Cybersecurity and compliance company Proofpoint entered into an agreement to purchase Hornetsecurity Group. Hornetsecurity provides AI-powered Microsoft 365 (M365) security, data protection, compliance and security awareness services across Europe.
The transaction is expected to enhance Proofpoint’s ability to provide human-centric security to SMBs, worldwide, through MSPs. By combining its global leadership with Hornetsecurity’s MSP ecosystem expertise, the companies plan to advance their shared mission to protect organizations of all sizes, and the people behind them.
The companies deliver solutions servicing distinct segments of the market. Hornetsecurity supports 12,000+ channel partners and MSPs, as well as over 125,000 SMBs across Europe. Together, they plan to deliver complementary, purpose-built platforms, fueled by shared threat intelligence to serve global customer.
“As attackers grow more sophisticated and people remain the primary target, organizations need security that protects them wherever they work—across email, cloud applications and every digital channel,” said Proofpoint’s CEO, Sumit Dhawan. “With the addition of Hornetsecurity, we’re excited to extend our industry-leading, human-centric security platform to better serve the unique needs of MSPs and SMBs. We look forward to deepening our investment in the European markets as part of our global growth strategy.”
“Hornetsecurity’s AI-powered security platform enables thousands of MSPs to deliver enterprise-grade protection to their SMB customers across Europe,” said Daniel Hofmann, the founder and CEO of Hornetsecurity. “With the breadth of human-centric risks only growing, joining Proofpoint is a natural next step in our journey to build the strongest global offering of M365 security services. By coming together, we can better serve our partners and customers and extend that protection globally to help MSPs everywhere safeguard their customers’ people, data, and operations.”
With M365 at the center of how many businesses operate, it has also become a top target for attackers. Proofpoint’s recently expanded partnership with Microsoft supports scalable innovation and delivers human-centric security to help mutual customers proactively detect and mitigate threats targeting people and the data they work with.
Hornetsecurity’s flagship product, 365 Total Protection, offers a comprehensive cloud security solution for M365 that gives MSPs a multi-tenant, unified platform to deliver integrated services, including advanced email security, backup, security awareness, access and permission control and domain fraud protection. The Hornetsecurity team plans to continue driving innovation across its Total Protection product platform, delivering additional innovative solutions to partners and customers. Through the combination of shared threat intelligence and AI models, both Proofpoint and Hornetsecurity customers and partners will benefit from improved efficacy of their leading detection ensembles against threat actors.
Upon closing, Proofpoint also intends to leverage its global reach to make the power of the Hornetsecurity platform available for MSPs and their customers, worldwide, advancing the shared mission of protecting every organization’s people, data and operations. Hornetsecurity will serve as the central hub for all MSP and SMB customers within the group, promoting a unified approach, enhanced service delivery and accelerated innovation tailored to the needs of these key customer segments.
Hornetsecurity’s CEO Daniel Hofmann will remain at the company’s helm, driving strategic growth and vision. The management team will also remain on board, championing the company’s vision and proven product strategy while accelerating innovation to deliver the next generation of cybersecurity solutions.
The acquisition is expected to close in H2.
