Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Detailed Review

Privacy Tools

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Detailed Review Contents

Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Product Overview

Introduction to Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec)

Broadcom Email Security.cloud, formerly known as Symantec Email Security.cloud, is a comprehensive cloud-based email security service designed to protect organizations from a wide range of email-borne threats.

Primary Function

The primary function of this service is to filter unwanted email messages and protect mailboxes from various threats such as spam, malware, phishing, and targeted attacks. It also provides features for encryption, data loss prevention, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Target Audience

This service is targeted at organizations of all sizes, including small, medium, and large enterprises. It supports multiple mailbox types from various vendors, such as Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, and on-premises or hosted Microsoft Exchange.

Key Features

Spam and Virus Protection: The service is built to protect against 99% of spam and 100% of known and unknown viruses, as defined in the Service Level Agreement (SLA).
Advanced Threat Detection: It includes Skeptic scanning, which defends against spam, malware, phishing, and targeted attacks through detailed and predictive analysis. Real-Time Link Following technology scans URLs to protect against phishing and spear phishing.
Encryption and Data Loss Prevention: The service offers granular policy-based encryption and advanced content filtering to control sensitive data. It also supports enforced TLS encryption to secure email communications.
Management and Reporting: The service is managed through a web-based management console that provides role-based access controls, reporting information, and the ability to configure and manage the service. It also supports 2-factor authentication and logs all configuration changes.
Dependable Service: The service is hosted in the cloud, ensuring high availability with a 100% availability SLA. It is supported by a global team of email security experts available 24/7.
Customization: Administrators can customize email security policies, end-user alerts, and email disclaimers to fit the organization’s needs.
Scalability: The service operates across multiple datacenter clusters, ensuring it can handle large volumes of email traffic without compromising service quality.

By providing these features, Broadcom Email Security.cloud helps organizations reduce the risk of security breaches, enforce acceptable usage policies, reduce data loss, and maintain regulatory compliance, all while increasing employee productivity and ensuring predictable costs.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - User Interface and Experience

User Interface Overview

The user interface of Broadcom Email Security.cloud (formerly Symantec Email Security.cloud) is designed to be user-friendly and efficient, making it accessible for a wide range of users.

Ease of Use

Users have consistently praised the interface for its ease of use. Reviews highlight that the product has a “very user friendly interface,” and users find it easy to manage and configure the email security settings. The web-based management console is intuitive, allowing administrators to configure and manage the service without needing extensive technical expertise.

User Experience

The overall user experience is positive, with many users appreciating the simplicity and effectiveness of the interface. Users have noted that the product is “great” and “awesome” in terms of user experience, emphasizing its reliability and performance-enhancing capabilities.

Key Features

Role-Based Access Controls

The management console provides role-based access controls, allowing administrators to set permissions such as no access, read-only, or read-write access to service configurations. This ensures that only authorized personnel can make changes to the settings.

Customization

Administrators can customize email security policies, such as anti-spam and data protection settings, as well as end-user alerts and email disclaimers. This flexibility helps in adapting the service to specific organizational needs.

Reporting and Dashboard

The ClientNet dashboard allows users to customize reports, schedule them, and view data and statistics. This feature helps in monitoring the effectiveness of the email security services.

Tools and Support

The interface includes tools for tracing and troubleshooting email delivery, submitting spam samples, and synchronizing users and groups with Active Directory data. Additionally, 24/7 support is available through the admin portal, which is highly appreciated by users.

Accessibility and Security

The management console supports 2-factor authentication to secure access, and all changes to configurations are logged, ensuring a high level of security and accountability.

Conclusion

In summary, the user interface of Broadcom Email Security.cloud is well-regarded for its ease of use, intuitive design, and the ability to customize and manage email security settings effectively. The overall user experience is positive, with users praising its reliability, performance, and user-friendly interface.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Key Features and Functionality

Overview

The Broadcom Email Security.cloud, formerly known as Symantec Email Security.cloud, is a comprehensive email security service that offers several key features and functionalities to protect organizations from various email-based threats. Here are the main features and how they work:

Protection Against Threats

The service provides protection against spam, malware, phishing, and targeted attacks, including spear phishing. It uses multi-layered security, including Skeptic scanning, to detect and block these threats. This ensures that 99% of spam and 100% of known and unknown viruses are filtered out, as defined in the Service Level Agreement (SLA).

