Which Email Security Solution Actually Protects Your Business Better?

When choosing email protection for your business, you face a simple but crucial question: Should you stick with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 or add extra security layers? This decision can make or break your company’s safety.

Why Microsoft Created ICES Integration

ICES stands for Integrated Cloud Email Security. Microsoft built this system because they know email attacks keep getting smarter. Instead of fighting alone, they let other security companies work together with their platform.

How ICES Works

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 now connects with trusted partners like Darktrace and KnowBe4. These tools work as a second layer of protection. They scan emails after Microsoft’s system checks them first.

The best part? Everything appears in one dashboard. You don’t need to switch between different screens to see what’s happening.

Real Performance Numbers You Need to Know

Microsoft tested their system against real email threats – not fake test emails. Here’s what they found:

Microsoft vs. Other Email Gateways

When comparing Microsoft Defender to seven other email security companies, Microsoft missed the fewest threats. This means more bad emails got blocked before reaching your workers.

Adding ICES Solutions

Companies using ICES tools alongside Microsoft Defender saw these improvements:

• 20% better at catching marketing and bulk emails
• 0.30% better at catching dangerous emails
• 0.51% better at catching spam emails

The numbers show that adding ICES tools helps mostly with reducing email clutter. The improvement for stopping actual dangerous emails is very small – less than 1%.

Benefits of Using Multiple Security Layers

Single Dashboard Control

You can manage blocked emails from different security tools in one place. No more jumping between systems.

Better Threat Hunting

Security teams can search through data from both Microsoft and partner tools at the same time. This helps them spot attack patterns faster.

Compliance Requirements

Many industries require multiple security layers. ICES helps meet these rules while keeping things simple.

Key Considerations Before Adding Extra Security

Cost vs. Value

Adding ICES solutions means paying for extra licenses. With improvements under 1% for dangerous emails, consider if the cost matches the benefit.

Complexity

More tools can mean more complexity. However, Microsoft’s unified interface helps reduce this problem.

Your Current Threats

If your company gets lots of marketing emails that hurt productivity, the 20% improvement might be worth it. If dangerous emails are your main worry, the benefit is much smaller.

Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Choose Microsoft Defender Alone If:

• You want simple, effective protection
• Budget is a key concern
• Your team is small and needs easy management

Add ICES Solutions If:

• You face strict compliance requirements
• Marketing email clutter hurts productivity
• You have security staff who can use advanced hunting tools
• You want the absolute highest protection levels

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 already provides strong email protection that beats many competitors. Adding ICES solutions gives small improvements in threat detection but significant help with email organization.

The smartest approach? Start with Microsoft Defender alone. If you notice specific problems like too much marketing email or compliance gaps, then consider adding ICES partners. This way, you get proven protection without paying for features you might not need.

Remember: good email security isn’t about having the most tools – it’s about having the right tools that your team can actually use effectively.

Does Layered Email Security Really Boost Your Company’s Protection?

Security experts often recommend multiple protection layers, but the real-world data shows the gains are smaller than many expect. Focus on getting the basics right first, then add complexity only when you have clear business reasons.