Email remains one of the most frequent and vulnerable attack vectors for businesses. Identity-based attacks, phishing, malware delivery, and social engineering attacks disguised as legitimate emails continue to challenge organizations globally. In this context, independent third-party testing becomes vital in helping companies choose the right solutions to protect their infrastructure.

A recent evaluation by SE Labs, a leading independent security testing firm, put Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense (ETD) under the microscope. The results? ETD achieved SE Labs coveted AAA rating, the highest possible, demonstrating outstanding performance in detecting email-based threats while maintaining a sharp distinction between malicious and legitimate emails.

The SE Labs testing methodology

SE Labs is known for its rigorous, real-world testing environments designed to simulate actual cyberattack scenarios using threats seen in the real-world at the time of testing. In this latest study, SE Labs assessed ETD on two key capabilities:

1. Threat Detection Efficacy-the solution's ability to block phishing attempts, malware, and other email-borne threats.
2. Legitimacy Accuracy-how well the system identifies and allows safe, non-malicious emails, minimizing the risk of disrupting business communications with false positives.

SE Labs approach involves delivering a mix of clean (benign) and malicious emails to the security solution. The goal is to see not just if the system blocks obvious threats, but also whether it can intelligently pass through real, harmless messages that business users depend on every day.

Secure Email Threat Defense: A clear standout

Email Threat Defense excelled across both core evaluation areas. The solution detected and blocked close to 100% of the threats introduced during testing, ranging from advanced phishing lures to payload-carrying malicious attachments. Perhaps more impressively, the system exhibited no false positives in handling legitimate emails, meaning it didn't mistake safe information for harmful content.

This balance is critical. Overly aggressive threat detection systems can interrupt workflow by flagging or quarantining benign emails, causing frustration for end-users and IT teams alike. ETD demonstrated that organizations do not have to sacrifice usability for security.

Because of its superior performance, ETD earned SE Labs top tier AAA rating, a distinction given only to solutions that achieve excellence in both protection and accuracy.

What makes Email Threat Defense effective?

Email Threat Defense integrates multiple layers of defense to safeguard email environments:

• Advanced Threat Intelligence: Powered by Talos, the largest non-governmental threat intelligence organization in the world, ETD is equipped with the most current information on the latest global cyber threats.
• Machine Learning and Behavioral Analysis: ETD uses AI-driven models to evaluate message intent and behavior, catching sophisticated phishing and impersonation attempts that might slip past less advanced filters.
• Cloud-Native Architecture: As a cloud-first solution, ETD scales easily, updates automatically, and integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365.

These technological strengths translated into real-world detection and accuracy in SE Labs testing proving ETD's ability to address both known and emerging threats without impairing legitimate communication.

Why independent testing matters

In an industry saturated with marketing claims, independent testing provides essential clarity and legitimate purchasing guidance. SE Labs, with its transparent methodology and repeatable real-world scenarios, offers a level playing field for security products to demonstrate their true capabilities.

Cisco's AAA rating in this test is more than just a badge; it gives organizations confidence that ETD performs as expected in actual threat conditions. For IT decision-makers, such endorsements help cut through vendor hype and reduce the risk of investing in underperforming security tools.

Conclusion: A trustworthy shield for business email

Email security remains a foundational part of a company's broader cyber defense strategy. With phishing attacks becoming more sophisticated and attackers constantly evolving their methods, organizations need a solution that provides both high detection efficacy and reliable accuracy in distinguishing safe communications from malicious ones.

Email Threat Defense's top score in SE Labs latest evaluation highlights its strength as credible and reliable threat protection in this space. For businesses seeking to secure their email systems without adding operational friction, ETD presents a compelling, independently validated choice to keep organizations safe, productive, and resilient.

As a key component of the User Protection Suite and Breach Protection Suite and an important part of a strategic XDR strategy, Email Threat Defense defends against critical threats with industry-leading threat intelligence, advanced threat detection capabilities and vital telemetry that informs strategic threat protection.

Download the full SE Labs report today.

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