AI-Driven Self-Learning Capabilities

The service is enriched with Symantec intelligence and has self-learning capabilities. This means it can adapt and improve its detection and filtering based on ongoing threat analysis, making it highly effective and accurate in email security.

Encryption and Data Loss Prevention

The service includes granular policy-based encryption and advanced content filtering to protect and control sensitive data. This helps in enforcing acceptable usage policies, reducing data loss, and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Real-Time Link Following

The Real-Time Link Following technology examines URLs in emails to test if the linked sites contain malicious content. This provides protection against phishing, spear phishing, and targeted attacks by scanning links in real-time.

Dependable Cloud Service

The service is hosted in the cloud and operates across multiple datacenter clusters, ensuring high availability. It is designed to operate at 40% load during normal operations, meaning an entire datacenter could be lost without affecting the service.

Management and Reporting

The service is administered through a web-based management console that provides role-based access controls. Administrators can customize email security policies, end-user alerts, and email disclaimers. The console also supports two-factor authentication and logs all changes to configurations. Users can access reports, view data and statistics, and manage the service effectively.

Support and Availability

The service is supported by a global team of email security experts who are accessible 24/7. This ensures that any issues or concerns are addressed promptly, enhancing the overall service quality.

Integration with Various Mailbox Services

The service supports multiple mailbox types, including Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, on-premises or hosted Microsoft Exchange, and other mailbox services. This flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of organizational needs.

Compliance and Productivity

By enforcing usage policies, reducing data loss, and maintaining regulatory compliance, the service helps increase employee productivity while reducing the risk of security breaches. It also enables rapid implementation, delivers predictable costs, and reduces the total cost of ownership.

Conclusion

In summary, the Broadcom Email Security.cloud leverages AI-driven self-learning capabilities, advanced threat detection, and comprehensive data protection to provide a highly effective and reliable email security solution. Its integration with various mailbox services, dependable cloud infrastructure, and 24/7 expert support make it a valuable tool for organizations seeking to secure their email communications.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Performance and Accuracy

Performance and Accuracy

Threat Detection Effectiveness

Email Security.cloud has shown high effectiveness in detecting email-borne threats, with a detection rate of 99.62% and a very low false positive rate of 0.04%. This is attributed to its advanced heuristic analysis, real-time link following, and the support of the Symantec Global Intelligence Network, which collects and analyzes vast amounts of security telemetry.

Global Intelligence Network

The service leverages a vast network of over 175 million endpoints and 57 million attack sensors across 157 countries, providing deep visibility into global threats and enabling better security outcomes.

Skeptic Heuristics

The proprietary Skeptic technology examines multiple attributes of an email to identify anomalies and block malicious content, making it adept at handling crafted emails and attachments.

Features and Capabilities

Comprehensive Protection

The service protects against spam, malware, phishing, targeted attacks, and bulk email, and it also includes features like enforced TLS encryption and granular policy-based data protection.

Real-Time Link Following

This feature tracks links to their final destination, protecting against new and malicious URLs created for phishing or spear phishing attempts.

Limitations and Areas for Improvement

Support and Resource Concerns

Following Broadcom’s acquisition of Symantec’s enterprise products division, there have been concerns about potential reductions in R&D resources and support capabilities. This could impact the service’s ability to keep up with the latest threats and innovate new features.

Technical Issues

There have been reports of technical issues such as connection throttling, which can cause delays in email delivery. While these issues are being addressed, they can still affect service performance.

Reporting Consistency

There have been instances where there was a mismatch in spam detection counts between different reports. However, these issues have been resolved in recent updates.

Service Updates and Maintenance

Regular Updates

The service receives regular updates to resolve issues and enhance features. For example, recent updates have fixed problems with false-positive detections, global blocked senders lists, and email impersonation control policies.

