Mimecast vs Barracuda (vs CyberSentriq)

Choosing between Mimecast and Barracuda for your email security needs often comes down to these critical questions that most comparisons overlook:

• Do you need a specialized email security solution or a broader cybersecurity platform that includes email protection?
• Are you looking for enterprise-grade features with premium pricing, or do you need effective protection at a more accessible price point?
• How important is deployment speed and ease of management for your team or MSP practice?
• Do you want email security as a standalone solution, or integrated with comprehensive data backup and recovery, including Entra ID?
• Would you rather juggle multiple security vendors or consolidate with a platform built specifically for MSPs?

In short, here's what we recommend:

Mimecast excels as the enterprise-focused email security specialist, offering comprehensive protection with features such as a 100% email continuity SLA, advanced threat protection with sandboxing, and sophisticated compliance tools. Their platform provides deep email security capabilities, including DMARC authentication, targeted threat protection, and AI-powered detection. However, this enterprise-grade sophistication comes with significant complexity, massive year-over-year price increases, high export fees that make it hard to exit, and an interface that many users find challenging to navigate. Setup and management require heavy technical overhead.

Barracuda serves as the all-in-one security provider, offering email protection as part of a broader cybersecurity portfolio that includes firewalls, backup, and web application security. Their email protection starts at around $ 6 per user per month, with a focus on ease of use and MSP-friendly features. While Barracuda provides effective threat detection with 99.2% accuracy for targeted phishing, users report being forced into three main bundles through their EOL strategy, where they are charged for features they don't want or may never use. The packaging is more complex for MSPs, and many report significant increases in renewal costs.

Both platforms are solid choices for email security. However, what they're missing is that neither provides the same MSP-first approach with truly integrated defense-in-depth email protection. What happens when you need someone to actually pick up the phone? How quickly can you deploy protection for a new client? That's where a different approach becomes essential.

CyberSentriq represents a new MSP-first paradigm in email and data security, born from the merger of TitanHQ and Redstor in June 2025. Built specifically for MSPs (who make up 70-80% of their customer base), CyberSentriq offers a two-layer email defense approach: their flagship SEG product blocks threats at the MX gateway before they reach M365. At the same time, they offer API-based protection inside Microsoft 365. Add security awareness training, and you have complete defense-in-depth from a single vendor. With deployment in under 30 minutes, white-label capabilities, and tiered pricing that grows MSP margins, it's purpose-built for the channel. The platform uniquely includes M365 and Entra ID Backup and recovery capabilities and operates on an MSP-first model, featuring a single contract, support path, roadmap, and dedicated Account Manager.

If you're looking for a solution that makes it really easy for MSPs with exceptional flexibility and support where somebody actually picks up the phone, see how CyberSentriq transforms email security from complex enterprise tools to MSP-friendly integrated protection.

Mimecast vs Barracuda vs CyberSentriq at a glance

Let's cut through the marketing and look at what each platform actually delivers for MSPs and their clients:

The fundamental disconnect: Complexity vs MSP reality

Here's what most email security comparisons overlook: MSPs lack the time for complex deployments and heavy management overhead. Every hour spent configuring security is an hour not spent growing your business.

Mimecast approaches email security with enterprise-level depth. Their platform offers 100% service availability and comprehensive Sync & Recover features, but requires significant setup and ongoing management. The complexity is justified for enterprises with dedicated security teams, but it creates challenges for MSPs managing multiple clients. Add massive year-over-year price increases and high export fees that lock you in, and the total cost of ownership becomes a significant problem.

Barracuda evolved from hardware appliances to cloud services, now pushing customers through an EOL strategy into three main bundles. Their Cloud-to-Cloud Backup integration is valuable, but MSPs report frustration with being forced to pay for features they don't need. The transition to cloud bundles has led to significant increases in renewal costs, which impact MSP margins.

CyberSentriq takes a fundamentally different approach: MSP-first from day one. The newly formed company (merged June 2024) combines TitanHQ's nearly 30 years of email security expertise with Redstor's advanced backup platform. Currently transitioning to the full CyberSentriq brand over the next six months, they're building a single integrated platform where MSPs can toggle between cybersecurity and data protection products. With deployment in under 30 minutes - SEG in 3 simple steps, ICES and SAT in minutes - it's designed for MSP efficiency.

