Barracuda Email Security vs Tessian -- Enterprise Email Gateway Compared

Barracuda Email Security vs Tessian

Barracuda Email Security and Tessian are both enterprise email gateway solutions. Barracuda Email Security email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service, while Tessian human layer security platform preventing inbound threats and outbound misdirected emails. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Last updated

The Verdict

Choose Barracuda Email Security if significantly lower pricing than Proofpoint and Mimecast is your priority and small-to-mid-market organizations wanting effective email security at a lower price point than Proofpoint or Mimecast. Choose Tessian if unique misdirected email prevention addresses a gap no other tool covers well matters most and organizations concerned about both inbound email threats and accidental data loss from misdirected emails and human error.

Used Barracuda Email Security or Tessian? Share your experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureTessianBarracuda Email Security
PricingCustom pricing / per-user licensingFrom $3.60/user/month / appliance pricing varies
Pricing ModelPer-user subscriptionPer-user subscription or appliance license
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloudCloud, Self-Hosted
Best ForOrganizations concerned about both inbound email threats and accidental data loss from misdirected emails and human errorSmall-to-mid-market organizations wanting effective email security at a lower price point than Proofpoint or Mimecast
Multi-layer email threat scanningNot availableSupported
Link and attachment sandboxingNot availableSupported
Anti-spam and anti-malware filteringNot availableSupported

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Tessian when:

  • +You value unique misdirected email prevention addresses a gap no other tool covers well
  • +You value behavioral AI catches threats that gateway solutions miss
  • +You value real-time coaching helps users make better security decisions
  • +You want to avoid detection efficacy below Proofpoint for advanced targeted threats
  • +You want to avoid cloud-native API protection less mature than gateway product

Choose Barracuda Email Security when:

  • +You value significantly lower pricing than Proofpoint and Mimecast
  • +You value available as both appliance and cloud service for deployment flexibility
  • +You value straightforward administration with less complexity
  • +You want to avoid now part of Proofpoint — future as standalone product uncertain
  • +You want to avoid not a full email gateway replacement

Pros & Cons Comparison

Tessian

Pros

  • +Unique misdirected email prevention addresses a gap no other tool covers well
  • +Behavioral AI catches threats that gateway solutions miss
  • +Real-time coaching helps users make better security decisions
  • +Prevents both intentional exfiltration and accidental data loss
  • +API-based deployment with no MX record changes required

Cons

  • Now part of Proofpoint — future as standalone product uncertain
  • Not a full email gateway replacement
  • Narrower threat coverage than comprehensive email security platforms
  • Behavioral models require learning period to reduce initial false positives
  • No email archiving or compliance capabilities

Barracuda Email Security

Pros

  • +Significantly lower pricing than Proofpoint and Mimecast
  • +Available as both appliance and cloud service for deployment flexibility
  • +Straightforward administration with less complexity
  • +Good value for small-to-mid-market organizations
  • +Includes awareness training (PhishLine) at no additional cost

Cons

  • Detection efficacy below Proofpoint for advanced targeted threats
  • Cloud-native API protection less mature than gateway product
  • Reporting and analytics less sophisticated than enterprise competitors
  • Threat intelligence depth does not match Proofpoint or Mimecast
  • Support quality inconsistent compared to premium vendors

Sources & References

  1. Barracuda Email Security — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  2. Tessian — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  3. Barracuda Email Security Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  4. Tessian Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  5. Barracuda Email Security Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  6. Tessian Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  7. Barracuda Email Security Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  8. Tessian Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  9. Gartner Magic Quadrant for Email Security 2024[Analyst Report]
  10. Forrester Wave: Enterprise Email Security, Q2 2024[Analyst Report]
  11. SE Labs: Email Security Gateway Tests[Independent Testing]
  12. Anti-Phishing Working Group: Phishing Activity Trends[Industry Research]
  13. Gartner Peer Insights: Email Security[Peer Reviews]

Barracuda Email Security vs Tessian FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Barracuda Email Security and Tessian.

What is the main difference between Barracuda Email Security and Tessian?

Barracuda Email Security and Tessian are both enterprise email gateway solutions. Barracuda Email Security email threat protection platform available as gateway appliance or cloud service, while Tessian human layer security platform preventing inbound threats and outbound misdirected emails. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Is Tessian better than Barracuda Email Security?

Choose Barracuda Email Security if significantly lower pricing than Proofpoint and Mimecast is your priority and small-to-mid-market organizations wanting effective email security at a lower price point than Proofpoint or Mimecast. Choose Tessian if unique misdirected email prevention addresses a gap no other tool covers well matters most and organizations concerned about both inbound email threats and accidental data loss from misdirected emails and human error.

How much does Tessian cost compared to Barracuda Email Security?

Tessian pricing: Custom pricing / per-user licensing. Barracuda Email Security pricing: From $3.60/user/month / appliance pricing varies. Tessian's pricing model is per-user subscription, while Barracuda Email Security uses per-user subscription or appliance license pricing.

Can I migrate from Barracuda Email Security to Tessian?

Yes, you can migrate from Barracuda Email Security to Tessian. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.