In summary, Email Security.cloud by Broadcom (Symantec) is highly effective in detecting and blocking email threats, backed by a robust global intelligence network and advanced technologies. However, potential concerns about support and resource allocation following the acquisition, along with some technical issues, need to be considered when evaluating the service.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Pricing and Plans

The Pricing Structure for Broadcom Email Security.cloud

The pricing structure for Broadcom Email Security.cloud, formerly known as Symantec Email Security.cloud, is not publicly disclosed by the provider. Here are some key points to consider:

No Public Pricing Information

Broadcom does not communicate any price information publicly. This is a common practice among software vendors and service providers.

Contacting the Provider

To obtain current pricing, you need to contact Broadcom or an authorized reseller directly. This ensures you get the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information.

Features and Plans

While the exact pricing tiers are not available, here are some of the key features that are typically included in the service:

Multi-layered Email Security: Protection against spam, malware, phishing, and targeted attacks.
Encryption and Data Protection: Options to control sensitive information sent via email, including policy-based encryption and data loss prevention.
Real-Time Link Following: Technology to scan links in emails to test for malicious content.
Outbound Filtering: Controls to manage outgoing emails.
Reporting and Management: Access to a management console for configuration, reporting, and data analysis.

Resellers and Additional Services

Resellers like NetX Information Systems may offer additional services such as environment assessments, product demonstrations, and professional implementation support, which can be part of the overall cost but are not included in the base pricing.

Given the lack of public pricing information, it is essential to reach out to Broadcom or a certified reseller for a detailed quote and to discuss any specific needs or additional services you might require.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Integration and Compatibility

Broadcom’s Email Security.cloud Overview

Broadcom’s Email Security.cloud, formerly known as Symantec Email Security.cloud, is a comprehensive email security solution that integrates seamlessly with various tools and platforms to provide enhanced security and management capabilities.

Integration with Other Tools and Platforms

Symantec Integrated Cyber Defense Platform (ICD)

Email Security.cloud integrates tightly with the Symantec ICD, allowing for cohesive security across multiple technologies, including Data Loss Prevention (DLP), cloud security via Symantec CloudSOC (CASB), and endpoint security.

Office 365 and Other Cloud Services

The solution uses Office 365 APIs to integrate with Microsoft’s cloud environment, providing protection against email threats, account takeover, and sensitive data loss. It also supports other cloud-based productivity tools like G Suite.

Sender Authentication and Email Fraud Protection

It supports sender authentication standards such as DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, and automates DMARC enforcement to protect against email scams and impersonation attacks.

SIEM Integration

Email Security.cloud can integrate with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, enhancing the overall security posture of the organization.

Compatibility Across Different Platforms and Devices

Deployment Flexibility

The solution offers flexible deployment options, including on-premises appliances, cloud services, and hybrid models. This flexibility allows organizations to choose the deployment method that best fits their infrastructure and needs.

Multi-Vendor Support

Email Security.cloud supports multiple mailbox types from various vendors, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of email environments.

Device and Platform Agnostic

The service is managed 24/7 and is accessible through a secure, password-protected management console. This console can be accessed from any device with a web browser, making it platform-agnostic.

Additional Features and Support

Reporting and Analytics

The service provides a reporting dashboard and the ability to generate scheduled reports, which can be sent via email or downloaded. This helps administrators in monitoring and managing email security effectively.

Technical Support and Maintenance

Email Security.cloud is supported by comprehensive technical support, including regular monitoring for service level compliance and necessary adjustments. Customers can also access tools for tracing and troubleshooting email delivery issues.

Conclusion

In summary, Broadcom’s Email Security.cloud is highly integrative and compatible with a variety of tools and platforms, making it a versatile and effective solution for email security across different environments.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Customer Support and Resources

Support Options for Broadcom Email Security.cloud

Support Channels

Broadcom Support Portal: Customers can contact Broadcom support through the Support Portal, where they can open and manage support cases. To access this, users need to register using their Enterprise Site ID.
Chat Support: The Support Portal offers a chat icon at the bottom right corner, allowing users to engage with support via live chat.
Email Support: For those who prefer email, cases can be opened and managed using the technical.support@broadcom.com email address.
Phone Support: Users can also contact customer representatives or support engineers by calling the support numbers listed on the Broadcom Support page, which are region-specific.

