# Microsoft Defender for Office 365 alternatives: what AI models name instead, November 2026

Gane Index, November 2026 Edition. 95 of the 252 answers in the 1 category where Microsoft Defender for Office 365 holds a standing named it neither first nor as an alternative; these are the first choices those answers made. Page: https://www.gane.ai/index/it/vendors/microsoft-defender-for-office-365/alternatives

## Named instead, most often (every category and segment added)

- Proofpoint Email Protection: 9
- Microsoft 365: 7
- Abnormal AI: 5
- Mimecast Email Security: 4
- Trustifi: 3
- Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration: 2

## Email security

**Small business**: 28 of 84 answers did not name Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is #1 of 10 at 43%).

- Microsoft 365: first choice in 4 of those 28
- IRONSCALES: first choice in 1 of those 28
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Defender for Office 365 Plan 1: first choice in 1 of those 28
- Paubox: first choice in 1 of those 28
- Proofpoint Email Protection: first choice in 1 of those 28
- Sophos Email: first choice in 1 of those 28
- Trustifi: first choice in 1 of those 28

**Mid-market**: 33 of 84 answers did not name Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is #1 of 9 at 45%).

- Microsoft 365: first choice in 2 of those 33
- Mimecast Email Security: first choice in 2 of those 33
- Trustifi: first choice in 2 of those 33
- Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration: first choice in 1 of those 33
- IRONSCALES: first choice in 1 of those 33
- Libraesva: first choice in 1 of those 33
- Proofpoint Email Protection: first choice in 1 of those 33

**Enterprise**: 34 of 84 answers did not name Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is #2 of 10 at 24%).

- Proofpoint Email Protection: first choice in 7 of those 34
- Abnormal AI: first choice in 5 of those 34
- Mimecast Email Security: first choice in 2 of those 34
- Barracuda Email Protection: first choice in 1 of those 34
- Check Point Harmony Email & Collaboration: first choice in 1 of those 34
- Defender: first choice in 1 of those 34
- Microsoft 365: first choice in 1 of those 34

Published under CC BY 4.0. The output is the models' output; nothing here is a recommendation by the index.