In the fast-paced world of managed services, where margins are tight and competition is fierce, it's no secret that Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are inherently price-sensitive. Every decision, from tool selection to vendor partnerships, is scrutinized through the lens of cost-efficiency. Email security is a prime example of this dynamic.
What started as simple, inexpensive spam filters has evolved into sophisticated anti-phishing solutions that command a premium price. Yet, many MSPs are tempted to stick with "good enough" low-cost options—especially when vendors like Kaseya bundle tools such as Graphus at no extra charge. On the surface, this seems like a smart move. But dig a little deeper, and you'll uncover hidden risks that could erode your profitability and compromise your clients' security. In this post, we'll explore why opting for dated spam filters might be costing you more than you think.
Email threats have come a long way since the early days of basic spam. Remember when the biggest annoyance was unsolicited ads for dubious products? Those primitive spam filters did the job by blocking obvious junk based on keywords, sender reputation, and simple patterns. They were cheap, easy to deploy, and effective enough for the time.
Fast forward to today, and the landscape is dramatically different. Cybercriminals have upped their game with advanced phishing attacks, business email compromise (BEC), and malware-laden messages disguised as legitimate communications. Modern email security solutions incorporate AI-driven detection, behavioral analysis, and real-time threat intelligence to combat these sophisticated threats. This evolution has driven up costs, but for good reason—these tools provide robust protection that outdated spam filters simply can't match.
Despite this, some MSPs hesitate to upgrade, lured by the allure of free or bundled options. Kaseya's inclusion of Graphus, for instance, positions it as a no-brainer add-on for their ecosystem. Why pay for a premium anti-phishing tool when you can get basic filtering for free? The answer lies in what these legacy solutions are missing, and the downstream costs they're imposing on your operations.
One of the most overlooked shortcomings of dated spam filters is their inability to handle the gray area of email content. Sure, they might block blatant spam, but what about bulk mail that skirts the line between legitimate and unwanted? These are the promotional blasts, automated updates, and newsletters that users subscribe to (often accidentally) and then forget about. They pile up, overwhelming inboxes and frustrating end-users.
Modern anti-phishing solutions excel here because they use contextual analysis to differentiate between true threats and mere nuisances. They can flag or quarantine these low-priority emails without false positives that disrupt business workflows. In contrast, older spam filters rely on rigid rules that often let these messages through, leading to bloated mailboxes. For MSPs, this means more support tickets from clients complaining about inbox clutter. What starts as a "free" tool quickly turns into hours of manual intervention—time your team could spend on higher-value tasks.
Consider a typical scenario: A client's employee signs up for a newsletter during a webinar, only for dozens of similar emails to follow. A basic spam filter might not catch them because they don't qualify spam, meaning at some point the recipient opted in to receive emails from this sender. The result? The user's productivity dips as they sift through the noise, and eventually, they call your helpdesk for cleanup. Multiply this across dozens of clients, and the "free" filter starts looking expensive.
To combat this common problem, INKY uses generative AI to read and comprehend the text of each email. In the case of graymail protection, for example, INKY understands the intent of “unsubscribe” in the text regardless of how creatively it is worded. In the example below, the sender writes, “P.S. If you’re not into this chat, please reply with ‘beans’ and I’ll gracefully exit.”
Because INKY GenAI understood the intent, the email was flagged as graymail. Furthermore, the relevant text was highlighted and labeled in the INKY dashboard to show the admin what was understood by GenAI and why it was called out.
Price sensitivity is understandable, but focusing solely on upfront costs ignores the bigger picture: the total cost of ownership. TCO encompasses not just the sticker price (or lack thereof) but also the ongoing expenses tied to maintenance, support, and remediation.
With dated spam filters, the hidden TCO often manifests in two ways:
Increased Support Burden: As mentioned, unclogging mailboxes becomes a recurring task. Your technicians end up spending valuable time manually sorting, deleting, or setting up custom rules—efforts that could be automated with advanced tools. This isn't just a time sink; it's a drain on morale and resources that could be allocated to proactive services like cybersecurity audits or client consultations.
Heightened Security Risks: Dated filters are blind to evolving threats, such as phishing emails mimicking newsletters or internal communications. A single breach could lead to data loss, ransomware, or compliance violations, resulting in costly downtime, legal fees, and reputational damage. MSPs who skimp on email security aren't just risking their clients—they're jeopardizing their own business continuity.
Let's break it down with a simple example. Suppose an MSP manages 100 clients, each with 50 users. If just 10% of those users encounter mailbox issues monthly due to ineffective filtering, that's 500 support incidents per year. At an average of 30 minutes per ticket and a technician rate of $100/hour, you're looking at $25,000 in hidden costs—far outweighing the subscription fee for a premium anti-phishing solution.
This is why, in addition to detecting much more accurately with advanced GenAI and machine learning modules, the INKY Email Assistant is a game changer for MSPs. Interactive banners are used to educate users in real time, explaining in plain language what makes an email risky, while self-serve tools empower users to make safer decisions and reduce IT support tickets. This combination of AI-driven detection and user education takes email security to the next level and reduces hidden costs for IT teams compared to conventional solutions.
Educating yourself on these risks is the first step toward better decision-making. By investing in modern email security, MSPs can:
If you're relying on free tools like Graphus, it's worth auditing your current setup. Ask yourself: How much time is your team really spending on email-related issues? What would a security incident cost your reputation?
In the MSP world, "free" rarely means cost-free. While bundled spam filters might save pennies upfront, they often lead lost productivity, support, and security gaps. By recognizing the limitations of dated solutions—particularly their failure to address graymail and the inflated TCO—MSPs can make informed choices that safeguard their clients and their bottom line.
Ready to reevaluate your email security stack? Consider exploring advanced anti-phishing options that align with your price sensitivity while delivering true value. Your customers—and your team—will thank you.
INKY is an award-winning, behavioral email security platform powered by artificial intelligence/Gen AI, machine learning, and computer vision. INKY blocks phishing threats, prevents data leaks, and coaches users to make smart decisions. Like a cybersecurity coach, INKY signals suspicious behaviors with interactive email banners that guide users to take safe action on any device or email client. IT teams don’t face the burden of filtering every email themselves or maintaining multiple systems. Through powerful technology and intuitive user engagement, INKY keeps phishers out for good. Learn why so many companies trust the security of their email to INKY. Request an online demonstration today