# Microsoft Defender for Office 365 vs Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business Comparison

---
## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Proofpoint Essentials for... vs Microsoft Defender for...?

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 stands out for its higher G2 rating, stronger support score, and deeper Office 365 integration, while Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business is noted for its straightforward setup and robust spam filtering.

| | [Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business](https://www.g2.com/products/proofpoint-essentials-for-small-business/reviews) | [Microsoft Defender for Office 365](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-microsoft-defender-for-office-365/reviews) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| G2 Rating (reviews) | 4.0/5 (24 reviews) | 4.5/5 (299 reviews) |
| Largest Segment | Mid-Market | Mid-Market |
| Ease of Setup score | 8.8 | 8.7 |
| Quality of Support score | 8.2 | 8.7 |
| Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | Straightforward setup and effective spam filtering | Office 365 integration and advanced threat protection |



### How do the pricing models of Proofpoint Essentials for... and Microsoft Defender for... compare?

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing and included features.

- **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business:** In recent reviews, buyers appreciate the product's fit-for-purpose bundles but note that reporting limitations and feature gaps can impact perceived value.
- **Microsoft Defender for Office 365:** Reviewers consistently highlight the value of Defender being included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, reducing the need for additional spend on third-party tools.
- **Switching reasons:** Recent reviewers cite consolidation of security tools and cost savings as key reasons for moving to Microsoft Defender for Office 365.



### What are the best alternatives to Proofpoint Essentials for... and Microsoft Defender for...?

The top three alternatives to Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 are Proofpoint Core Email Protection, Mimecast Advanced Email Security, and SpamTitan Email Security.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business](https://www.g2.com/products/proofpoint-essentials-for-small-business/reviews) | 4.0/5 (24 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Straightforward setup and effective spam filtering |
| [Microsoft Defender for Office 365](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-microsoft-defender-for-office-365/reviews) | 4.5/5 (299 reviews) | Mid-Market | Included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions | Office 365 integration and advanced threat protection |
| [Proofpoint Core Email Protection](https://www.g2.com/products/proofpoint-core-email-protection/reviews) | 4.6/5 (601 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Comprehensive threat detection and enterprise-grade controls |
| [Mimecast Advanced Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/mimecast-advanced-email-security/reviews) | 4.4/5 (350 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Advanced threat protection and reliability |
| [SpamTitan Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/spamtitan-email-security/reviews) | 4.5/5 (199 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Strong spam filtering and ease of use |



### Which Cloud Email Security features should I prioritize when comparing Proofpoint Essentials for... and Microsoft Defender for...?

Buyers should prioritize Quarantine, Office 365 integration, spam and phishing protection, reporting, and ease of administration when comparing Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business and Microsoft Defender for Office 365.

- **Quarantine:** Both products are frequently cited for their quarantine capabilities, with Quarantine being the most mentioned feature in reviews.
- **Office 365 integration:** Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is cited in 8 all-time reviews for its Office 365 integration, while Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business is noted for integration capabilities in recent reviews.
- **Spam and phishing protection:** Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is cited in 8 reviews for email security and 6 for phishing protection; Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business is praised in recent reviews for spam and phishing filtering.
- **Reporting:** Recent reviews of Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business mention limitations in reporting, while Microsoft Defender for Office 365 has 4 all-time mentions of limited reporting.
- **Ease of administration:** Microsoft Defender for Office 365 scores 8.9 on Ease of Admin, while Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business scores 8.5.



### What are the pros and cons of Proofpoint Essentials for... vs Microsoft Defender for...?

Microsoft Defender for Office 365's headline strength is its deep Office 365 integration and advanced threat protection, while Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business is praised for straightforward setup and effective spam filtering.

- **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business strengths:** Reviewers highlight straightforward setup, effective spam and phishing filtering, and user-friendly quarantine management.
- **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business trade-offs:** Recent reviews note limited reporting capabilities and occasional UI challenges.
- **Microsoft Defender for Office 365 strengths:** 8 all-time reviews cite Office 365 integration, 9 mention security, 8 mention email security, and 6 mention phishing protection. Reviewers also praise advanced threat protection and automated investigation features.
- **Microsoft Defender for Office 365 trade-offs:** 8 all-time reviews mention complexity, 6 mention false positives, and 4 mention configuration difficulties and limited reporting.



