--- title: Lithium Systems switches from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to Acronis description: Learn how Lithium Systems eliminated QR code phishing by switching from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to Acronis. canonical_url: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/lithium-systems-switches-from-microsoft-defender-for-office-365-to-acronis/ locale: en last_updated: 2026-10-27 --- [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) # Lithium Systems switches from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to Acronis Lithium Systems used Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to provide email protection to clients. Despite featuring anti-malware and anti-phishing capabilities, Defender was not providing adequate protection against QR code phishing. [Try Now](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/cloud/trial/) [![Image 2: Allison Ho](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/4001b7fac80a9a9ed6a3a01dec591360.png)](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/allison-ho/ "Allison Ho") [Allison Ho,](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/allison-ho/)Content Marketing Manager 2 min read Last updated 28 August 2024 A malicious email landing in a client’s mailbox is every MSP’s worst nightmare. When QR code phishing (quishing) emails began bypassing Microsoft Defender for Office 365, [Lithium Systems](https://www.lithiumsystems.co.uk/), a Scotland-based MSP serving small and medium-sized businesses in Scotland and the U.K., recognized the urgency and criticality of enhancing email security measures. ## Reasons for switching from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to Acronis Advanced Email Security Lithium Systems used Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to provide email protection to clients. Despite featuring anti-malware and anti-phishing capabilities, Defender was not providing adequate protection. Lithium Systems’ clients were receiving quishing emails, a type of phishing email that contains an attachment with a malicious QR code inside. The objective is to dupe recipients into scanning the QR code that directs them to a fake login page designed to steal their credentials. In the [2024 Annual Report: Cybersecurity Trends & Insights by Perception Point](https://perception-point.io/resources/report/2024-annual-report/)™, one out of 18 QR codes sent via email are malicious. Looking at the big picture, 2.7% of all phishing incidents involve malicious QR codes. The findings are alarming. This has made strengthening email protection a top priority for Lithium Systems’ technicians. “We saw examples of nefarious stuff being delivered to client mailboxes,” said George Aitkenhead, CTO, Lithium Systems. “We were not happy, and the obvious one that jumped out at us was QR code phishing. We were seeing clients raising tickets with us, and they received emails with embedded QR code images that were not getting caught.” It was clear to Lithium Systems that a new email security solution was necessary. ## Making the switch to Acronis Powered by Perception Point, Acronis Advanced Email Security delivers seven layers of protection to secure Lithium’s client email and collaboration app environments against advanced threats. The multilayered protection includes anti-evasion, anti-phishing, anti-spoofing and anti-spam. In addition to blocking threats from reaching Lithium Systems’ clients, the solution provided cost savings, which Lithium Systems attributes to two key benefits: First, it simplifies email-threat incident workflows. Second, it empowers junior-level technicians to investigate and resolve email-security tickets without needing intervention from senior technicians. To learn more about Lithium Systems’ journey from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to Acronis Advanced Email Security, [read the full case study](https://www.acronis.com/en/resource-center/resource/lithium-systems-replaces-microsoft-defender-for-office-365-with-acronis-advanced-email-security/). [![Image 3: Explore Lithium Systems’ journey from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to Acronis Advanced Email Security.](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/b9e976f080b8070c48c558a1a64076b3.png) Read the case study Explore Lithium Systems’ journey from Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to Acronis Advanced Email Security. Read now](https://www.acronis.com/en-us/resource-center/resource/lithium-systems-replaces-microsoft-defender-for-office-365-with-acronis-advanced-email-security/) [Email security](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/email-security/) [M365 Security & Protection](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/m365-security-protection/) ## Written by ![Image 4: Allison Ho](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/4001b7fac80a9a9ed6a3a01dec591360.png) Allison Ho Content Marketing Manager Allison develops content on cybersecurity, data protection, artificial intelligence and endpoint management while closely collaborating with thought leaders. Her technology B2B marketing experience includes expertise in SEO. [Previous post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/how-msps-should-talk-to-clients-about-saas-data-protection-and-security/) [How MSPs should talk to clients about SaaS data protection and security](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/how-msps-should-talk-to-clients-about-saas-data-protection-and-security/) [Next post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/becoming-a-trusted-business-partner-5-partnership-strategies-for-msps/) [Becoming a trusted business partner: 5 partnership strategies for MSPs](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/becoming-a-trusted-business-partner-5-partnership-strategies-for-msps/) About Acronis Acronis is a leader in AI-native cyber protection, unifying data protection, cybersecurity, IT operations and hybrid infrastructure to deliver business continuity, security and compliance with less cost and complexity. More than 21,000 service providers trust Acronis to protect over 750,000 businesses in 150 countries. Acronis is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=acronis.com) ## Related stories Want to learn more? Read the latest stories featuring this solution on our blog. [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) ![Image 5: How Barrow AFC modernised matchday IT with commited and Acronis](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/800d83997d7ce5e9aab0800ab42eb179.png) [How Barrow AFC modernised matchday IT with commited and Acronis](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/how-barrow-afc-modernised-matchday-it-with-commited-and-acronis/) At Barrow AFC, a club with deep roots in English football and a growing commercial operation, outdated and fragmented IT systems were beginning to hold the organisation back. That changed when the club partnered with managed service provider (MSP) commited and adopted Acronis cyber protection solutions. **July 16, 2026**4 min read ![Image 6: Acronis extends Microsoft 365 protection with Entra ID Backup](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/356ad4eda4c4215e62adc16d08b52a0c.png) [Acronis extends Microsoft 365 protection with Entra ID Backup](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/acronis-extends-microsoft-365-protection-with-entra-id-backup/) With the introduction of Entra ID Backup, Acronis is delivering a service that will enable managed service providers (MSPs) to protect the increasingly vulnerable Microsoft 365 identity layer. **July 07, 2026**4 min read ![Image 7: How MSPs can protect Australian businesses from payment diversion fraud](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/07ff3cfde79eee63975990ba7ca8e356.png) [How MSPs can protect Australian businesses from payment diversion fraud](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/the-rise-of-business-email-compromise-how-msps-can-protect-australian-businesses-from-payment-diversion-fraud/) According to Australia's National Anti-Scam Centre, Australians lost A$166.8 million to payment redirection scams in 2025, up nearly 10% compared to 2024. With Australian businesses struggling to deal with the threat of payment diversion fraud, managed service providers (MSPs) have an opportunity to expand services and drive revenue by offering protection against attacks. **June 07, 2026**5 min read