Self-Service Options

The Broadcom Customer Support Portal provides self-service tips and resources, enabling users to resolve issues independently. This includes options for creating and managing support cases.

Additional Resources

Video Tutorials and Guides: Symantec (now Broadcom) offers video tutorials, such as the Email Submission add-in installation video, which can be found on the Symantec Support YouTube channel. These resources help users with specific tasks like installing and deploying add-ins.
Community Forums: Broadcom has community forums where users can discuss issues, share experiences, and get help from other users and support staff. For example, the VMware vSphere community forum can be useful for related discussions.

Product Information and Updates

While the specific page on Broadcom’s website for Email Security.cloud may not detail ongoing development, it is clear that Broadcom’s focus has shifted to other enterprise security products like Endpoint Protection, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and Web Filtering. This shift might impact the development and support of email security services.

By utilizing these support channels and resources, customers can effectively manage and troubleshoot their Broadcom Email Security.cloud services.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Pros and Cons

Advantages of Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec)

Comprehensive Email Protection

The service offers robust protection against spam, malware, phishing, and targeted attacks, including spear phishing and advanced malware, ensuring a high level of email security.
It features real-time link following technology that scans URLs to protect against phishing and malicious content.

Advanced Threat Protection

Symantec Email Security.cloud includes Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) that uses the Symantec Cynic™ sandbox to detect and mitigate advanced threats. It can also pull back emails determined to be malicious post-delivery.

Data Protection and Encryption

The service provides granular policy-based encryption and advanced content filtering, helping to protect and control sensitive data. It integrates with Symantec DLP Cloud Detector to enforce data protection policies such as redirecting, blocking, quarantining, or encrypting emails.

Ease of Use and Management

The management console is user-friendly, allowing administrators to configure and manage the service, access reports, and view data and statistics. It also supports LDAP synchronization for users and groups.

Reliability and Support

The service is managed 24/7 and is monitored for hardware availability, service capacity, and network resource utilization. It is backed by a comprehensive service level agreement (SLA) and supported by a global team of email security experts.

Integration and Compatibility

Symantec Email Security.cloud supports multiple mailbox types, including Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, and on-premises or hosted Microsoft Exchange. It also integrates with SIEMs and other security tools.

Scalability and Cost Efficiency

The service enables rapid implementation, delivers predictable costs, and reduces the total cost of ownership. It is particularly beneficial for larger companies and enterprises due to its broad portfolio of security solutions and cost benefits.

Disadvantages of Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec)

Cost and Licensing

While the service offers many advanced features, it may come with higher costs, especially for additional user licenses and add-ons such as Advanced Threat Protection and Email Fraud Protection.

Complex Setup for Advanced Features

Setting up certain advanced features, such as Data Protection policies and integration with DLP Cloud Detector, may require technical expertise and detailed configuration.

Dependence on Cloud Infrastructure

As a cloud-based service, it may be subject to the reliability and availability of the cloud infrastructure, which could be a concern for organizations with strict uptime requirements.

Potential for False Positives

Although Symantec is known for low false positives, any email security solution carries the risk of incorrectly flagging legitimate emails as malicious, which could lead to administrative overhead in managing false positives.

Overall, Symantec Email Security.cloud is a powerful tool for protecting email communications, but it requires careful consideration of the costs and the potential need for technical support to fully leverage its features.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Comparison with Competitors

When Comparing Broadcom’s Email Security.cloud

When comparing Broadcom’s Email Security.cloud (formerly Symantec) with other products in the email security and privacy tools category, here are some key points to consider:

Unique Features of Broadcom Email Security.cloud

Comprehensive Protection: Email Security.cloud offers all-around protection against spam, viruses, malware, spear phishing, and targeted attacks. It uses advanced technologies like Skeptic scanning and Real-Time Link Following to detect and mitigate threats.
Self-Learning Capabilities: The service leverages Symantec intelligence and self-learning capabilities to provide highly effective and accurate email security.
Encryption and Data Loss Prevention: It includes granular policy-based encryption and advanced content filtering to protect and control sensitive data.
Multi-Platform Support: The service supports various email platforms, including Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, and on-premises or hosted Microsoft Exchange.

