Buying guide · Email security & anti-phishing

Email security tools for Australia small & mid-sized businesses

Tired of spam, spoofed domains, and phishing attempts slipping into inboxes? These email security tools help Australia businesses cut down junk mail, block suspicious messages, and protect staff from costly mistakes.

Everything we recommend

If your team relies on email every day and you’re worried about phishing, spoofing, or missed threats, start with one of these tools. Then scroll down for deeper breakdowns.

We may earn a small commission if you sign up with any of these tools and services, at no extra cost to you. We only feature tools that are appropriate for Australian businesses like yours.

Top pick
Barracuda Email Protection

Barracuda Email Protection

Best for: Best for Australian SMEs needing layered email security with easy management

Why we like it: Comprehensive spam and phishing filtering

Barracuda Email Protection offers comprehensive filtering to reduce spam, phishing, and malware risks. It is often used by small and mid-sized businesses to maintain reliable email flow while lowering security risks and simplifying vendor management.

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Runner-up
CleanTalk

CleanTalk

Best for: Best for small businesses seeking straightforward, low-maintenance email spam protection

Why we like it: Simple cloud-based setup with minimal IT involvement

CleanTalk is a cloud-based email security tool that focuses on blocking spam and phishing attempts. It offers easy setup and minimal ongoing management, making it suitable for small teams without dedicated IT staff.

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Also great
DuoCircle Email Security

DuoCircle Email Security

Best for: Best for SMEs wanting straightforward email threat filtering with flexible deployment

Why we like it: Cloud-based filtering reduces on-site setup

DuoCircle Email Security offers cloud-based email protection focusing on spam, phishing, and malware filtering. It is often used by small businesses seeking reliable email security without complex setup, supporting both inbound and outbound email scanning.

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Who this is for

Email security and anti-phishing tools like these are a good fit if:

  • Your business runs on email—for sales, support, and day-to-day operations—and a bad phishing click could cause real damage.
  • Your team uses Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or another cloud email platform and you want stronger protection than the built-in filters provide.
  • You’re seeing more spam, spoofed domains, or “look-alike” emails and want a better way to block suspicious messages before they reach staff.
  • You care about deliverability and reputation and need help setting up or monitoring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC so legitimate mail gets through and abuse is harder.
  • You don’t have a full-time security team but still want clear reports, simple policies, and practical protection your staff can actually use.

If this sounds like your situation, the email security tools below are practical, SMB-friendly options that help reduce risk without turning everyday email into a hassle.

Top pick

Barracuda Email Protection

Best for: Best for Australian SMEs needing layered email security with easy management

Protects business email from spam, phishing, and malware threats

Barracuda Email Protection helps Australian small businesses and growing teams secure their email communications by filtering out spam, phishing attempts, and malware. It integrates with common email platforms to provide ongoing protection with manageable setup and administration.

This tool is designed to reduce the risk of email-borne threats while keeping email delivery reliable and straightforward for internal staff and external IT providers.

A solid default if you just want a reliable, business-ready option.

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Runner-up

CleanTalk

Best for: Best for small businesses seeking straightforward, low-maintenance email spam protection

Helps reduce email spam and phishing with cloud-based filtering

CleanTalk provides cloud-based email filtering designed to reduce spam and phishing emails for small businesses. It works quietly in the background, requiring little day-to-day attention from staff or IT providers.

This tool is often chosen for its simple setup and cost-effective approach to basic email security needs.

Great if you want similar benefits with a slightly different feature mix.

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Also great

DuoCircle Email Security

Best for: Best for SMEs wanting straightforward email threat filtering with flexible deployment

Protects business email with layered spam and malware filtering

DuoCircle Email Security helps small and mid-sized businesses reduce email threats like spam and malware through cloud-based filtering. It integrates with existing email systems to scan messages before they reach users, helping teams avoid phishing and unwanted emails.

This tool is commonly chosen for its straightforward setup and flexible deployment options, making it suitable for businesses working with external IT providers or managing email security in-house.

