Tessian vs Abnormal Security -- AI Email Security Compared

Tessian vs Abnormal Security

Abnormal Security and Tessian are both ai email security solutions. Abnormal Security aI-powered email security platform specializing in behavioral detection of social engineering attacks, 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.

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The Verdict

Choose Abnormal Security if superior detection of socially-engineered attacks with no malicious payload is your priority and organizations facing sophisticated social engineering and BEC attacks that bypass traditional email gateways. 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 Tessian or Abnormal Security? Share your experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureAbnormal SecurityTessian
PricingCustom pricing / per-user licensingCustom pricing / per-user licensing
Pricing ModelPer-user subscriptionPer-user subscription
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloudCloud
Best ForOrganizations concerned about both inbound email threats and accidental data loss from misdirected emails and human errorOrganizations facing sophisticated social engineering and BEC attacks that bypass traditional email gateways
Business email compromise preventionNot availableSupported
Vendor and supply chain fraud detectionNot availableSupported
Automated remediation and quarantineNot availableSupported

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Abnormal Security 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 does not replace a full email gateway — typically layers on top of one
  • +You want to avoid less effective against traditional malware and payload-based attacks

Choose Tessian when:

  • +You value superior detection of socially-engineered attacks with no malicious payload
  • +You value aPI-based deployment requires no MX record changes — deploys in minutes
  • +You value behavioral AI catches novel attacks that signature-based tools miss
  • +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

Abnormal Security

Pros

  • +Superior detection of socially-engineered attacks with no malicious payload
  • +API-based deployment requires no MX record changes — deploys in minutes
  • +Behavioral AI catches novel attacks that signature-based tools miss
  • +Extremely low false positive rate due to identity-based detection
  • +Strong vendor and supply chain fraud detection capabilities

Cons

  • Does not replace a full email gateway — typically layers on top of one
  • Less effective against traditional malware and payload-based attacks
  • Premium pricing for what is an additional security layer
  • Behavioral models need time to learn organization communication patterns
  • No email archiving, DLP, or compliance capabilities

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

Sources & References

  1. Abnormal Security — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  2. Tessian — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  3. Abnormal Security Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  4. Tessian Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  5. Abnormal Security Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  6. Tessian Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  7. Abnormal 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]

Tessian vs Abnormal Security FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Tessian and Abnormal Security.

What is the main difference between Tessian and Abnormal Security?

Abnormal Security and Tessian are both ai email security solutions. Abnormal Security aI-powered email security platform specializing in behavioral detection of social engineering attacks, 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 Abnormal Security better than Tessian?

Choose Abnormal Security if superior detection of socially-engineered attacks with no malicious payload is your priority and organizations facing sophisticated social engineering and BEC attacks that bypass traditional email gateways. 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 Abnormal Security cost compared to Tessian?

Abnormal Security pricing: Custom pricing / per-user licensing. Tessian pricing: Custom pricing / per-user licensing. Abnormal Security's pricing model is per-user subscription, while Tessian uses per-user subscription pricing.

Can I migrate from Tessian to Abnormal Security?

Yes, you can migrate from Tessian to Abnormal Security. 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.