### Is Proofpoint Essentials for... or Microsoft Defender for... better for small businesses?

SpamTitan Email Security is the top-rated alternative for small businesses, but between Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business and Microsoft Defender for Office 365, both primarily serve the mid-market segment with strong small-business sentiment in recent reviews.

- **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; recent reviews from small-business users highlight ease of setup and effective spam filtering as key benefits.
- **Microsoft Defender for Office 365:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; recent small-business reviewers value its inclusion with Microsoft 365 and strong integration, but note complexity in configuration.



### Which Cloud Email Security platform has better integrations?

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is favored for integrations, especially with Microsoft 365 and related tools.

- **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business:** Recent reviews mention integration with Office 365 and Azure AD, but no all-time mention counts are available.
- **Microsoft Defender for Office 365:** Microsoft 365 integration is cited in 13 all-time reviews, with additional mentions for integration with Splunk and Argus portal in recent reviews.



### How do Proofpoint Essentials for... and Microsoft Defender for... compare on customer support?

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 scores higher on Quality of Support, with a 0.5-point advantage over Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business.

- **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business:** Reviewers describe support as responsive and helpful, with several citing positive experiences resolving issues quickly.
- **Microsoft Defender for Office 365:** Reviewers note strong support in many cases, but some mention slow response times and challenges reaching support directly; overall, the higher score reflects more consistent satisfaction.



### Which is easier to implement, Proofpoint Essentials for... or Microsoft Defender for...?

Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 score within a tenth of a point on Ease of Setup, indicating near parity.

- **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business:** Reviewers consistently describe the setup as straightforward and quick, with several citing ease of onboarding and configuration.
- **Microsoft Defender for Office 365:** Reviewers note that setup is generally easy, especially for organizations already using Microsoft 365, but some mention complexity in advanced policy configuration and multiple admin portals.



### Which product has better Quarantine?

Both Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 are highly rated for their Quarantine features, with frequent positive mentions in recent reviews.

- **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business:** Reviewers highlight user-friendly quarantine management and customizable digest notifications; Quarantine is the most frequently mentioned feature in reviews.
- **Microsoft Defender for Office 365:** Reviewers praise robust quarantine controls, integration with automated threat response, and the ability to manage quarantined items across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem; Quarantine is also the most frequently mentioned feature in reviews.



| | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.0 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 298 | 24 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Mid-Market (37.9% of reviews) | Mid-Market (56.5% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | $2.00 1 User Per Month | No pricing available | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Pros:
- Ease of Use (9 reviews)
- Email Security (8 reviews)

Cons:
- Complexity (8 reviews)
- False Positives (6 reviews)

### Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business

**Not enough data**

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.0 (231 reviews) | 8.9 (19 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.9 (234 reviews) | 8.8 (20 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.7 (118 reviews) | 8.8 (13 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.9 (100 reviews) | 8.5 (12 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.7 (225 reviews) | 8.2 (14 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.8 (101 reviews) | 8.9 (11 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.4 (222 reviews) | 7.3 (17 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Microsoft Defender for Office 365

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Microsoft Defender for Office Plan 1

Price: $2.00 1 User Per Month

Description: Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 offers protection against advanced attacks across email and collaboration tools in Office 365.

Key Features:
- Protection against advanced attacks, such as phishing, malware, spam, and business email compromise
- Protection beyond email (Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Office apps)
- Internal email protection

[Browse all 2 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-microsoft-defender-for-office-365/pricing)

#### Free Trial

No

### Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Email Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Phishing Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Response** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Domain Check** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI/Machine Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anomaly/Malware Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SURLB/URIBL Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Scheduled/Automated Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **For MSPs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Whitelisting/Blacklisting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Fraud Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Blocker** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Quarantine** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Leak Prevention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Escalation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Attachment Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Two-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Vulnerability Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Certificate Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Incident Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Automated Containment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Asset Discovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Penetration Testing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Runtime Container Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Issue Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Intelligence** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Patch Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Endpoint Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Goal Setting/Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Asset Tagging** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Assessment Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability/Threat Prioritization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SQL Injections** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Email Archiving

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Email Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Migration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Archive Backup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Data Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Email Archiving