Worth a look if the top two don’t quite fit how your team works.

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Detailed breakdowns

If you’re comparing email security tools, these breakdowns highlight where each product shines—whether it’s spam filtering, phishing detection, DMARC reporting, or protecting Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace—and what matters most for growing Australia businesses.

Barracuda Email Protection

Our top pick

Protects business email from spam, phishing, and malware threats

Best for: Best for Australian SMEs needing layered email security with easy management

Why teams choose it: Comprehensive spam and phishing filtering

Many Australian SMEs use Barracuda Email Protection to safeguard their email systems from common threats like spam, phishing, and malware. It is often positioned as a practical solution for businesses that want a balance between strong security and ease of use without requiring deep technical expertise.

The tool typically integrates with popular email services, helping teams maintain smooth email flow while reducing the risk of harmful messages reaching staff inboxes. This can improve productivity by lowering interruptions and the chance of security incidents.

While Barracuda offers a broad set of filtering and protection features, it may be more suitable for businesses with some IT support, either in-house or through a managed service provider, to handle initial setup and ongoing management. It is commonly chosen by firms that value predictable costs and vendor reliability.

Compared to some other email security options, Barracuda focuses on layered protection and ease of administration rather than highly customisable or advanced threat hunting features. This makes it a solid choice for SMEs prioritising straightforward, effective email security.

Where this tool fits best

  • Comprehensive spam and phishing filtering
  • Integrates with common email platforms
  • Simplifies email security management

Things to keep in mind

  • May require IT support for setup and management
  • Less customisation compared to some competitors
  • Advanced threat features may be limited for some teams
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for Australian SMEs needing layered email security with easy management

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CleanTalk

Runner-up

Helps reduce email spam and phishing with cloud-based filtering

Best for: Best for small businesses seeking straightforward, low-maintenance email spam protection

Why teams choose it: Simple cloud-based setup with minimal IT involvement

CleanTalk is commonly used by small Australian businesses that want to reduce unwanted email without complex configuration or ongoing management. It filters incoming messages to block spam and phishing attempts, helping to keep inboxes cleaner and reduce security risks.

Its cloud-based nature means there is no need for on-premises hardware or software, which suits businesses with limited IT resources or those relying on external IT providers. The setup process is straightforward, often completed quickly to start filtering emails.

While CleanTalk covers essential spam and phishing protection, it may not offer the advanced threat detection or compliance features found in more comprehensive email security solutions. This makes it a practical choice for businesses prioritising ease of use and cost predictability over extensive customisation.

Overall, CleanTalk fits well for small teams looking for reliable, low-maintenance email filtering that supports everyday business communication without adding complexity.

Where this tool fits best

  • Simple cloud-based setup with minimal IT involvement
  • Effective at reducing spam and phishing emails
  • Cost-effective for small business budgets

Things to keep in mind

  • Limited advanced threat detection features
  • May not meet strict compliance requirements
  • Less customisation compared to larger email security suites
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for small businesses seeking straightforward, low-maintenance email spam protection

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DuoCircle Email Security

Also great

Protects business email with layered spam and malware filtering

Best for: Best for SMEs wanting straightforward email threat filtering with flexible deployment

Why teams choose it: Cloud-based filtering reduces on-site setup

DuoCircle Email Security is designed to provide practical email protection for Australian SMEs by filtering spam, phishing attempts, and malware from both inbound and outbound emails. Many businesses use it to reduce the risk of email-borne threats that can disrupt operations or compromise sensitive information.

The service is cloud-based, which means it requires minimal on-site infrastructure and can be integrated with popular email platforms. This suits businesses that want to avoid complex hardware or software installations while maintaining control over email security policies.

It is often positioned as a flexible option for teams that need reliable filtering without extensive customisation or high costs. However, it may not offer the advanced threat intelligence or user training features found in some higher-tier solutions, so businesses with more complex security needs might consider other tools.

