This FAQ provides details about Ironscales, the AI-driven email security and anti-phishing platform available through Atera. It covers deployment, billing, licensing, trials, management, and product features for both MSPs and IT departments.
Overview
Q: What is Ironscales?
A: Ironscales is a cloud-based, AI-driven email security and anti-phishing platform that protects against phishing, business email compromise, ransomware, and credential theft. It integrates directly with your email environment and requires no software installation or endpoint agent.
Q: What products are available through Atera?
A:
Email Protect™ — advanced email and phishing protection.
Complete Protect™ — includes all Email Protect features plus extended cloud messaging and security analytics.
- Ironscales products
Q: Does Ironscales include Security Awareness Training?
A: Yes. Phishing simulation and user training are included at no additional cost in all plans.
Q: Is Ironscales cloud-based?
A: Yes, Ironscales is fully cloud-based with no client software or agents required.
Trial and Activation
Q: Is there a free trial for Ironscales?
A: Yes, all new accounts receive a 30-day free trial with no feature restrictions. After the trial ends, your account automatically converts to a paid subscription unless cancelled.
Q: Can I trial Ironscales multiple times?
A: No, only one trial is available per account, even if multiple customer sites are added.
Q: How do I activate Ironscales in Atera?
A:
Go to App Center > Ironscales.
Click Get Started, enter your email, and follow the activation instructions.
Integration will begin automatically once your email environment is connected.
Q: What if I don’t receive my activation email?
A: Contact Ironscales Support to resend or reset the activation email.
Q: Can existing Ironscales accounts be migrated to Atera?
A: Yes, you just need to request the migration from the App Center.
Supported Platforms and Integration
Q: Which platforms does Ironscales support?
A: Ironscales supports Exchange, Microsoft 365 (Office 365), and Google Workspace environments.
Q: Are admin rights required for integration?
A: Yes, admin permissions are needed to connect your email servers securely.
Q: How does mailbox onboarding work?
A: Once integrated, Ironscales automatically discovers mailboxes in your connected domain, allowing easy protection management from the dashboard.
Q: Are there any installations required?
A: No. Ironscales is entirely web-based, using OAuth and Graph APIs for secure communication — no local agents or file installations are required.
Q: Is Ironscales safe to connect with mail servers?
A: Yes, integrations use secure APIs with least-privilege access for maximum safety.
Billing and Licensing
Q: How is Ironscales billed through Atera?
A: Billing is per protected mailbox, typically $4 per mailbox/month, and managed directly in Atera’s dashboard.
Discounts may apply depending on account tier and approval.
Q: When does billing start?
A: Billing begins from the date of Ironscales activation in Atera.
Q: Can I switch to annual billing?
A: Yes. Annual billing is available upon request through Atera Sales and may include discounted rates.
Q: Can I add or remove mailboxes at any time?
A: Yes. You can enable or disable protection per mailbox in the Ironscales dashboard. Billing reflects your peak mailbox usage for the month.
Q: How is usage calculated?
A: Usage is based on the highest number of protected mailboxes during the last 30 days.
Q: Are there minimum license requirements?
A: No, there is no minimum mailbox count — billing is strictly per protected mailbox.
Q: What happens if mailbox usage drops to zero?
A: If no mailboxes are protected, you won’t be charged for that billing cycle.
Q: What happens in case of failed billing?
A: After a 7-day failed transaction, you have a 21-day grace period before account deletion (28 days total).
Q: Where can I view or export usage and invoices?
A: Go to Admin > Subscription in Atera to view invoices or export usage reports as CSV.
Security and Protection
Q: What security layers does Ironscales use?
A: Ironscales combines:
Multi-engine malware and URL protection
Mailbox-level anomaly detection
Visual similarity and impersonation detection
AI-powered incident response
Threat intelligence sharing across a global community
Q: Does Ironscales remove malicious emails automatically?
A: Yes. Confirmed threats are detected, analyzed, and removed from all affected user mailboxes in real time.
Q: How quickly are phishing threats handled?
A: Detection, triage, and remediation happen instantly, using AI automation and SOC-level analysis.
Q: What is Themis (Virtual SOC Analyst)?
A: Themis is Ironscales’ AI-driven Security Operations Center (SOC) assistant. It analyzes potential threats and provides remediation recommendations — combining AI logic with expert-informed decision-making.
Q: Can users report suspicious emails?
A: Yes. End-users can report emails directly from their inboxes; Ironscales automatically investigates and classifies them.
Q: Can Ironscales block credential theft and lookalike domains?
A: Yes. It uses visual similarity detection and behavioral profiling to stop impersonation and brand spoofing attempts.
Q: Does Ironscales provide threat analytics?
A: Yes. The built-in Threat Intelligence Dashboard offers detailed analytics and reporting on phishing, malware, and remediation events.
Q: Can users see when emails are protected or removed?
A: Yes, users receive notifications when Ironscales blocks or removes suspicious emails.
Training and Awareness
Q: Does Ironscales include phishing simulation and awareness training?
A: Yes, phishing simulation and Security Awareness Training (SAT) are included by default at no extra cost.
Q: Is training adaptive?
A: Yes. Ironscales adjusts simulation difficulty based on user risk profiles and learning progress.
Q: Can training campaigns be customized?
A: Yes. Admins can fully customize simulation frequency, templates, and target groups.
MSP Management and Multi-Tenancy
Q: Can MSPs manage multiple customers?
A: Yes. The MSP Dashboard provides a centralized view to manage multiple tenants and customers.
Q: How do I add new companies or mailboxes?
A: Use the MSP dashboard to add new organizations, then integrate their domains via Office 365 or Google Workspace connectors.
Q: Are all features available for MSPs during the trial?
A: Yes. All features — including multi-tenant management, awareness training, and threat dashboards — are available during the 30-day trial.
Support and Documentation
Q: Who provides support for Ironscales?
A:
Atera Support: Handles billing, activation, and integration issues.
Ironscales Support: Handles technical, product, or security questions.
- Contact Atera Support
Q: Where can I find product documentation?
A: User guides and setup documentation are available in the Atera Help Center and on the Ironscales Support Portal.
Q: Can end-users contact support directly?
A: Yes. End-users can reach Ironscales support from within their dashboard via ticket forms or phone contact options.
Account and Cancellation
Q: What happens after the trial ends?
A: Your account automatically transitions to a paid subscription unless cancelled before the trial expires.
Q: How do I cancel Ironscales?
A: Admin users can delete the account through the Ironscales dashboard or via email after removing all protected mailboxes.
Q: What happens if I deactivate my workspace?
A: Deactivation takes effect at the end of your billing period, after which your account will be removed.
