How does ShieldBox compare?
Global email giants weren't built for Australian compliance. See exactly how ShieldBox stacks up on data sovereignty, IRAP, and Privacy Act requirements.
100%
Australian data residency
IRAP
Government assessed
13/13
Australian Privacy Principles
0
Offshore data transfers
Pick your comparison
Detailed breakdowns on Australian compliance, encryption, pricing, and features for each competitor.
Gmail
Google Workspace
Gmail is the world's most popular email — but it routes Australian data through US servers, is subject to the CLOUD Act, and scans emails to serve ads. None of those are acceptable for compliance-conscious Australian businesses.
ShieldBox advantages
- Australian servers only — no CLOUD Act exposure
- Zero-knowledge architecture — no ad scanning ever
- IRAP assessed — Google Workspace is not
- Full Privacy Act 1988 compliance (all 13 APPs)
Outlook
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is enterprise-grade, but Australian data still transits through Microsoft's US/Ireland infrastructure. Without IRAP assessment or ASD Essential Eight alignment, it falls short for government and regulated sectors.
ShieldBox advantages
- Guaranteed Australian data residency — not "best efforts"
- IRAP assessed — Microsoft 365 is not IRAP certified
- Native ASD Essential Eight alignment built-in
- Australian-based support team, not a global queue
ProtonMail
Proton AG
ProtonMail is privacy-first and great for individuals, but it stores data in Switzerland under Swiss law — not Australian law. It has no IRAP assessment, no Privacy Act compliance, and no AI inbox features.
ShieldBox advantages
- Australian data stays in Australia — not Switzerland
- Privacy Act 1988 (AU law) — not Swiss FDPA
- AI inbox assistant included — ProtonMail has none
- IRAP assessed for government and defence use
Full feature comparison
| Feature | ShieldBox | Gmail | Outlook | ProtonMail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian data sovereignty | ||||
| Hosted on Australian servers | ||||
| IRAP assessment | ||||
| Privacy Act 1988 (AU) compliance | Partial | |||
| ASD Essential Eight alignment | ||||
| Zero-knowledge architecture | ||||
| End-to-end encryption (E2EE) | TLS only | S/MIME only | ||
| AI inbox assistant | ||||
| Custom domain hosting | Workspace paid | Paid only | ||
| Free tier | Limited | |||
| ISO 27001 certified | ||||
| Australian support team | ||||
| Ad-free | Free has ads | |||
| Spam Act 2003 compliance | Partial | Partial |
Why global platforms fall short for Australian businesses
When you send an email through Gmail, Outlook, or ProtonMail, your data travels to servers in the United States, Ireland, or Switzerland. That triggers exposure under the US CLOUD Act, conflicting directly with your obligations under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 and APP 8 cross-border disclosure rules.
For healthcare providers, legal firms, accountants, and government agencies, this isn't a minor inconvenience — it's a compliance breach. ShieldBox was built specifically so Australian businesses never have to make this trade-off.
Your data never crosses Australian borders. Guaranteed contractually.
Ready to switch to sovereign email?
Join 28,000+ Australian businesses who've moved to ShieldBox. Start free, no credit card required.