How does IRONSCALES compare to Forcepoint in threat detection?

IRONSCALES uses advanced AI and machine learning algorithms that detect 99.8% of phishing attacks, including zero-day threats and sophisticated BEC attacks. Our platform combines multiple detection layers including computer vision, natural language processing, and behavioral analysis, providing superior protection compared to Forcepoint's traditional signature-based approach.

What's the difference in deployment time between IRONSCALES and Forcepoint?

IRONSCALES can be fully deployed in under 10 minutes with our automated setup process, while Forcepoint typically requires 2-4 weeks of professional services. Our API-first architecture ensures seamless integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace without complex configurations.

How does pricing compare between IRONSCALES and Forcepoint?

IRONSCALES offers transparent, per-mailbox pricing starting at $3.11/month (annual billing) with no hidden fees. Our pricing includes all features, updates, and support. Forcepoint's pricing is typically 40-60% higher and often requires additional modules for complete protection.

Is Forcepoint discontinuing their cloud email security service?

Forcepoint has created significant confusion in the market regarding the future of their cloud email security offering. In early 2024, they announced plans to end-of-life (EOL) their cloud email security product, only to later send mixed messages to customers and partners about the timeline and scope of this decision. Many Forcepoint customers report receiving conflicting information about whether the service will continue, be sunset, or transition to a different offering. This uncertainty has led many organizations to proactively migrate to IRONSCALES for stability and continued innovation. We recommend that current Forcepoint customers seek written clarification about their product's future and consider evaluating alternative solutions like IRONSCALES to ensure uninterrupted email security protection.

Can IRONSCALES replace multiple security tools including Forcepoint?

Yes, IRONSCALES is an all-in-one platform that replaces the need for separate email security gateways, phishing simulation tools, security awareness training platforms, and incident response tools. Many customers consolidate 3-5 security tools when switching from Forcepoint to IRONSCALES.

Why Choose IRONSCALES over Forcepoint

Choosing the right email and messaging security platform is foundational to the protection of your organization. This page compares two of the top-rated email security platforms, IRONSCALES and Forcepoint, to help you choose the platform that’s right for you.

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Comparison Table

IRONSCALES provides a self-learning, AI-driven email security platform that continuously detects and remediates advanced threats like BEC, credential harvesting, ATO, and more, in milliseconds. The platform also incorporates employees into the organization’s fight against phishing with integrated email alert banners, report buttons, personalized phishing simulation testing, and advanced security awareness training (SAT).

Forcepoint Email Security Cloud is a traditional secure email gateway that filters mail before delivery. It excels at policy‑driven controls, DLP, and message encryption via a secure portal. Because it sits in front of your mailboxes, it relies on pre‑delivery analysis and quarantine workflows and requires MX record changes to route mail through the service.

Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Email Security

Over the past two decades, email security has witnessed significant transformations. Traditional methods like authentication and signature-based secure email gateways (SEGs) used to be enough, but they can’t keep up with the new tactics’ attackers use today. Now email security needs to proactively address "malicious intent" like social engineering, and automate active protection at the mailbox level.

IRONSCALES combines human insight and AI automation into a streamlined, adaptive platform, enabling teams to respond to threats faster and educate users better — all without complex setup or high overhead.