Mimecast dominates enterprise email security (but at what cost for MSPs?)

Mimecast has built its reputation as a premium enterprise email security solution, featuring a mature SEG and a decent catch rate. Their Targeted Threat Protection uses multiple layers, including sandboxing, URL rewriting, and impersonation protection.

The platform's enterprise features include:

• Advanced sandboxing for suspicious attachments
• DMARC authentication to prevent spoofing
• AI-powered threat detection from billions of emails processed
• Comprehensive compliance tools for GDPR and HIPAA regulations
• Strong SEG capabilities requiring heavier setup/management
• Add-on charges for awareness training

But for MSPs, the drawbacks are significant. The platform is very complex and difficult to use, with an administrative console that frustrates users. Massive year-over-year price increases destroy predictable margins. High export fees make it expensive to leave, effectively locking MSPs into escalating costs. The enterprise focus means limited flexibility for MSP needs, and you're dealing with expensive solutions designed for large organizations, not SMBs.

Source: G2

Barracuda's bundles: Breadth with forced packaging

Barracuda offers a broad security portfolio through their BarracudaONE platform, but their approach to bundling creates challenges for MSPs.

Their Email Protection delivers:

• 99.2% effectiveness against targeted phishing
• Strong historical reputation with the SEG product
• Cloud, virtual, and hardware deployment options
• Integrated Cloud-to-Cloud Backup within bundles
• Hourly threat intelligence updates
• Add-on charges for awareness training

Source: Barracuda Partner

The challenge for MSPs is Barracuda's EOL strategy, forcing customers into three main bundles where they pay for features they don't need. Many MSPs still have customers on legacy SEG products, which are being pushed to cloud bundles with significant renewal cost increases. The packaging is more complex for MSPs to explain and sell, and while they have strong SEG capabilities, it still requires a heavier setup and management compared to modern cloud-native solutions.

CyberSentriq: Built MSP-first from the ground up.

CyberSentriq represents a fundamental rethink of email security for the MSP channel. The June 2025 merger of TitanHQ and Redstor created a platform where 70-80% of customers are MSPs, partnering with over 3,000 MSPs worldwide to protect approximately 150,000 SMBs.

The two-layer email defense approach includes:

At the MX Gateway ( SEG):

• SpamTitan's flagship gateway solution outside the inbox
• Advanced AV and sandboxing with 400+ spam rulesets
• Clear mail history reporting across multiple M365 tenants
• Admin/end-user quarantine views with self-service controls
• Blocks threats before they reach M365

Inside Microsoft 365 ( ICES):

• API solution inside Microsoft 365
• Detects BEC, C-Level impersonation, and social engineering
• Monitors internal mail not visible at the gateway
• Time-of-click protection (Link Lock)
• Rapid post-delivery remediation

Plus Human Layer (Security Awareness Training & Phishing Simulation):

• Security awareness training with auto-generated phishing simulations,
• Reactive training and measurable risk reporting

Key MSP differentiators include:

• Deployment in under 30 minutes (SEG in 3 steps, ICES/SAT in minutes)
• White-label capabilities for MSP branding
• Tiered pricing models (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Top Tier) are growing margins
• One contract, one support path, one roadmap, one Account Manager
• Dedicated Account Manager for strategy and pricing
• Quarterly account reviews with data-driven insights
• Entra ID Backup capability (not available from Veeam or others)
• Personal support where somebody actually picks up the phone

The single, integrated platform (coming soon) will enable toggling between cybersecurity and data protection products, featuring InstantData technology for immediate recovery and AI-powered malware detection in backups. 

Defense-in-depth approaches reveal different philosophies

All three platforms claim advanced protection, but their implementation shows fundamental differences in approach.

Mimecast delivers enterprise-grade depth with complexity. Their mature SEG provides strong gateway protection with advanced features, but requires heavy setup and management. Awareness training is available as an add-on charge, which increases costs. The platform is powerful but demands significant technical resources to operate effectively.

Barracuda provides bundled protection with forced packaging. Strong SEG capabilities from their legacy product are being transitioned to cloud bundles. Like Mimecast, awareness training typically requires add-ons. MSPs struggle with explaining why clients need to pay for unused bundle components.