Overall, DuoCircle Email Security fits well for SMEs looking for straightforward, effective email filtering that supports compliance and reduces risk with manageable setup and predictable costs.

Where this tool fits best

  • Cloud-based filtering reduces on-site setup
  • Covers both inbound and outbound email scanning
  • Flexible deployment options for different email systems

Things to keep in mind

  • May lack advanced threat intelligence features
  • Limited user training or awareness tools included
  • Not as feature-rich as some premium email security suites
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for SMEs wanting straightforward email threat filtering with flexible deployment

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Hornetsecurity Email Security

Protects business email with layered spam and malware filtering

Best for: Best for SMEs needing comprehensive email threat protection with easy integration

Why teams choose it: Effective multi-layer spam and malware filtering

Hornetsecurity Email Security is commonly used by Australian SMEs that want to strengthen their email defences without overcomplicating their IT environment. It provides multi-layered filtering to catch spam, phishing attempts, and malware, helping reduce the risk of email-borne threats disrupting business operations.

The service integrates with popular email platforms, making it suitable for businesses with existing Microsoft 365 or other email providers. This allows teams to continue working as usual while harmful emails are filtered out before delivery.

While it offers strong protection and straightforward setup, some smaller businesses may find the range of features more than they need if their email volume or threat exposure is low. It is well suited to businesses that want a reliable, managed email security layer without needing to manage complex configurations.

Overall, Hornetsecurity Email Security balances effective threat filtering with ease of use, making it a practical choice for SMEs working with external IT providers or managing compliance expectations around email security.

Where this tool fits best

  • Effective multi-layer spam and malware filtering
  • Integrates smoothly with common email platforms
  • Reduces risk of phishing and email-borne threats

Things to keep in mind

  • May offer more features than needed for very small businesses
  • Setup can require coordination with IT provider
  • Pricing details less transparent without direct inquiry
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for SMEs needing comprehensive email threat protection with easy integration

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IRONSCALES

Helps reduce phishing risks with automated email threat detection

Best for: Best for SMEs wanting automated phishing protection with easy incident response

Why teams choose it: Automated phishing detection and removal

Many Australian SMEs face increasing risks from phishing emails, which can lead to data breaches or financial loss. IRONSCALES is often used by businesses that want to reduce these risks with minimal manual effort. It automates the detection of suspicious emails and can remove threats from inboxes quickly, helping to limit exposure.

The platform is commonly positioned as suitable for teams that may not have dedicated cybersecurity experts but still need reliable protection and easy-to-understand incident insights. It supports integration with popular email services, making set-up straightforward for businesses working with external IT providers.

While IRONSCALES offers strong automation and user-friendly tools, it may be more feature-rich than some very small businesses require, and pricing can reflect its advanced capabilities. It is best suited to SMEs that prioritise proactive phishing defence and want to empower their staff with clear, actionable alerts.

Where this tool fits best

  • Automated phishing detection and removal
  • User-friendly alerts and reporting
  • Integrates with common email platforms

Things to keep in mind

  • May be more complex than needed for very small teams
  • Pricing can be higher than basic email filters
  • Some features require initial configuration and training
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for SMEs wanting automated phishing protection with easy incident response

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Mailtrap

Test and secure email sending to reduce delivery errors

Best for: Best for small teams needing a safe environment to test email workflows before going live

Why teams choose it: Helps prevent accidental sending of test emails to customers

Mailtrap provides a controlled environment for testing emails sent from applications, websites, or marketing tools. For Australian SMEs, this means avoiding the risk of accidentally sending test or incomplete emails to customers, which can harm reputation and cause confusion.

Typical users include small development teams, IT providers managing client systems, or businesses rolling out new email templates. Mailtrap captures emails in a virtual inbox where they can be inspected for formatting, links, and content accuracy before actual delivery.

Its strengths lie in simplicity and focus on email testing rather than full email security or spam filtering. It is not a replacement for email protection tools but complements them by improving the quality and reliability of outgoing emails.

