With cyber threats on the rise, organisations are increasingly turning to secure communication solutions to safeguard their data. We compare two popular secure email software solutions: Zivver and Mailock.
In this review, we compare the secure email offered by Zivver and Mailock by examining their core features and benefits, including:
Zivver is a secure communication platform designed to protect sensitive data shared by email.
Its primary focus is on providing security tools to help stop data leaks caused by outbound emails.
Key features include email encryption, large file transfer, two-factor authentication, email retraction, and an activity dashboard with custom reports and analytics.
Administrators can use audit and communication logs to track user activity, gain insights, and report data incidents to authorities.
Zivver is based in Amsterdam and primarily focuses on helping enterprises in the healthcare, legal, and government sectors.
Mailock, developed by Beyond Encryption, is a secure communication solution aimed at safeguarding outbound email communications.
Its core features—end-to-end encryption, recipient authentication, email revoke, and bulk delivery—make Mailock a strong contender for businesses of all sizes to protect emails and follow industry regulations.
Mailock places a strong focus on usability, making sure users with varying levels of digital knowledge can integrate the software easily with existing email systems.
Based in the UK, Mailock has strong industry ties with the financial and legal sectors, while also catering to a range of other industries.
Zivver offers a range of tools within its solution to protect confidential emails.
Email messages and attachments should be encrypted to prevent interception and other cyber threats.
Zivver uses RSA 2048 to encrypt messages and attachments.
For every new user who creates a Zivver account, a new public or private key pair is generated.
The user’s public key is stored in the Zivver platform for later use when encrypting files and messages.
Learn more about different types of encryption.
Recipients of Zivver messages must complete a two-factor authentication (2FA) process before they can access the content.
Zivver offers different types of recipient authentication, including:
The sender creates and shares with the recipient a unique code that can be used to open Zivver messages.
This code can be created at an individual or organisational level.
Zivver recommends sharing this code via phone call or in-person correspondence and not emailing it, as emailing could allow malicious actors to retrieve secure messages.
If the sender knows the recipient’s phone number, they can have an SMS code sent to the device.
The recipient must enter this code to open their message.
Unlike the access code, SMS codes are generated by Zivver.
Zivver sends an automatically generated access code by email. This is considered the least secure method, as anyone with inbox access can open the secure message.
When sending to another Zivver account holder, the recipient automatically gains access without additional verification.
Zivver offers a secure file transfer service, allowing large files containing sensitive data to be sent securely using an existing email client.
Zivver supports file sizes of up to 5TB, which can be attached to secure messages sent through Gmail, M365, or Outlook.
This may appeal to users currently limited by smaller file size restrictions in standard email clients.
Zivver messages and attachments can be revoked after they have been sent.
Revoking a message removes it from all recipients’ inboxes, including those in CC and BCC.
To use this feature, the Zivver Office Plugin must be installed and used by the sender, with secure mailing switched on.
An expiration period can also be applied to Zivver messages, after which the recipient or both the recipient and sender lose access to the emails once the set time has passed.
This feature supports organisational data retention policies.
Learn about the challenges of recalling emails in Outlook.
Zivver uses machine learning to help users spot potential errors, such as sending to an incorrect recipient or attaching the wrong document.
The system also scans emails for keywords that may indicate sensitive or confidential content, prompting users to send messages securely.
This feature is only available to those on a Professional licence or higher.
Some users report that the system is still a work in progress, with content-checking capabilities occasionally being overly sensitive.
“One limitation of this software is that it still struggles with certain aspects of natural language processing, such as understanding sarcasm, irony, and context-dependent language.
This can sometimes lead to inaccurate or inappropriate responses, especially in more nuanced or complex conversations.”
Zivver provides a simple interface, letting users send and receive secure messages with ease.
It supports integrations with third-party platforms, enabling incorporation into existing email clients such as Gmail and Microsoft Outlook.
Zivver users with a Professional licence can embed the software into their workflows by downloading the dedicated Office plugin or Chrome extension, or by logging into their online portal.
Users can appoint administrators within Zivver, who can set up company-level branding and custom text on notification messages.
Those on an Ultimate licence can switch on proof-of-delivery reports, letting senders know whether outbound messages have been opened.
Based on paid user experiences, Zivver has an average Capterra score of 4.1/5.
Many reviews highlight Zivver’s ease of use and smooth onboarding. However, this simplicity can lead to some rigidity in terms of customisation.
“Zivver is an out-of-the-box solution, customisation can therefore be quite challenging.”
Some Zivver customers have reported issues integrating with existing databases, such as patient phone number repositories, which can add friction when authenticating recipients via SMS.
Recipients of Zivver messages don’t need to create an account to read or reply, but if they want to compose their own secure messages rather than just replying, they’ll need to set up an account.
Zivver provides comprehensive customer support, including training guides, documentation, tutorials, and technical assistance.
Zivver offers three licence types, billed annually or on a 3-year term.
Contracts for multiple licences over three years provide a 20% discount. The licence types are:
For occasional users, at an equivalent of £7.47 per user per month.
Includes encryption, email revoke, recipient authentication, and large file transfer features.
For regular users, at an equivalent of £10.38 per user per month.
