Proofpoint Expands Global Cybersecurity Reach with Acquisition of Hornetsecurity, Powering a New Era for MSP-Driven Microsoft 365 Protection
Proofpoint, a trailblazer in people-centric cybersecurity, has unveiled plans to acquire Hornetsecurity Group, a high-growth European innovator specializing in intelligent Microsoft 365 (M365) protection, compliance, and backup solutions. This acquisition is designed to accelerate Proofpoint’s strategy of equipping managed service providers (MSPs) with next-generation tools to secure the modern workforce.
At the heart of this move is a bold vision: to fuse Proofpoint’s enterprise-grade defense capabilities with Hornetsecurity’s agile, partner-driven approach to SMB cybersecurity. The result is a new standard for M365 security—one that is intelligent, scalable, and rooted in real-time threat insight.
Hornetsecurity’s flagship solution, 365 Total Protection, is the most complete security suite for Microsoft 365 on the market—offering email threat prevention, automated backup, identity control, and user awareness training—all built for rapid deployment by MSPs. With a presence in over 120 countries and a fast-growing partner ecosystem of 12,000+ resellers, Hornetsecurity brings proven reach and velocity to the deal.
“This combination is about more than expansion—it’s about transformation,” said Sumit Dhawan, CEO of Proofpoint. “We are uniting two like-minded companies that believe security must start with people. By extending our platform to the global MSP community, we’re enabling the protection of millions more users from the sophisticated threats targeting Microsoft 365.”
The acquisition reinforces Proofpoint’s global momentum and deepens its investment in Europe, while also aligning with the market’s rapid pivot toward AI-powered, cloud-native protection strategies. Hornetsecurity has seen over 20% year-over-year growth, backed by more than $160 million in annual recurring revenue. Its MSP-first approach complements Proofpoint’s direct enterprise model, enabling broader customer coverage from startups to global enterprises.
Daniel Hofmann, Founder and CEO of Hornetsecurity, added: “Joining forces with Proofpoint gives us the scale and muscle to elevate our services worldwide while preserving our agility and partner-first culture. Together, we’re empowering MSPs with smarter, faster, and more comprehensive tools to defend against today’s most urgent risks.”
Post-transaction, Hornetsecurity will operate as the global nucleus for Proofpoint’s MSP and SMB initiatives, maintaining its leadership team and innovation roadmap. The move strengthens Proofpoint’s collaborative relationship with Microsoft, aligning with the broader push to harden M365 environments against increasingly people-targeted cyberattacks.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory and customary approvals. While official financial terms were not disclosed, industry sources estimate the deal at approximately $1 billion.
