# Cisco Secure Email > On-premises, hybrid or cloud email security from Cisco, per-user licensing, quote-only pricing. Cisco Secure Email is an email security gateway from Cisco that filters spam, phishing and malware for on-premises, hybrid, virtual-appliance or cloud mail environments, licensed per user across two tiers with no published starting price. Listing updated 6 September 2026. Checked by MSP Software 5 September 2026. - Page: https://mspsoftware.net/software/cisco-secure-email - Vendor: Cisco, https://mspsoftware.net/vendors/cisco, website https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/products/security/secure-email - Categories: Email security (primary) - Free trial: yes. Free version: no. - Deployment: cloud, on-premises and hybrid. Platforms: web. HQ: United States. Founded: 1984. - Support: 24/7, phone and knowledge base. Training: documentation, videos, webinars and live online. ## From the vendor Cisco Secure Email is an email security gateway from Cisco for organisations that need spam, phishing and malware filtering on-premises, in a hybrid setup, or fully in the cloud. It is sold as a physical appliance, a virtual appliance, or a cloud service, which suits MSPs whose clients run hybrid or on-premises mail infrastructure rather than a pure Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace tenant, and organisations in regulated industries that want mail filtering under their own control. Cisco also sells Secure Email Threat Defense, a separate API-based, cloud-native layer that adds post-delivery detection for Microsoft 365 without changing mail flow or DNS records, and the two can be managed through a single console. Cisco licenses the Secure Email Gateway on two tiers, Essentials and Advantage, both per user. Both include anti-spam, sender domain reputation, URL filtering, outbreak filters, antivirus and graymail detection, plus malware analysis with a limited sample count on Essentials and unlimited samples on Advantage. Data loss prevention, an encryption service and safe unsubscribe come standard on Advantage and as add-ons on Essentials, while Threat Defense, domain protection (DMARC monitoring and enforcement), image analysis and McAfee anti-malware are optional add-ons on either tier. Cisco does not publish prices for either tier; a quote comes through a Cisco partner or reseller, with subscription terms of one, three or five years and multiyear discounts available (checked September 2026). A free trial is offered for Secure Email Threat Defense; the on-premises and hybrid Gateway is typically evaluated through a partner demo instead. Secure Email integrates with Microsoft 365, Cisco XDR, Cisco Secure Endpoint, Cisco Umbrella, Duo and Splunk, and draws on Cisco Talos threat intelligence. Cisco is based in San Jose, California, and was founded in 1984; it remains an independent, publicly traded company with no separate parent for this product line. Because pricing and support are quoted through the channel rather than published, MSPs should get a written quote covering the specific tier and add-ons a client needs, and confirm whether they are licensing the on-premises or hybrid Gateway, the API-based Threat Defense layer, or both, since the two are priced, managed and provisioned separately. ## Our take Cisco Secure Email suits an MSP whose clients already run Cisco networking and security gear, or who specifically need an on-premises or hybrid mail gateway rather than a cloud-only product, which rules out pure Microsoft 365 shops that would usually be better served by Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Proofpoint Essentials or Mimecast. Pricing is quote-only and channel-led, so there is no published number to weigh against a competitor's per-mailbox price; get a written quote for the specific tier, add-ons and term length before assuming it is cheaper or more expensive. Check whether a client needs the on-premises or hybrid Gateway, the API-based Threat Defense layer, or both, since they are separate products with separate licensing, and confirm which add-ons, such as DLP, encryption or domain protection, are actually bundled into the tier being quoted. ## Pricing Cisco Secure Email does not publish a list price. ## Features | Feature | Supported | Note | | --- | --- | --- | | Phishing and malware filtering | yes | Anti-spam, URL filtering and outbreak filters are included in both Essentials and Advantage tiers. | | Spoofing and impersonation protection | yes | Sender domain reputation is standard; Domain Protection (DMARC monitoring and enforcement) is an optional add-on for stronger anti-spoofing. | | Security awareness training bundle | no | Not bundled; Cisco's Secure Email pages do not describe a security awareness training component. | | API-based post-delivery scanning | yes | Secure Email Threat Defense is a separate API-based, cloud-native layer for post-delivery scanning, mainly for Microsoft 365, needing no change to mail flow or DNS. | | DMARC monitoring | yes | Available as the Domain Protection add-on to either licensing tier. | | Attachment sandboxing | yes | Malware