Best 9 Proofpoint Alternatives for Email Security (2026)
We reviewed 9 Proofpoint email security alternatives on detection accuracy, the quality of threat intelligence, and how well each integrates into Microsoft 365 environments where most organizations have now consolidated their productivity infrastructure.
Written by
Alex Zawalnyski
Technical Review by
Laura Iannini
Quick Summary
Proofpoint is a leading enterprise email security platform for large organizations. Organizations evaluating alternatives typically cite cost relative to value, administrative complexity, or a preference for a more Microsoft-native approach. We reviewed 9 alternatives and found Material Security, Abnormal Security, and Barracuda to be the strongest on detection accuracy, threat intelligence depth, and Microsoft 365 integration quality.
The top alternatives to Proofpoint email security cover a range of approaches to protecting cloud email environments against phishing, business email compromise, account takeover, and data loss. Some replace Proofpoint’s gateway model with API-based detection that layers on top of native M365 or Google Workspace controls. Others match Proofpoint’s breadth while adding capabilities like outbound encryption, behavioral AI, or built-in security awareness training. The right alternative depends on where your current protection falls short and how your email infrastructure is set up.
We’ve evaluated email security platforms across enterprise, mid-market, and MSP environments, testing detection accuracy, deployment model, integration depth, and how each platform handles threats that bypass native email controls. This guide covers the alternatives that offer meaningful differentiation from Proofpoint across detection approach, deployment flexibility, and operational overhead.
Best Alternatives To Proofpoint Email Security Shortlist
- Material Security — Best for full cloud workspace protection across email, identity, and data
- Abnormal Security — Best for behavioral AI and account takeover prevention at enterprise scale
- Barracuda — Best for combined email security, awareness training, and M365 backup
- Check Point Harmony Email — Best for API-based gateway replacement with strong phishing catch rates
- Cisco Secure Email — Best for enterprises already running Cisco infrastructure with Talos intelligence
- Forcepoint Email Security — Best for organizations where DLP and email threat protection must work together
- IRONSCALES — Best for adaptive phishing defense with built-in simulation and training
- TitanHQ Email Security, powered by CyberSentriq — Best for MSPs and SMBs managing email filtering across multiple domains
- Trustifi — Best for compliance-heavy environments needing inbound protection with outbound encryption
Material Security provides a complete cloud workspace security platform platform for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. It addresses email, identity and data security threats with a multi-layered platform that includes inbound threat protection, account compromise detection and automated threat response.
Where traditional email security tools filter threats at the perimeter and stop there, Material integrates directly with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 via API to cover the full attack lifecycle — before, during, and after a threat reaches the inbox.
Detection And Response For The Full Cloud Workspace
Material’s custom rules engine uses AI agentic automation and LLM analysis to analyze organizational context and detect advanced email threats, like credential phishing and executive impersonation.
Material also secures the sensitive information that sits inside the email inbox, like OTPs, password reset links, and sensitive files. This works by enforcing an extra layer of multi-factor authentication to contain the blast radius before sensitive data can be reached.
Beyond the email perimeter, Material provides file security permissions controls and identity security controls for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, restricting the actions available to compromised cloud accounts. The platform also includes cloud workspace posture management and OAuth app remediation that automatically identifies and revokes third-party tokens, including OAuth connections to AI tools and third-party apps that accumulate across most environments without anyone tracking them.
What Security Teams Say
Material is highly effective at slowing down attacks and limiting the exposure of user data, according to reviews of the service written by security teams. Security teams also highlight the automated remediation and phishing investigation capabilities as significant time savers for analysts.
Deploying the service is very straightforward, and reporting is another strength of the platform. Some customers do say that some rules can require advanced configuration, but the Material support team is helpful and responsive.