Features
Inbound Email Protection Inspect and detect inbound email attacks
API-Based Cloud Email Security Email security via native API avoiding MX record or SMTP Journaling changes
Manual MX Record, YARA Rule Updates Requires MX record changes, email delivery stops when service interrupted.
Non-Disruptive DMARC Integrity Maintains DMARC compliance without altering MX records or SMTP transport rules, preserving original email authentication headers and ensuring seamless email flows
AI-Powered Advanced Phishing Protection (ATO, BEC, VIP attacks) Uses AI and machine learning to create baselines and detect anomalous activity & malicious intent
URL / Link / Attachment Inspection Automatically analyze links in emails to detect and block malicious content, protecting against malware and ransomware
Attachment Inspection Automatically scans attachments in emails to detect and block malicious content, protecting against malware and ransomware
Adaptive AI (Human-in-the-Loop) Incorporates human insights and feedback from employees and admins to continuously train and update machine learning models
Phishing Simulation Testing Conduct realistic phishing simulations to train employees on recognizing and avoiding phishing attacks
GPT-Powered Spear Phishing Simulation Use GPT and behavioral analysis to create personalized phishing simulations for each employee
Security Awareness Training (SAT) Empower employees with interactive training modules to enhance their understanding of cybersecurity threats and best practices
Continuous Inbox Scanning for Time Delayed Attacks Monitor and analyze email behavior patterns in real-time to detect anomalies and potential threats
Crowdsourced Threat Intelligence Leverage real-time insights from a global network of security experts to enhance threat detection and stay ahead of emerging email attacks
Dynamic Inbox Banners warnings/guidance Customizable alert banners in emails highlight potential threats, providing visual warnings and enhancing user awareness and security
Email Encryption Protects email content by converting it into unreadable code (now included with most M365 plans)
Native Mobile App for Incident Response Incident investigation & one-click remediation on-the-go

How are IRONSCALES and Forcepoint Different?

Forcepoint, built on a traditional perimeter-based security legacy, offers broad protection across cloud collaboration tools but lacks specialized inbox-level focus. In contrast, IRONSCALES was born in the inbox with a mission to democratize threat intelligence, delivering faster innovation and superior protection against BEC, ATO, and phishing.

Where Protection Lives

✔ IRONSCALES operates in the mailbox via Microsoft 365 and Google APIs, giving you full visibility into internal and external messages, behavioral baselines, and the relationships between senders and recipients.
❌ Forcepoint filters mail before it reaches the inbox, using a secure email gateway architecture that requires MX changes and mail routing through its cloud service.

Speed to Value

✔ IRONSCALES deploys in minutes and runs side-by-side with existing tools, no MX changes or mail-flow risk.
❌ Forcepoint requires you to reroute mail through their infrastructure, which can add operational drag and interrupt mail delivery.

Automation vs. Administration

✔ IRONSCALES agentic AI, Themis, clusters threats and automatically remediates them across all impacted users. You spend less time reviewing, clicking, and closing tickets.
❌ Forcepoint relies on static policies and admin-driven actions like quarantine management and policy tuning.

BEC & Vendor Fraud

✔ IRONSCALES catches payload-less threats like business email compromise and supplier impersonation by looking at behavior, language, and context in the mailbox.
❌ Forcepoint focuses on pre-delivery signals and reputation-based filtering, which can miss intent-driven attacks.

Humans in the Loop

✔ IRONSCALES turns employees into active participants in defense with dynamic banners, in-client guidance, “report phish,” and integrated phishing simulation testing and, all in one platform.
❌ Forcepoint emphasizes policy enforcement and secure messaging portals but offers less flexibility inside the inbox.

Built for Stability, Not Uncertainty

✔ IRONSCALES has been protecting organizations for over 12 years, with 17,000+ customers worldwide, and a product roadmap that’s anything but ambiguous.
❌ Forcepoint’s cloud security customers have been left navigating shifting plans and product rumors—including a supposed EOL that was never formally confirmed nor denied.

Our direction is clear. And we're not going anywhere.

Join 17,000+ Companies and Counting

Advanced Threat Protection

Protect Better

Block advanced phishing and BEC attacks (and never seen before threats) with our Adaptive AI—dynamically sharpened by real-world user insights and a community of over 30,000 threat hunters.

SOC Automation

Simplify Operations

Slash the time your team spends remediating email incidents from 30 minutes per incident to 30 seconds.

Our Adaptive AI scans every email for malicious indicators. When it finds a threat, it doesn’t just block it, it automatically finds and remediates all others like it in your environment.

SIMULATIONS & TRAINING

Empower your Org

Triple the email security awareness of your workforce and transform your employees into a crucial line of phishing defense. We make it dead simple to sharpen your employees' understanding of real-world threats with:

Phishing simulation testing
Security awareness training (SAT)
Dynamic email banners

...and a GPT-powered chat assistant

Case Studies

"The ability to provide real-time feedback on both positive and negative performance has proven very effective. It’s a wake-up call for our employees.”

Itzik Menashe Global IT Director of Telit

Read the Case Study

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