defense and analytics (file reputation and sandbox-style analysis) is included in both tiers, with a limited sample count on Essentials and unlimited on Advantage. | | Data loss prevention | yes | Standard on the Advantage tier; available as an add-on on Essentials. | | Email encryption | yes | Encryption service is standard on Advantage; an add-on on Essentials. | | Microsoft 365 integration | yes | Secure Email Threat Defense integrates with Microsoft 365 via API, without changing mail flow or DNS records. | | Self-service quarantine | yes | Self-service spam quarantine allows end users to review and release messages flagged as spam. | ## Integrations - Microsoft 365, https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/security/cloud-email-security/advanced-threat-protection-so.html - Cisco Secure Endpoint, https://mspsoftware.net/software/cisco-secure-endpoint - Cisco Umbrella, https://mspsoftware.net/software/cisco-umbrella - Cisco Duo, https://mspsoftware.net/software/duo - Cisco XDR, https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/products/security/xdr/index.html - Splunk, https://www.splunk.com Listed products that integrate with Cisco Secure Email: Cisco Duo and Cisco Secure Endpoint. ## Alternatives - SpamTitan: Cloud and on-premises email security blocking phishing and malware, priced per user from $1.26 per month. https://mspsoftware.net/software/spamtitan. Compare: https://mspsoftware.net/compare/cisco-secure-email-vs-spamtitan - TrendAI Email Security: Cloud email protection with AI-driven phishing and malware detection, DLP, and Microsoft 365 integration. https://mspsoftware.net/software/trend-micro-email-security - Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Microsoft 365 email security against phishing and malware, priced per user per month. https://mspsoftware.net/software/defender-for-office-365. Compare: https://mspsoftware.net/compare/cisco-secure-email-vs-defender-for-office-365 - Sophos Email: Cloud email security for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace with post-delivery remediation. https://mspsoftware.net/software/sophos-email ## FAQ ### How much does Cisco Secure Email cost? Cisco Secure Email does not publish a list price. No MSP price reports have been approved yet. ### Does Cisco Secure Email offer a free trial? Cisco Secure Email offers a free trial. There is no free version. ### What does Cisco Secure Email integrate with? Cisco Secure Email lists integrations with Microsoft 365, Cisco Secure Endpoint, Cisco Umbrella, Cisco Duo, Cisco XDR and Splunk. ### What integrates with Cisco Secure Email? Cisco Duo and Cisco Secure Endpoint list an integration with Cisco Secure Email. ### Is Cisco Secure Email cloud or on-premises? Cisco Secure Email can be run in the cloud or on-premises. Cisco Secure Email supports a hybrid deployment. ### Who is Cisco Secure Email for? MSPs report using Cisco Secure Email at sizes of 51-200 and 200+ technicians. ### Is Cisco Secure Email priced per user or per mailbox? Cisco Secure Email is licensed per user rather than per mailbox, across two tiers called Essentials and Advantage. Cisco does not publish the price for either tier; a quote comes through a Cisco partner or reseller, with subscription terms of one, three or five years and multiyear discounts available. ### Can Cisco Secure Email run on-premises, or is it cloud only? Cisco Secure Email Gateway can run as a physical appliance, a virtual appliance, or a cloud service, and can be deployed on-premises, in a hybrid mix, or fully in the cloud. Cisco also sells Secure Email Threat Defense, a separate API-based cloud layer that adds post-delivery scanning without needing an on-premises gateway, and the two can be managed from the same console. ### Does Cisco Secure Email offer a free trial? Cisco offers a free trial for Secure Email Threat Defense, the API-based cloud layer, through Cisco's own trials page. The on-premises or hybrid Secure Email Gateway is typically evaluated through a partner-led demo rather than a self-serve trial, and there is no free version of either product. ### What is the difference between Cisco Secure Email Essentials and Advantage? Both Essentials and Advantage include anti-spam, sender domain reputation, URL filtering, outbreak filters, antivirus and graymail detection, plus malware analysis, with Essentials limited to a smaller number of malware samples and Advantage unlimited. Data loss prevention, an encryption service and safe unsubscribe come standard with Advantage but are paid add-ons on Essentials. Add-ons available on either tier include Threat Defense, domain protection, image analysis and McAfee anti-malware. ### Does Cisco Secure Email work with Microsoft 365? Yes, Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense integrates with Microsoft 365 through an API-based connection that Cisco says needs no change to existing mail flow or DNS records. This runs alongside, or instead of, the on-premises or hybrid Secure Email Gateway, so an MSP running mostly Microsoft 365 clients can use the API-based layer without deploying a gateway appliance.