While Mailtrap is useful for teams with some technical capacity to integrate it into their development or staging environments, it may be less relevant for businesses without in-house or contracted developers. It is best suited to those who want to reduce email errors and improve customer communication through careful testing.

Where this tool fits best

  • Helps prevent accidental sending of test emails to customers
  • Simple setup for capturing emails from development environments
  • Clear inbox simulation for reviewing email content and formatting

Things to keep in mind

  • Not designed for full email security or spam filtering
  • Requires some technical setup or developer involvement
  • Limited use outside of email testing and development workflows
Cybersecurity IT Support & Help Desk

Best for: Best for small teams needing a safe environment to test email workflows before going live

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Mimecast Email Security

Protect email from phishing, spam and malware with reliable filtering

Best for: Best for Australian SMEs needing comprehensive email threat protection with cloud-based management

Why teams choose it: Cloud-based filtering reduces email threats before inbox delivery

Mimecast Email Security is commonly used by Australian SMEs that want a cloud-based solution to reduce email-borne risks such as phishing attacks, spam, and malware. It integrates with popular email platforms like Microsoft 365, providing a layer of protection that helps keep inboxes clean and staff productive.

Typical users include professional services firms, retail businesses, and trades teams that rely on email for daily communication and want to reduce the chance of security incidents disrupting operations. Mimecast's centralised management console allows internal staff or external IT providers to configure policies and monitor threats without complex setup.

While Mimecast offers strong filtering and continuity features, it may be more suited to businesses with some IT support in place, as its range of options can require initial configuration. Pricing tends to reflect its comprehensive feature set, so it may be less appealing for very small businesses seeking basic spam filtering only.

Overall, Mimecast is a practical choice for SMEs looking to improve email security with a managed cloud service that balances protection, ease of use, and integration with existing email systems.

Where this tool fits best

  • Cloud-based filtering reduces email threats before inbox delivery
  • Integrates well with Microsoft 365 and other email platforms
  • Centralised management suitable for internal or external IT teams

Things to keep in mind

  • Setup and configuration may require IT support
  • Pricing can be higher than basic spam filters
  • May offer more features than very small businesses need
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for Australian SMEs needing comprehensive email threat protection with cloud-based management

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N-able Mail Assure

Helps reduce email threats and improve inbox reliability for SMEs

Best for: Best for Australian small businesses needing layered email filtering with easy IT provider management

Why teams choose it: Cloud-based filtering reduces local infrastructure needs

N-able Mail Assure is typically used by Australian SMEs that want a cloud-based email security solution managed alongside their existing IT services. It filters inbound and outbound emails to block spam, phishing, and malware, helping reduce the risk of email-borne threats that can disrupt business operations.

The tool is often positioned as a layered defence, complementing Microsoft 365 or other email platforms by adding extra filtering and quarantine management. Many businesses appreciate that it can be managed by their IT provider, which reduces the need for internal IT resources to handle email security settings.

While it offers strong filtering capabilities and policy customisation, it may require some initial setup and ongoing management by an IT professional. This makes it well suited to businesses that work with a trusted IT partner rather than those seeking a fully self-managed solution.

Overall, N-able Mail Assure is a practical choice for SMEs looking to improve email security and reduce spam without adding complexity for their internal teams.

Where this tool fits best

  • Cloud-based filtering reduces local infrastructure needs
  • Customisable policies to fit business email requirements
  • Often managed by external IT providers for ease

Things to keep in mind

  • May require IT provider support for setup and management
  • Not a fully self-service tool for non-technical users
  • Some features may be complex for very small teams
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for Australian small businesses needing layered email filtering with easy IT provider management

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Proofpoint Essentials

Protect email from phishing and malware with reliable filtering

Best for: Best for small businesses needing straightforward email threat protection with easy IT provider management

Why teams choose it: Effective spam and phishing filtering for small teams

Proofpoint Essentials is commonly used by Australian SMEs looking for dependable email security that balances protection with ease of use. It filters out spam and blocks malicious emails, helping reduce the risk of cyber incidents that can disrupt daily operations.