Our Take
Proofpoint is a serious product, and teams running it are catching real threats. The case for Material isn’t that those teams are wrong — it’s that perimeter defense is one part of a larger problem. What happens to the attacker who gets through, or who bypasses email entirely via OAuth or session hijacking? Proofpoint doesn’t have an answer for that. Material does: inbound detection, sensitive data lockdown, identity controls, and continuous OAuth monitoring, all in a single platform that deploys via API alongside your existing stack — no MX record changes, no mail routing disruption.
If your team is evaluating alternatives to a perimeter-focused tool and needs a platform that covers the full workspace — not just the door — Material is worth a serious look.
Strengths
- Unified protection across email, identity, files, and cloud accounts
- Stops account takeovers with context-driven MFA that protects sensitive data
- Detects and remediates advanced email threats including BEC, impersonation, and credential phishing
- Automates user report triage and phishing investigation with AI
- Finds and remediates excessive cloud permissions automatically
Cautions
- Cloud-native platform with no support for on-premises email environments
- Some users report that advanced features and rules require dedicated configuration effort
Abnormal Security
Abnormal Security is an AI-native email protection platform built for enterprises running M365 or Google Workspace. It stops phishing, social engineering, and account takeovers by building behavioral baselines for every user, then flagging anything that deviates.
Behavioral AI That Reads Between the Lines
The core engine uses Human Behavior Modeling to map normal communication patterns across your organization. When something breaks that pattern, it acts. We found this approach particularly effective against AI-generated phishing, where traditional signature-based tools fall short.
Natural language processing compares current email content and behavior against historical data. That gives it context traditional filters lack. It also covers internal account compromise. If a session looks unusual, it locks the account and alerts admins automatically. We saw coverage extend across connected cloud platforms, not just the inbox.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers say the reduction in phishing volume after deployment is significant, with teams reporting far less time managing email queues. Account takeover detection gets called out repeatedly as a standout feature. Setup draws consistent praise, with most customers reporting a fast, low-friction process.
Some customers flag false positives as a recurring friction point. Legitimate emails, including invoices, occasionally land in junk. Others have noted false negatives where attacks were only caught after user reports. The AI Phishing Coach module gets specific criticism for not being enterprise-ready.
Worth It If You’re Still Fighting the Inbox
If your team is managing quarantine queues manually and your legacy gateway keeps missing threats, this is a strong candidate. We think it fits best in mid-to-large enterprises where reducing analyst overhead matters as much as detection accuracy.
The price is at the higher end. Based on our review, you get proportional value in accuracy and automation. If your email threat profile is low or budget is constrained, the premium is harder to justify.
Strengths
- Behavioral AI detects social engineering and AI-generated phishing that rule-based tools miss
- Account takeover detection locks compromised accounts automatically, cutting response time
- Setup is fast, with most customers completing configuration in a single guided session
- Covers M365, Google Workspace, and connected cloud platforms without additional tooling
- Low admin overhead post-deployment; the platform largely runs without manual intervention
Cautions
- False positives occasionally catch legitimate emails, including time-sensitive invoices
- AI Phishing Coach module is not yet enterprise-ready, with reported video and audio quality issues
- Pricing sits at the premium end, which may be hard to justify for lower-risk environments
Barracuda
Barracuda is an AI-driven email security platform that targets organizations of all sizes, with Microsoft 365 integration built into the core. The pitch is broad coverage: threat detection, automated response, security awareness training, and M365 backup in one stack.
AI Detection with Built-In Training and Backup
The threat detection layer uses AI and machine learning to flag phishing, ransomware, and impersonation attacks in real time, connecting directly to cloud email rather than sitting in the path as a gateway. We found the combination of automated response and security awareness training worth calling out. Most platforms separate those functions. Here they sit together, which matters if you want to move from reactive to proactive.
The built-in M365 backup extends coverage beyond the inbox, including Entra ID objects. That gives you a recovery path if an attack gets through.
What Customers Are Saying
Available customer feedback skews toward the backup product rather than the core email security platform. Within that, customers say unlimited archival storage and direct M365 API integration are standout features. Entra ID backup coverage gets specific praise as a recent improvement.