Alternatives and Competitors

Microsoft Defender for Office 365

While not explicitly mentioned in the sources, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a strong competitor. It offers advanced threat protection, including anti-phishing and anti-malware capabilities, and is tightly integrated with Microsoft Office 365.

Proofpoint Email Protection

Proofpoint is another significant player in the email security space. It provides comprehensive email protection against spam, viruses, and advanced threats, including phishing and BEC (Business Email Compromise) attacks. Proofpoint also offers data loss prevention and encryption features.

Mimecast Email Security

Mimecast offers a suite of email security services that include spam and virus protection, phishing defense, and data leak prevention. It also provides archiving and continuity services to ensure email availability.

AI-Driven Privacy Tools

While the primary focus of Broadcom Email Security.cloud is on email security rather than AI-driven privacy tools, here are some tools that overlap in the broader category of data and email protection:

Securiti AI

Securiti AI provides a robust AI-driven security and governance platform that includes data privacy automation, AI security, and consent management. It is more focused on data privacy and governance across hybrid and multi-cloud environments rather than email security specifically.

DataGrail

DataGrail is a data privacy management platform that offers real-time data mapping, automated DSR (Data Subject Request) management, and privacy risk assessments. While it does not focus on email security, it is relevant for overall data privacy compliance.

Key Differences

Focus: Broadcom Email Security.cloud is specifically designed for email security, protecting against email-based threats and managing email content. In contrast, tools like Securiti AI and DataGrail are broader in scope, focusing on overall data privacy and governance.
Integration: Email Security.cloud integrates well with various email services like Office 365 and Google Apps, whereas tools like Securiti AI and DataGrail are more integrated with cloud and hybrid data environments.
Features: While Email Security.cloud excels in email-specific security features like Real-Time Link Following and Skeptic scanning, Securiti AI and DataGrail offer advanced data discovery, consent management, and zero-trust access controls.

In summary, Broadcom Email Security.cloud stands out for its comprehensive email security features and integration with various email platforms. However, for organizations needing broader data privacy and governance solutions, tools like Securiti AI and DataGrail might be more suitable.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Broadcom Email Security.cloud

What is Broadcom Email Security.cloud?

Broadcom Email Security.cloud is a hosted service that filters email messages to protect organizations from malware, spam, and unwanted bulk email. It offers advanced threat protection, data protection, and encryption to control sensitive information sent via email.

What are the key features of Broadcom Email Security.cloud?

Key features include accurate and effective spam and virus filtering, real-time link following to protect against phishing and targeted attacks, policy-based encryption, and advanced content filtering. The service also supports multiple mailbox types from various vendors and provides a management console for configuration and reporting.

How does Broadcom Email Security.cloud protect against advanced threats?

The service uses Advanced Threat Protection: Email, which includes Symantec Cynic™ sandbox technology to detect advanced threats, identify targeted email attacks, and protect against URLs that turn malicious after email delivery. It also includes Click-time™ URL Protection and can pull back emails determined to be malicious post-delivery.

What data protection options are available?

Broadcom Email Security.cloud offers data protection features that complement Symantec DLP Cloud Detector. These features include customizable content filtering policies, policy-based encryption, and the ability to redirect, block, quarantine, or encrypt emails based on directives from the DLP Cloud Detector.

How is email encryption managed in Broadcom Email Security.cloud?

The service provides policy-based encryption essentials, allowing administrators to configure encryption policies to protect sensitive information. This includes enforced TLS encryption and opportunistic TLS encryption to ensure secure email communication.

Can Broadcom Email Security.cloud integrate with other email services?

Yes, the service supports integration with various email platforms, including Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, on-premises or hosted Microsoft Exchange, and other mailbox services. This ensures comprehensive protection regardless of the email infrastructure.

