Microsoft 365.Good start.Not enough.
Exchange Online Protection (EOP) offers basic protection. Conbool MailGuard adds multi-layered detection, time-of-click protection, and GDPR-compliant processing in Germany.
Exchange Online Protection (EOP) is included in Microsoft 365, but for targeted attacks, phishing, and social engineering, the built-in protection often isn't enough. Conbool MailGuard is an upstream email security gateway that reliably secures your M365 environment.
EOP mainly uses signature-based detection. New spam variants and zero-day attacks are often detected only hours later.
EOP only checks links at delivery. Links that become malicious later (delayed phishing) go undetected. Safe Links is only in higher licenses.
Quarantine management in M365 is cluttered and offers no self-service digest for end users.
Microsoft processes email data in global data centers. For companies with strict data protection requirements, this is a risk.
MailGuard sits as a gateway in front of Exchange Online and filters emails before they reach Microsoft.
Route incoming emails through Conbool. One DNS entry, no changes to your M365 configuration.
Spam, phishing, malware, and forged senders are blocked. Clean emails are forwarded to Exchange Online.
EOP only processes pre-screened emails. This relieves your M365 environment and reduces false positives.
A direct comparison shows where built-in protection ends and MailGuard begins.
| Feature | EOP (M365 Standard) | Conbool MailGuard |
|---|---|---|
| Spam detection | Signature-based | Multi-layer (Bayes + ML + RBL) |
| Phishing protection | Basic (Anti-phishing policy) | Impersonation + URL Rewriting + Header analysis |
| Link protection | Safe Links (E5/Add-on only) | Time-of-click for all licenses |
| Quarantine | Admin-centric | Self-service + daily digest |
| DMARC reporting | Manual (DNS) | Automatic + Dashboard |
| Data processing | Global (Microsoft Cloud) | Germany (GDPR) |
Everything EOP lacks, in a single platform.
Every link is checked in real time when clicked. Even delayed phishing is reliably detected. For all licenses, not just E5.
Detection of display name spoofing, cousin domains, and social engineering patterns. Protection against targeted attacks on your employees.
Users receive a daily overview of blocked emails and can release with one click. Less admin effort, more transparency.
See at a glance who sends emails on your behalf. Automatic SPF, DKIM, and DMARC enforcement included.
Attachments undergo multi-engine scanning and CDR sanitization before reaching Exchange Online. Complements the basic protection of Safe Attachments in M365.
Exportable reports, delivery logs, and quarantine logs. Verifiably compliant with GDPR and NIS2.
Try Conbool MailGuard as a complement to Microsoft 365. 30 days free, full protection.