MessageLabs
MessageLabs, founded in 1999 in Gloucester, UK, provided managed email security and archiving services to enterprises. Acquired via Symantec, it is now marketed as Symantec Email Security within Broadcom's cybersecurity portfolio following Broadcom's 2019 acquisition of Symantec's enterprise security business.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersGloucester, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What MessageLabs does
MessageLabs was a Gloucester, United Kingdom-based provider of email security and management services, founded in 1999, that protected business customers against email-borne threats including spam, phishing, and targeted blackmail campaigns. The firm operated with 51-100 employees and historically offered managed email security and archiving capabilities, positioning itself in the enterprise messaging security market.
The company was acquired by Symantec prior to 2019, and in 2019 Broadcom acquired Symantec's enterprise security business, which included the MessageLabs product line. As a result, MessageLabs no longer operates as an independent entity; its capabilities are now marketed under the Symantec Email Security brand within Broadcom's cybersecurity portfolio, serving enterprise customers seeking managed messaging security.
The underlying business model at acquisition was a managed services subscription model delivering email security as a service to enterprise customers, monetized via recurring contract revenue. Post-acquisition, the product is sold as part of Broadcom's broader enterprise security stack, with no standalone pricing, GTM, or revenue mechanics disclosed in the available source material. The data does not provide detail on current product modules, pricing tiers, or active customer count.
MessageLabs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- MessageLabs
- Legal name
- MessageLabs
- Website
- https://messagelabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- MessageLabs, founded in 1999 in Gloucester, UK, provided managed email security and archiving services to enterprises. Acquired via Symantec, it is now marketed as Symantec Email Security within Broadcom's cybersecurity portfolio following Broadcom's 2019 acquisition of Symantec's enterprise security business.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
MessageLabs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Email Security Software
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Email & Collaboration Threat Detection/Response (ICR/CTDR) (HDADAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Email Phishing & BEC Protection (HDADAKAB), Email Data Loss Prevention & Encryption (HDADAKAD), Email Authentication & Domain Protection (DMARC/SPF/DKIM) (HDADAKAC)
Keywords
Where MessageLabs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gloucester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
MessageLabs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
MessageLabs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
MessageLabs provides cloud-based email security and management services, filtering inbound and outbound email traffic for spam, viruses, and other threats. The service was originally offered under the MessageLabs brand and is now marketed as Symantec Email Security following its acquisition by Symantec and subsequent integration into Broadcom's enterprise security portfolio.
Product overview
MessageLabs was a provider of email security and archiving services. The company was acquired by Symantec, and the products are now part of Broadcom's cybersecurity portfolio under the Symantec™ Email Security brand. The source content does not provide detailed information about the specific products or modules in the current portfolio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Symantec Email Security: Enterprise messaging security product for email protection
Products and services
- Symantec Email Security (formerly MessageLabs Email Security) Cloud-hosted email security and management service that filters spam, malware, and other threats from inbound and outbound email for business customers.
Companies that use MessageLabs
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
MessageLabs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
MessageLabs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
MessageLabs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mimecast: Mimecast provides cloud-based email security, archiving, and continuity services to mid-market and enterprise customers, overlapping almost one-to-one with MessageLabs' original SaaS email security and archiving value proposition.
- Proofpoint: Proofpoint is the leading pure-play enterprise email security vendor, offering phishing protection, BEC defense, DLP, and email threat detection — directly comparable to MessageLabs' Symantec Email Security line in product, customer base (large enterprises), and delivery model.
- Barracuda Networks: Barracuda sells email security, archiving, and gateway solutions primarily to mid-market customers, making it a comparable peer for MessageLabs' enterprise-to-mid-market email protection use case.
Emerging players
- Abnormal Security: Abnormal Security is an AI-native email security platform focused on BEC, account takeover, and vendor fraud — a rapidly growing emerging player that competes for the same enterprise threat-detection budget MessageLabs historically captured.
- Egress (Egress Software): Egress provides intelligent email DLP, encryption, and adaptive security, competing for the same enterprise customer budget as Symantec Email Security, particularly in regulated verticals like financial services and healthcare.
Broad incumbents
- Sophos Email: Sophos provides email security alongside endpoint and network security, offering similar anti-phishing, encryption, and DLP capabilities to MessageLabs' enterprise customers, particularly in the mid-market.
- Forcepoint Email Security: Forcepoint sells enterprise email security with strong DLP and behavioral analytics capabilities, competing directly against Symantec Email Security in regulated-industry and government accounts.
- Trend Micro Email Security: Trend Micro offers email security as part of a broader cybersecurity platform, comparable to Symantec Email Security's positioning inside Broadcom's wider security portfolio.
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Microsoft's bundled email security offering inside Microsoft 365 is the most consequential incumbent in the category, competing against MessageLabs/Symantec Email Security primarily on price (included with E3/E5 licenses) and ecosystem integration.
- Cisco Secure Email: Cisco Secure Email (formerly IronPort) is a long-standing enterprise email security gateway offering phishing, malware, and DLP protection — directly competing with MessageLabs' on-premises-and-cloud hybrid posture inside large enterprise accounts.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
MessageLabs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
MessageLabs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
MessageLabs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
MessageLabs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about MessageLabs
What does MessageLabs do?
MessageLabs provides cloud-based email security and management services, filtering inbound and outbound email traffic for spam, viruses, and other threats. The service was originally offered under the MessageLabs brand and is now marketed as Symantec Email Security following its acquisition by Symantec and subsequent integration into Broadcom's enterprise security portfolio.
Is MessageLabs a public or private company?
MessageLabs is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was MessageLabs founded?
MessageLabs was founded in 1999. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is MessageLabs based?
MessageLabs is headquartered in Gloucester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are MessageLabs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mimecast, Proofpoint and Barracuda Networks. Emerging players are Abnormal Security and Egress (Egress Software). Broad incumbents are Sophos Email, Forcepoint Email Security, Trend Micro Email Security, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Cisco Secure Email.
Does MessageLabs have an API?
No public API is recorded for MessageLabs.
What industry is MessageLabs in?
MessageLabs's product category is Email Security Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADAKAI, Email & Collaboration Threat Detection/Response (ICR/CTDR), with a secondary code of HDADAKAB, Email Phishing & BEC Protection. Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 7370.