Even with all of the massive changes we’ve seen in business communications and network security, email continues to be a primary attack vector. More specifically, this Barracuda email security review focuses on what you can do about these unwavering security threats.
The reality is that email is a staple, not a fad like many other communication tech that has come and gone over the years. Those dishing out the security threats know this well, which is partly why they continue to push their way through. For this article, I’m highlighting the solutions behind Barracuda email security solutions, their differences, strengths, and more.
Key Takeaways:
- Barracuda offers three email security tiers: Advanced, Premium, and Premium Plus
- Advanced focuses on core threat prevention and post-delivery remediation for small businesses
- Premium adds automation, threat hunting, and improved visibility for growing security teams
- Premium Plus delivers full lifecycle protection, including backup, archiving, training, and compliance tools
- All tiers come with AI-driven protection catered toward phishing, impersonation, and account takeover threats
Barracuda Email Security Review
Before I get into the fine print with each of these options, I figured a quick comparison table would help you get up to speed. Between Barracuda Advanced email security, including Premium and Premium Plus, it’s the differences we want to look for.
They also share quite a few functionalities, but it’s what sets them apart that will guide you to the right choice. Review the table below for a quick look at how these Barracuda products differ.
| Feature | Advanced | Premium | Premium Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core AI Threat Detection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Post-Delivery Protection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Account Takeover Detection & Alerts | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Domain Fraud Protection | Basic | Advanced | Advanced |
| Automated Response Playbooks | 🚫 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Operational Visibility | Limited | Enhanced | Enhanced |
| Security Awareness Training + Phishing Simulation | 🚫 | 🚫 | ✅ |
| Cloud Archiving & eDiscovery | 🚫 | 🚫 | ✅ |
| Cloud-to-Cloud Backup | 🚫 | 🚫 | ✅ |
| Data Inspector | 🚫 | 🚫 | ✅ |
As mentioned, they definitely share some core functions. However, as you go through more advanced features, you’ll notice that some are only available with the Premium Plus tier. Before you dive into making a choice, it still helps to have a core understanding of what each option brings to the table.
What is Barracuda Advanced Email Security?
If you’re looking for something entry-level, Advanced email Barracuda security is a good direction to go. Moreover, it focuses on stopping modern threats, such as phishing and even impersonation attacks.
Check out this quick overview of what’s included with Barracuda’s Advanced email security:
- Uses behavioral AI to detect unusual communication patterns across email traffic
- Leverages social graph analysis to identify impersonation and business email compromise
- Includes real-time URL analysis to evaluate links
- Applies natural language processing (NLP) to analyze message intent and uncover social engineering tactics
- Supports automatic remediation, including removing malicious messages from user inboxes
Trust me, it keeps going from there, making for an impressive starting point in email security solutions from Barracuda. At the same time, consider this the starter package, as Premium and Premium Plus take things one step further.
What is Barracuda Premium Email Security?
With the mid-level tier, you’re getting a lot of similar functionalities with a few add-ons. For example, an improvement here includes automated response playbooks for the sake of speeding up threat remediation.
Here’s a quick overview of what Premium Barracuda email security has to offer:
- Improves incident response with the help of structured workflows for security teams
- Enhances threat hunting capabilities for deeper investigation of email attacks
- Strengthens domain fraud protection using SPF, DKIM, and DMARC enforcement
- Adds detection of suspicious logins and internal account anomalies
- Expands reporting and visibility tools for improved security oversight
Clearly an upgrade in some ways, but that’s far from the full picture of what you’re getting here. All in all, this option is best suited for mid-market organizations. If you’re past the small business stage and focused on continuous scaling, the automation, visibility, and stronger response with Premium make it a great option.
What is Barracuda Premium Plus Email Security?
In the full range of Barracuda network security products, there’s a lot you can add to your security stack. For those looking into email security, it’s pretty hard to beat their Premium Plus tier.
Check out what that looks like under the surface in the list below:
- Includes all features of the Premium tier
- Extends protection past detection and response into data security and user training
- Cloud-to-cloud backup support
- Introduces Data Inspector, which identifies sensitive or exposed information
- Includes security awareness training and adds phishing simulation and attack testing to measure user risk
It’s definitely an impressive email security package, one that isn’t exclusive to just enterprise-level organizations. Even when you compare it to other options on the market, it still stands tall as a leading solution. However, from a technical standpoint, it is best geared toward not only enterprise, but also heavily-regulated industries needing that full lifecycle protection.
One Last Note
Making the choice in this Barracuda email security review is entirely dependent on what your real-world needs look like. Every tier comes with strong AI-driven protection, but the core differences are found in visibility, automation capability, compliance features, and data resilience.
While making the right choice is important, I find it helpful to note that you can always make a change if your first shot doesn’t work out. To help eliminate a lot of that trial and error, come have a quick chat with us at Firewalls.com, and you’ll be sure to end up with the right email security solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Core Difference Between Advanced, Premium, and Premium Plus?
Advanced focuses on core AI threat prevention, Premium adds automation and visibility, and Premium Plus includes full data protection, recovery, and user training.
Do all Barracuda Email Security Tiers Include Phishing Protection?
Yes, every tier uses AI-based detection to stop phishing, impersonation, and business email compromise attacks.
Which Barracuda Tier is Best for Small Businesses?
Advanced is typically best for small businesses that need strong protection without advanced compliance, backup, or training features.
What Additional Capabilities Does Premium Plus Provide?
Premium Plus adds cloud backup, email archiving, data discovery, and security awareness with phishing simulations.
Can Organizations Upgrade Between Barracuda Email Security?
Sure thing, businesses can scale from Advanced to Premium or Premium Plus as their security, compliance, and resilience needs expand.