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **File Transfer** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Microsoft Outlook Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Full Text Search** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Metadata Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Archiving & Retention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Tagging** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Indexing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Attachment Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Storage Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Retention Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Deduplication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **User Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti Virus** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **eDiscovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Event Logs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti Spam** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Collaboration Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Compression** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Version Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup and Recovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multiple File Format Support** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Drag & Drop** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Match & Merge** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Cloud Email Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | 8.8/10 | 164 |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Administration

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Intelligence Reporting** | 8.8 (148 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Email Integration Suppor** | 9.0 (147 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Access Management** | 8.8 (140 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Data Loss Prevention** | 8.5 (140 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Maintenance

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Auditing** | 8.7 (138 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Allow and block lists** | 8.8 (145 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance** | 8.8 (142 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Archiving** | 8.6 (135 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Anti-Malware/Anti-Spam** | 9.0 (151 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | 8.9 (141 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Quarantine** | 8.7 (145 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)** | 9.0 (144 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Anti-Phishing** | 9.0 (148 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Account takeover prevention** | 8.7 (138 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

### Intelligent Email Protection

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | 8.9/10 | 5 |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Administration

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Intelligence Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Clients** | 9.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Role-Based Rules** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Detection

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Exfiltration Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Detection** | 8.7 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Protection

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Targeted Attack Prevention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Enforcement** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Filtering** | 9.0 (5 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Intelligent Email Protection

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Security Awareness Training

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Assessment

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Continuous Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Phishing Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Baselining** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Training

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Content Library** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Interactive Training** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Gamification** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Risk-scoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **White-Labeling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI-generated Content** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Interactive Content** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Assessment Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Learning Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Document Automation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Training Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Simulated Threat Attacks** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Self-Paced Courses** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Visualization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Progress Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Intelligence** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Regulatory Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Surveys & Feedback** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Interactive Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Interactive Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Goal Setting/Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Self-paced Learning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Secure Email Gateway

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Anti-Spam** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti-Malware** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti-Phishing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SURLB/URIBL Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Quarantine** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Outbound Email Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Advanced Threat Intelligence/Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Archiving** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **On-prem deployment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Attachment Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Phishing Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Secure Email Gateway

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Activity Dashboard** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Allow/Block List** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Active Directory Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Response** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Search** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Intrusion Detection System** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Blocker** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Verification** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Escalation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Archiving & Retention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Synchronization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Microsoft Outlook Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Login** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Real-Time Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Scheduled/Automated Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Fraud Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Event Logs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Retention Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup and Recovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Threat Intelligence** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Whitelisting/Blacklisting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import/Export** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Two-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti Virus** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Loss Prevention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Alerts** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Password Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Email Backup

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compatibility** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sort and Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Conversion** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Usability

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Batch Handling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Automated Scheduling** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Granular Retention Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Reliability

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Cloud-to-cloud Backup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Address detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Email Backup

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Email Encryption

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Encryption Techniques - Email Encryption

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Encryption Algorithms** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Transport Encryption** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **End-to-End Encryption** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

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

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Revocation Mechanisms** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Digital Signatures** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Certificate Authorities** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security Enhancements and Auditing - Email Encryption

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Malware Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trails** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Loss Prevention (DLP)** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

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

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **User-Friendly Interfaces** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **APIs and SDKs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Client Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Automation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Email Anti-spam

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | 7.8/10 | 14 |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

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

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | 8.1 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | 7.4 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Additional Functionality

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Phishing Protection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Recovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Archiving & Retention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup and Recovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Loss Prevention** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Single Sign On** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Storage Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Fraud Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Routing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Verification** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Search/Filter** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SURLB/URIBL Filtering** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Auditing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Synchronization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti Virus** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Risk Assessment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Greylisting** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting/Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Allow/Block List** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Vulnerability Scanning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Active Directory Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Compression** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Email Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Encryption** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Anti Spam** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Disaster Recovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Copilot** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Tagging** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Secure Data Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Activity Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Blocker** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Microsoft Outlook Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Categorization/Grouping** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Event Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Inbox Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Detection** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Third-Party Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting & Statistics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Spam Quarantine** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **SSL Security** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Generative AI** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Retention Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls/Permissions** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Backup

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Microsoft Defender for Office 365** | N/A | N/A |
| **Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business** | N/A | N/A |

