Outlook vs ShieldBox
for Government & Public Sector
in Australia
Government agencies and contractors cannot use Outlook for OFFICIAL: Sensitive communications. See why Australian government entities are switching to ShieldBox for PSPF and ASD Essential Eight compliance.
Microsoft 365 / Outlook is enterprise-grade but not ASD Essential Eight aligned for Australian government email. APS agencies and regulated businesses cannot use it for OFFICIAL: Sensitive communications. CLOUD Act exposure remains even with Australian data residency options.
Key Risks for Government & Public Sector
Using Outlook
Compliance Obligations for Government & Public Sector
Why Outlook cannot satisfy the compliance requirements of Australian government & public sector.
Outlook is a USA-based service subject to USA law. PSPF mandates Australian data residency and ASD Essential Eight compliance for email systems handling OFFICIAL: Sensitive and PROTECTED information. Outlook cannot satisfy these requirements.
Outlook does not meet ASD Essential Eight standards for Australian government email. ASD Essential Eight compliance is required for email systems handling OFFICIAL: Sensitive and PROTECTED information. ShieldBox is built to ASD Essential Eight Maturity Level 2.
Outlook is subject to USA law. US CLOUD Act (or equivalent) allows authorities to compel access to government data stored anywhere in the world — including in Australian data centres. This is incompatible with PSPF requirements.
Outlook does not provide the ASD Essential Eight Maturity Level 2-3 controls required for government email — including DMARC enforcement, phishing-resistant MFA, and 7-year audit logging.
Why ShieldBox Wins for Government & Public Sector
ShieldBox is purpose-built for Australian government use — satisfying PSPF, ISM, and ASD Essential Eight requirements that Outlook cannot meet, with full Australian data sovereignty.
Outlook vs ShieldBox for Government & Public Sector — FAQs
Can Australian government agencies use Outlook?
No. Outlook is a USA-based service subject to USA law. PSPF mandates Australian data residency and ASD Essential Eight compliance for email systems handling OFFICIAL: Sensitive and PROTECTED information. Outlook cannot satisfy these requirements. ShieldBox is built to ASD Essential Eight Maturity Level 2.
Does Outlook meet ASD Essential Eight standards for Australian government use?
No. Outlook does not meet ASD Essential Eight standards for Australian government email. ASD Essential Eight compliance is required for email systems handling OFFICIAL: Sensitive and PROTECTED information under the PSPF. ShieldBox is purpose-built for Australian government compliance.
What ASD Essential Eight maturity level does Outlook support?
Outlook does not provide the ASD Essential Eight Maturity Level 2-3 controls required for government email. ShieldBox includes DMARC enforcement, phishing-resistant MFA, and 7-year audit logging as standard — supporting Maturity Level 2-3 implementation.
Why are Australian government agencies switching from Outlook to ShieldBox?
Australian government agencies are switching from Outlook to ShieldBox to satisfy PSPF data sovereignty requirements, meet ASD Essential Eight obligations, and achieve Maturity Level 2-3. ShieldBox is purpose-built for Australian government compliance with full data sovereignty.
Switch from Outlook to ShieldBox
Start for free — no credit card, no US servers, no CLOUD Act exposure. Built for Australian government & public sector.