What kind of reporting and management tools are available?

The service includes a management console that allows customer administrators to configure and manage the service, access reports, and view data and statistics. It also offers a reporting dashboard with summary and detailed reports in PDF and CSV formats.

How does Broadcom Email Security.cloud handle email impersonation and phishing attacks?

The service includes Email Fraud Protection, which automates DMARC enforcement to reduce the risk of inbound impersonation attacks. Additionally, Email Threat Isolation protects against spear phishing and credential theft by isolating malicious links and rendering risky webpages in a secure environment.

What kind of support does Broadcom offer for Email Security.cloud?

Broadcom provides 24/7 support for Email Security.cloud, with a global team of email security experts available to assist. The service is backed by a comprehensive service level agreement (SLA) to ensure high service quality and availability.

Can I collect and analyze log data from Broadcom Email Security.cloud?

Yes, you can configure connectors to collect log data from Broadcom Email Security.cloud, such as click-time delivery reports, malware data, spam data, and isolation data. This can be integrated with other security platforms like Stellar Cyber for comprehensive analysis.

What additional services or add-ons are available for Broadcom Email Security.cloud?

Additional services include Advanced Threat Protection: Email, Email Fraud Protection, and Email Threat Isolation. These add-ons provide enhanced protection against sophisticated email threats and help in enforcing DMARC and isolating malicious links.

Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec) - Conclusion and Recommendation

Final Assessment of Broadcom Email Security.cloud (Symantec)

Overview and Key Features

Broadcom Email Security.cloud, formerly known as Symantec Email Security.cloud, is a comprehensive cloud-based email security service. It offers robust protection against spam, viruses, malware, phishing, and targeted attacks. The service is built on Symantec’s intelligence and multi-layered security, including Skeptic scanning, which provides detailed and predictive analysis to detect sophisticated threats.

Key Benefits

Effective Spam and Virus Filtering: Protects against 99% of spam and 100% of known and unknown viruses.
Advanced Threat Protection: Includes Real-Time Link Following, which scans URLs to prevent phishing and spear phishing attacks.
Data Protection and Encryption: Offers granular policy-based encryption and data loss prevention technologies to control sensitive data.
Compliance and Productivity: Helps enforce acceptable usage policies, reduce data loss, and maintain regulatory compliance, thereby increasing employee productivity and reducing the risk of security breaches.

Support and Service

The service is backed by a comprehensive service level agreement (SLA) and supported by a global team of email security experts available 24/7. It also includes features like customer administrators’ access to a secure management console, reporting dashboards, and various service add-ons such as Advanced Threat Protection and Email Fraud Protection.

Who Would Benefit Most

This service is highly beneficial for organizations of all sizes, particularly those needing stringent email security measures. Here are some key beneficiaries:

Large Enterprises: Despite Broadcom’s focus on the Global 2000 market, the service still offers comprehensive security features that large enterprises require to protect their email communications.
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses: These organizations can benefit from the predictable costs, reduced total cost of ownership, and the ability to enforce acceptable usage policies and maintain regulatory compliance.
Organizations with Sensitive Data: Any organization handling sensitive information, such as healthcare or financial institutions, will find the data protection and encryption features particularly valuable.

Recommendation

Given its extensive features and strong track record in email security, Broadcom Email Security.cloud is a solid choice for organizations seeking comprehensive email protection. Here are some points to consider:

Continued Support and Development: While there are concerns about Broadcom’s focus on other security products, the service still maintains a high level of support and has a decade-long history of delivering effective email security.
Customer Feedback: Users generally report high satisfaction with the product, with positive ratings on security protection, innovation, and overall satisfaction.
Potential Drawbacks: Smaller customers might need to be cautious about the potential reduction in focus and support from Broadcom, as indicated by their investor presentations.

In conclusion, Broadcom Email Security.cloud is a reliable and feature-rich solution for email security, suitable for a wide range of organizations. However, smaller businesses should be aware of the potential shift in Broadcom’s focus and ensure they have clear support channels in place.