Proofpoint, Inc., a leading company in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance, has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Hornetsecurity Group, a pan-European provider specializing in security, data protection, compliance, and awareness solutions based on artificial intelligence for Microsoft 365 (M365) environments, with a strong focus on MSPs (Managed Service Providers) and SMBs.
The transaction marks a significant step in Proofpoint’s strategy, expanding its people-centric cybersecurity platform to organizations of all sizes by leveraging a tailored approach for the MSP channel. Thanks to Hornetsecurity’s strong presence in the European market and its network of partners—including more than 125,000 customers served through over 12,000 MSPs and channel partners—Proofpoint increases its reach and strength within the small and medium-sized business segment.
“At Proofpoint, we are excited to officially welcome Hornetsecurity and to continue our mission of safeguarding the emerging agent-based workspace for customers of all sizes,” says Sumit Dhawan, CEO of Proofpoint. “Together, we will expand our leadership in people- and agent-centric security to protect individuals, AI agents, and data, while extending our reach into SMBs and MSPs with Hornetsecurity’s scalable and proven platform. As threats grow faster and become more targeted, our combined expertise will elevate innovation and resilience, helping clients and partners worldwide to protect what matters most,” he adds.
Hornetsecurity’s flagship solution, 365 Total Protection, is regarded as one of the most comprehensive cloud security platforms for M365. Its offering combines email security, backups, regulatory compliance, awareness training, and access control into a single service. For MSPs, it also provides a multi-tenant dashboard that enables management and scaling of client protections without the need to integrate multiple different solutions.
For Daniel Hofmann, founder and CEO of Hornetsecurity, this integration marks a new chapter: “Joining Proofpoint signifies a new milestone in our journey. Together, we are uniquely positioned to deliver the most effective security and data protection solutions for the M365 environment to MSPs worldwide. Based on our proven, channel-focused approach and our consolidated capabilities, shared threat intelligence, and aligned vision, we will drive a new level of innovation and value for our partners and customers globally.”
Following the closing of the deal, Hornetsecurity will operate as a dedicated business unit serving MSPs and SMBs globally. Hofmann will lead this unit as Executive Vice President and General Manager within Proofpoint. The current management team will remain in place and continue leading product innovation, marketing strategy, and the success of the MSP channel. Customers and partners will experience continuity in service and support, augmented by Proofpoint’s global resources, research capabilities, and threat intelligence.
Under the terms of the agreement, Proofpoint acquired Hornetsecurity for a total amount of $1.8 billion. The European company generates close to $200 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR), with year-over-year growth of 20%. With this acquisition, Proofpoint reinforces its commitment to the European market and its strategy of delivering differentiated, AI-based security solutions to organizations of all sizes and locations.