Includes everything in Start, plus Outlook and Gmail integrations, machine learning, shared mailboxes, and custom notifications.
For enterprise users, at an equivalent of £16.60 per user per month.
Includes everything in Start and Professional, plus default message expiration, single sign-on, domain claiming, and proof-of-delivery features.
Mailock is a comprehensive industry solution used by companies of all sizes to protect confidential communications.
It provides a range of security tools:
Mailock uses end-to-end AES 256 email encryption to secure messages and attachments, with the ability to attach up to 10 documents per secure message.
AES 256 encryption uses a 256-bit key and meets NSA standards for classified information, making sure that only the intended recipient can decrypt messages.
Mailock messages are encrypted in transit and at rest.
Mailock users can set authentication challenges to verify recipients and make sure only authorised individuals can access sensitive messages.
Mailock’s authentication options include:
Automatically generates a numeric code sent to the recipient’s mobile device.
The recipient must enter this code to access the message.
Q&A authentication asks the recipient a question that only they would know the answer to.
Correctly answering unlocks the message.
For financial professionals and organisations using Unipass, Mailock supports identity verification via Unipass ID.
These identity challenges add a critical layer of protection against misdirected emails and unauthorised inbox access.
Learn more about email authentication.
Auditing is essential for compliance in regulated industries.
Mailock provides a full audit trail, allowing users to review identity verification processes, track who has opened or failed to open emails, and monitor email revoke actions.
Mailock users can quickly and immediately revoke any messages sent securely, reducing the risk of data breaches from accidental sends.
Senders can also receive read notifications directly in their mailbox when recipients open messages.
The Mailock system includes a set of predefined keywords that, if found in an outgoing message or subject line, will prompt the user to activate encryption and send the email securely.
Administrators can customise these trigger words to match the organisation’s information security policies.
Mailock is consistently praised for its ease of use and straightforward implementation.
The system supports a wide range of technical abilities, making sure even less tech-savvy individuals can work with it comfortably.
"I gave it to one of our less technical members of staff.
They worked with it well, gave it good feedback, and found it easy to use. That was a big winner for me.”
Mailock prioritises the recipient experience, allowing end users to read and download attachments from secure emails without needing to register for a free account.
For those who want to reply and send their own secure messages, Mailock provides a free licence with unlimited secure replies and 5 free sends a month.
When it comes to integrations, Mailock integrates with Microsoft 365 via a dedicated secure email Outlook add-in.
For financial services, Mailock also offers verification with Unipass ID.
The Mailock read experience can be personalised by administrators who can set up company branding applied to all outbound Mailock messages.
Beyond Encryption provides UK-based support for Mailock customers, achieving an average rating of 4.9/5.
All potential customers can book a one-to-one demo and a 2-week trial to make sure the system meets their needs.
“Sometimes when you get new systems and you’re trying to set them up, you think ‘Oh my god I wish I’d never bothered!’
But once we’d had the demo with Carole and she told us how to set it up, it was a simple process.”
Mailock offers three licence types with monthly billing, and costs decrease as licence quantity increases:
For occasional sends, a Mailock Free licence includes encryption, Q&A email authentication, Outlook add-in, and read notifications.
For professionals and teams, a Mailock Pro licence starts at £9.30 per user per month.
it includes all Free features plus SMS and Unipass authentication, company branding, trigger words, audit trails, and message recall.
Mailock Enterprise is designed for high-volume protection. Pricing varies depending on the package you choose.
It includes all Pro and Free features plus advanced delivery analytics, API control and monitoring, a choice of on-premise or cloud deployment, and automated or bulk sending.
Find out more about Mailock pricing and plans.
When it comes to secure communication solutions, every business has different requirements to protect internal data and their customers’ personal information.
Both Zivver and Mailock are reliable options.
Let’s summarise the key differences:
Offers larger file transfer capabilities and machine learning-based business rules.
However, these corrective measures are new and causing some friction with existing customers.
Does not offer automation for enterprise email delivery.
Provides stronger encryption, unique Unipass ID integration for financial services, bulk send capabilities, flexible monthly billing, UK-based support, and a dedicated demo and trial period.
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How we reviewed: In comparing Zivver and Mailock, we carried out a detailed analysis focusing on key aspects of secure email services. Our review looked at encryption standards, authentication methods, and email recall capabilities, all crucial for outbound email security. We also considered user experience, such as ease of integration with existing systems and how recipients handle emails. Finally, we looked at customer support and pricing models. By exploring these elements, we aim to give you a clear comparison so you can pick the best secure communication solution for your organisation. |
Secure email is a way of sending messages and attachments that uses encryption and verification steps to protect against cyber threats.
Encryption scrambles your email content so only the intended recipient can read it, reducing the risk of unauthorised access.
Zivver offers large file transfers and machine learning, while Mailock focuses on recipient experience, Unipass integration, and flexible billing.
Both Zivver and Mailock can help businesses follow FCA rules, especially in the financial and legal sectors where data security is critical.
Consider industry regulations, needed features, customer support requirements, and budget. Testing free trials can help you decide.
Sam Kendall, 23.12.2024
Sabrina McClune, 19.12.2024