CyberSentriq offers true defense-in-depth from one MSP-first vendor. The two-layer approach provides comprehensive coverage: SEG blocks at MX with advanced AV, sandboxing, and 400+ spam rulesets. ICES adds protection inside M365 for BEC and internal threats. Security awareness training and phishing simulations complete the human layer. All managed through one platform with comparable protection at the gateway, plus native M365 detection and user training in one MSP-first bundle.

MSP support shows who really understands the channel

The way each vendor approaches MSPs reveals their true priorities.

Mimecast maintains an enterprise focus despite MSP programs. They launched Partner ONE MSP in November 2024; however, the platform's complexity, minimum commitments, and enterprise pricing create challenges for MSPs serving SMBs. MSPs need dedicated staff just to manage Mimecast effectively. Direct enterprise sales remain their primary focus.

Barracuda offers MSP features within complex packaging. They maintain a dedicated MSP business unit with multi-tenant management and 24/7 support. However, the forced bundle approach and renewal price increases impact MSP profitability and client relationships.

CyberSentriq was purpose-built for MSPs with an MSP-first model. Features that matter to MSPs:

• Exceptional flexibility in products and support relationships
• Excellent customer service - someone always picks up the phone
• Defense-in-depth security covering multiple attack layers
• End-user empowerment features that reduce support tickets
• Comprehensive reporting that proves value at QBRs
• Co-selling support with joint discovery calls and demos
• Early roadmap access through quarterly reviews
• MSP-friendly bundle pricing with predictable margins

The personal relationship and accessibility, something MSPs often lack with many vendors of similar size, are key differentiators.

Pricing transparency and margin potential

How each company handles pricing reveals its commitment to MSP success.

Mimecast hides pricing with massive increases. Quote-only pricing ranges from $3-12/user/month based on reports, but the real issue is massive year-over-year price increases that destroy margin predictability. High export fees mean you're locked into these escalating costs. Additional charges for migration, archiving, and features further erode profitability.

Barracuda displays pricing but forces users to purchase expensive bundles. Email Protection starts around $6/user/month through resellers, but the EOL strategy pushes customers into bundles with features they don't need. Users report significant increases in renewal costs and additional module costs that accumulate quickly.

CyberSentriq offers transparent, MSP-friendly pricing. The Protect Bundle starts at $3.92/user/month when paid annually, with special pricing enabling MSPs to increase margins as they grow. All bundles are highly customizable - MSPs can modify bundles by adding components with flexible pricing based on specific needs and volumes.

Mimecast vs Barracuda vs CyberSentriq: Which should you choose?

The best email security platform for your organization depends on your operational model, client base, and growth strategy.

Choose Mimecast if:

• You're an enterprise with dedicated security staff
• You need the deepest email security features regardless of complexity
• You can absorb massive yearly price increases
• You prefer direct vendor relationships over MSP channels
• You don't mind being locked in with high export fees

Get a custom quote from Mimecast for your enterprise needs.

Choose Barracuda if:

• You want email security within broader security bundles
• You're already using other Barracuda products
• You need hardware deployment options
• You can work within forced bundle packaging
• You can absorb large renewal increases

Start your Barracuda Email Protection free trial.

Choose CyberSentriq if:

• You're an MSP seeking a platform built specifically for your needs
• You want a two-layer email defense (MX + M365 API) from one vendor
• Deployment speed matters (under 30 minutes)
• You understand the importance of M365 and Entra ID backup and recovery capabilities in mitigating disasters and human error.
• You value the ability to white-label and expect tiered pricing for margin growth
• You want predictable pricing without massive increases
• You need personal support where someone picks up the phone
• You're serving SMBs with all clients on M365 or mixed environments

Discover how CyberSentriq makes email security really easy for MSPs

The email security landscape has evolved beyond simple spam filtering. While Mimecast offers enterprise depth with overwhelming complexity and costs, and Barracuda provides bundled security with forced packaging, CyberSentriq represents true MSP-first innovation: two-layer defense-in-depth email protection with deployment in under 30 minutes, white-label capabilities, and tiered pricing that grows your margins.

For MSPs seeking to deliver enterprise-grade protection without the associated technical overhead and pricing, while offering security training and M365-native controls, the choice becomes clear. In today's MSP reality, success comes from vendors who make it really easy - with exceptional flexibility, personal support, and platforms purpose-built for the channel.