Proofpoint is the market leader in email security, protecting more Fortune 100 and Fortune 1000 companies from email-borne threats than any other vendor. Owned by Thoma Bravo since a $12.3 billion take-private acquisition in 2021, Proofpoint expanded its portfolio in December 2025 by acquiring Hornetsecurity for $1.8 billion. Hornetsecurity is a European cloud email security provider serving over 125,000 customers through more than 12,000 MSPs, strengthening Proofpoint’s position in the mid-market and European markets.
Products
The core email security gateway provides multi-layered detection of phishing, business email compromise, malware, and spam. The platform processes billions of emails daily and maintains one of the industry’s largest threat intelligence datasets.
Targeted Attack Protection (TAP) detects and blocks targeted attacks delivered through email attachments and URLs using sandboxing, URL rewriting, and behavioral analysis. The company also offers email DLP and cloud DLP to prevent sensitive data exfiltration through email, cloud applications, and endpoints, integrating content inspection with user behavior analytics.
Security awareness training comes through phishing simulation, interactive training modules, and compliance training delivered through the Proofpoint Security Awareness platform, which was established through the 2018 acquisition of Wombat Security. An API-based CASB provides visibility and control over cloud applications including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Box. For regulated industries, Proofpoint offers email archiving, e-discovery, and regulatory compliance solutions for financial services, healthcare, and government.
Market Position
Proofpoint was named a Leader in the 2025 Forrester Wave for Enterprise Email Security. The company protects over 80 of the Fortune 100 and claims the number one market share position in email security.
Leadership
Sumit Dhawan, formerly President of VMware, joined as CEO in 2023. Ryan Kalember serves as EVP of Cybersecurity Strategy.