 

### Email Anti-spam

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Core Email Protection** | 8.9/10 | 16 |

#### Agentic AI - Email Anti-spam Features

| Feature | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 8.9 (16 reviews) | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | 8.9 (16 reviews) | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (3):** [Secure Email Gateway Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/secure-email-gateway), [Cloud Email Security Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/cloud-email-security), [Intelligent Email Protection Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/intelligent-email-protection)


**Unique to Proofpoint Core Email Protection (2):** [Email Anti-spam Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-anti-spam), [Email Encryption Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-encryption)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense | Proofpoint Core Email Protection | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 19.2% | 4.2% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 46.2% | 29.7% | 
| **Enterprise** | 34.6% | 66.0% | 

### By Industry

#### Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense

- **Information Technology and Services:** 19.2%
- **Higher Education:** 11.5%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 7.7%
- **Architecture & Planning:** 3.8%
- **Computer Hardware:** 3.8%
- **Computer Software:** 3.8%
- **Consumer Services:** 3.8%
- **Defense & Space:** 3.8%
- **Education Management:** 3.8%
- **Financial Services:** 3.8%
- **Other:** 34.6%

#### Proofpoint Core Email Protection

- **Financial Services:** 9.2%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 8.5%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 7.0%
- **Retail:** 5.3%
- **Banking:** 4.3%
- **Manufacturing:** 4.1%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 3.9%
- **Insurance:** 3.2%
- **Computer Software:** 3.1%
- **Higher Education:** 3.1%
- **Other:** 48.4%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense

- [Mimecast Advanced Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/mimecast-advanced-email-security/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (320 reviews)
- [Microsoft Defender for Office 365](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-microsoft-defender-for-office-365/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (298 reviews)
- [SpamTitan Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/spamtitan-email-security/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (199 reviews)
- [FortiMail](https://www.g2.com/products/fortimail/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (24 reviews)
- [Symantec Email Security.Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/symantec-email-security-cloud/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (66 reviews)
- [Paubox](https://www.g2.com/products/paubox/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (600 reviews)
- [Virtru Email Encryption](https://www.g2.com/products/virtru-email-encryption/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (417 reviews)
- [Valimail](https://www.g2.com/products/valimail/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (459 reviews)
- [Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/acronis-cyber-protect-cloud/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (1438 reviews)
- [Check Point Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-email-security/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (534 reviews)

### Alternatives to Proofpoint Core Email Protection

- [Paubox](https://www.g2.com/products/paubox/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (600 reviews)
- [SpamTitan Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/spamtitan-email-security/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (199 reviews)
- [Mimecast Advanced Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/mimecast-advanced-email-security/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (320 reviews)
- [Symantec Email Security.Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/symantec-email-security-cloud/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (66 reviews)
- [Microsoft Defender for Office 365](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-microsoft-defender-for-office-365/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (298 reviews)
- [N-able Mail Assure](https://www.g2.com/products/n-able-mail-assure/reviews) — 4.0/5 stars (68 reviews)
- [Cloudflare One (SASE)](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudflare-one-sase/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (105 reviews)
- [Abnormal AI](https://www.g2.com/products/abnormal-ai/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (78 reviews)
- [IRONSCALES](https://www.g2.com/products/ironscales/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (65 reviews)
- [Virtru Email Encryption](https://www.g2.com/products/virtru-email-encryption/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (417 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense

No discussions available for this product.

### Proofpoint Core Email Protection

- Title: [What is the best way to allow users to safely release quarantined emails to their inbox ?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/14391-what-is-the-best-way-to-allow-users-to-safely-release-quarantined-emails-to-their-inbox) — 3 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Hi Kadeem, this is Merry from G2. Sorry to hear you're having these difficulties. Perhaps you have the "Require Admin Privileges to Release" setting on? When..."
- Title: [How is it possible to limit the quaratine folder. I still have too many mails quarantined.](https://www.g2.com/discussions/15180-how-is-it-possible-to-limit-the-quaratine-folder-i-still-have-too-many-mails-quarantined) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Hi Patrick - this is Merry from G2. Sounds like you get at ton of emails per day! Proofpoint has a ton of tutorials on their YouTube channel & several videos..."
- Title: [What is proofpoint PPS Ppps net?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-proofpoint-pps-ppps-net) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "I don't believe there is a 'ppps net.  We extensively use ProofPoint."
- Title: [Is there a road map to enhance the Smart Search feature?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/15126-is-there-a-road-map-to-enhance-the-smart-search-feature) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "The Smartserarch tool, is seen more as a troubleshooting tool, the actions you want to do are inside the quarantine folders. But in my opinion, putting some..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/cisco-secure-email-threat-defense-vs-proofpoint-core-email-protection)