This tool suits businesses that rely on external IT providers or have small internal IT teams, as it offers straightforward management and reporting features. It integrates with common email platforms, making it practical for professional services, retail, and trades with typical office email needs.

While it provides solid protection against common email threats, it may not have the advanced automation or customisation features some larger or highly regulated businesses require. However, for many SMEs, it offers a good balance of security, cost predictability, and ease of working with IT support.

Where this tool fits best

  • Effective spam and phishing filtering for small teams
  • Simplifies email security management for IT providers
  • Integrates with popular email platforms

Things to keep in mind

  • May lack advanced customisation for complex environments
  • Not tailored for highly regulated industries
  • Some features require IT provider involvement
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for small businesses needing straightforward email threat protection with easy IT provider management

See pricing

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SpamTitan Email Security

Protect email from spam, phishing, and malware with reliable filtering

Best for: Best for Australian SMEs needing straightforward, cloud-based email threat protection

Why teams choose it: Cloud-based filtering reduces spam and phishing risks

SpamTitan Email Security is commonly used by small and mid-sized Australian businesses that want a straightforward, cloud-based solution to reduce spam, phishing attempts, and malware delivered via email. It filters inbound messages before they reach your mail server, helping to keep inboxes clean and secure.

This tool suits businesses that rely on email for daily communication and want to reduce the risk of cyber threats without needing deep technical expertise. It integrates with common email platforms and offers manageable controls for IT providers or internal teams.

While it provides strong protection and ease of use, some businesses may find its feature set more focused on core email filtering rather than advanced threat intelligence or extensive compliance reporting. It is a practical choice for teams prioritising reliable email security with predictable costs and minimal ongoing management.

Where this tool fits best

  • Cloud-based filtering reduces spam and phishing risks
  • Simple setup suitable for small IT teams or providers
  • Supports common email platforms used by SMEs

Things to keep in mind

  • May lack advanced threat intelligence features some businesses want
  • Limited compliance reporting compared to some competitors
  • Primarily focused on inbound email filtering, not full email security suite
Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for Australian SMEs needing straightforward, cloud-based email threat protection

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dmarcian DMARC Protection

Helps reduce email spoofing risks with clear DMARC reporting

Best for: Best for SMEs wanting detailed insight into email authentication and domain protection

Why teams choose it: Clear DMARC reporting simplifies email authentication monitoring

Many small and mid-sized Australian businesses use dmarcian DMARC Protection to gain visibility into how their email domains are being used and potentially abused. The tool helps implement DMARC policies, which are designed to prevent unauthorised senders from impersonating a business's email address.

It is often positioned as a reporting and analytics platform that breaks down complex DMARC data into understandable insights, making it easier for non-technical managers and their IT providers to monitor email security. This can help reduce risks of phishing attacks and improve trust in business communications.

While dmarcian DMARC Protection offers detailed reporting, it may require some initial setup and ongoing attention to interpret the data and adjust policies effectively. It suits businesses that want to take a proactive approach to email authentication but may not be the simplest option for those seeking a fully managed or automated email security solution.

Overall, it is a practical choice for SMEs that want to strengthen their email domain protection with clear, actionable information and work alongside their existing IT support or managed service provider.

Where this tool fits best

  • Clear DMARC reporting simplifies email authentication monitoring
  • Helps reduce risks of email spoofing and phishing attacks
  • Supports better email deliverability through domain protection

Things to keep in mind

  • Requires some technical understanding to interpret reports
  • Initial setup can be time-consuming for smaller teams
  • Not a full email security suite, focuses on DMARC only
Compliance & Risk Cybersecurity Microsoft 365 & Email

Best for: Best for SMEs wanting detailed insight into email authentication and domain protection

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