#### Management

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Disaster Recovery** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Remote Backup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Storage Formats** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Scheduled Backups** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **On-Demand Restoration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Reporting

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Activity Monitoring** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Documentation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Alerts/Notifications** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Encryption** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security and Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Deduplication ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (2):** [Cloud Email Security Solutions](https://www.g2.com/categories/cloud-email-security), [Email Anti-spam Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-anti-spam)

**Unique to Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (1):** [Intelligent Email Protection Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/intelligent-email-protection)

**Unique to Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business (5):** [Email Archiving Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-archiving), [Email Encryption Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-encryption), [Security Awareness Training Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/security-awareness-training), [Secure Email Gateway Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/secure-email-gateway), [Email Backup Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-backup)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 25.9% | 34.8% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 37.9% | 56.5% | 
| **Enterprise** | 36.2% | 8.7% | 

### By Industry

#### Microsoft Defender for Office 365

- **Information Technology and Services:** 25.7%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 12.5%
- **Computer Software:** 12.5%
- **Financial Services:** 5.4%
- **Accounting:** 2.9%
- **Consulting:** 2.9%
- **Telecommunications:** 2.5%
- **Education Management:** 2.5%
- **Oil & Energy:** 2.5%
- **Higher Education:** 1.8%
- **Other:** 28.9%

#### Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business

- **Information Technology and Services:** 22.7%
- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 13.6%
- **Mechanical or Industrial Engineering:** 9.1%
- **Manufacturing:** 4.5%
- **Wholesale:** 4.5%
- **Utilities:** 4.5%
- **Motion Pictures and Film:** 4.5%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 4.5%
- **Management Consulting:** 4.5%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 4.5%
- **Other:** 22.7%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Microsoft Defender for Office 365

- [Proofpoint Core Email Protection](https://www.g2.com/products/proofpoint-core-email-protection/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (601 reviews)
- [SpamTitan Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/spamtitan-email-security/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (199 reviews)
- [Symantec Email Security.Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/symantec-email-security-cloud/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (66 reviews)
- [IRONSCALES](https://www.g2.com/products/ironscales/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (67 reviews)
- [Mimecast Advanced Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/mimecast-advanced-email-security/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (359 reviews)
- [Barracuda Email Gateway Defense](https://www.g2.com/products/barracuda-email-gateway-defense/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (39 reviews)
- [Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense](https://www.g2.com/products/cisco-secure-email-threat-defense/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (28 reviews)
- [Vade](https://www.g2.com/products/vade/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (180 reviews)
- [Abnormal AI](https://www.g2.com/products/abnormal-ai/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (89 reviews)
- [Cloudflare One (SASE)](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudflare-one-sase/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (104 reviews)

### Alternatives to Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business

- [Mimecast Advanced Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/mimecast-advanced-email-security/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (359 reviews)
- [Paubox](https://www.g2.com/products/paubox/reviews) — 4.9/5 stars (642 reviews)
- [SpamTitan Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/spamtitan-email-security/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (199 reviews)
- [SoSafe](https://www.g2.com/products/sosafe/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (804 reviews)
- [Check Point Email Security](https://www.g2.com/products/check-point-email-security/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (533 reviews)
- [Valimail](https://www.g2.com/products/valimail/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (667 reviews)
- [Virtru Email Encryption](https://www.g2.com/products/virtru-email-encryption/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (418 reviews)
- [KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training](https://www.g2.com/products/knowbe4-security-awareness-training/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (2397 reviews)
- [Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud](https://www.g2.com/products/acronis-cyber-protect-cloud/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (1453 reviews)
- [CyberSentriq](https://www.g2.com/products/cybersentriq/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (397 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Microsoft Defender for Office 365

- Title: [What are the security features of Microsoft 365?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/microsoft-defender-for-office-365-what-are-the-security-features-of-microsoft-365) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Multi Factor authentication. data encryption, threat protection, data protection, identity and access management are major features of MS Office 365,"
- Title: [Does Microsoft 365 include Microsoft Defender?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/does-microsoft-365-include-microsoft-defender) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Yes"

### Proofpoint Essentials for Small Business

No discussions available for this product.

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/microsoft-microsoft-defender-for-office-365-vs-proofpoint-essentials-for-small-business)