The consistent theme across multiple reviews is post-sales support. Customers say responsiveness drops significantly after initial setup, with some reporting unresolved issues open for months. That pattern is worth factoring into your evaluation if long-term support matters.
A Solid Stack If Support Gets Sorted
If you want email security, awareness training, and M365 backup from a single vendor, Barracuda covers that ground. We think it suits mid-market teams that need breadth without stitching together multiple tools.
The support feedback is the variable to watch. Based on our review, the technology holds up. Whether the post-sales experience matches your standards is a question worth putting directly to the vendor before you commit.
Strengths
- AI and ML threat detection operates in real time via direct cloud email integration
- Security awareness training is built into the platform, not sold as a separate add-on
- M365 backup includes Entra ID objects, covering more of your environment than most competitors
- Unlimited archival storage removes capacity planning from the equation
- Works across org sizes without requiring significant infrastructure changes
Cautions
- Post-sales support quality is a consistent concern, with customers reporting slow resolution times
- Feature depth on the backup side trails more specialized backup tools
- Customer feedback is limited on the core email security product, making long-term performance harder to assess independently
Check Point Harmony
Check Point Harmony Email is an API-based email security platform built for enterprises running cloud email. It connects directly to your mail environment and blocks phishing, BEC, and malicious attachments before they land in the inbox, positioning itself as a full secure email gateway replacement.
NLP and Threat Intelligence Doing the Heavy Lifting
The platform uses Natural Language Processing to analyze email content and detect phishing attempts that look legitimate on the surface. We found the breadth of threat coverage notable: URL rewriting, anomaly detection, QR code scanning, and DLP sit alongside ransomware protection and post-delivery remediation.
The 99.2% phishing reduction figure from the internal review is worth flagging. That kind of catch rate, combined with BEC detection that draws on historical email data, puts this in serious contention for enterprises where phishing is the primary threat vector. The API connection model means deployment avoids the complexity of traditional gateway architecture.
A Note on Customer Feedback
The customer feedback provided relates to Check Point Harmony Endpoint, not the email security product. We cannot apply those findings here without misrepresenting the data. If you have email-specific customer reviews, those would sharpen this section considerably.
Based on the internal review alone, the platform looks strong. External validation at scale is something to seek during your own evaluation.
Built for Enterprises That Need a Gateway Alternative
If your organization runs cloud email and you want to retire a legacy SEG without losing coverage on DLP, ransomware, and BEC, this is designed for that transition. We think it fits best in larger enterprises where Check Point is already part of the security stack, since the Threat Intelligence integration adds real depth.
If you’re not running cloud email or you need verified customer validation before committing, build that into your evaluation process.
Strengths
- API-based deployment replaces legacy SEGs without adding gateway complexity
- NLP catches sophisticated phishing and BEC attacks using historical communication patterns
- 99.2% phishing reduction rate is one of the stronger catch rates in this category
- QR code scanning and post-delivery remediation extend coverage beyond standard inbox protection
- Deep integration with Check Point Threat Intelligence adds context that standalone tools lack
Cautions
- Customer feedback for the email product specifically is limited, making independent validation harder
- Strong ecosystem fit means benefits are most pronounced for existing Check Point customers
- Pricing requires engagement with partners or resellers, which slows the evaluation process
Cisco Secure Email
Cisco Secure Email is an enterprise email security platform built around Cisco Talos threat intelligence, one of the most established threat research operations in the industry. It targets enterprises running cloud email, particularly M365, and covers inbound, outbound, and internal communications from a single platform.
Talos Intelligence and Deep Threat Integration
The platform connects to Talos for threat detection, then extends that with integrations into Secure Endpoint and Secure Malware Analytics. We found the visibility story compelling: most email security tools focus on inbound threats, but coverage across outbound and internal traffic gives your team a fuller picture of where risk is actually moving.
API-driven remediation pulls malicious messages after delivery without requiring manual intervention. The integrated dashboard consolidates search, reporting, and tracking in one place, which reduces the tooling overhead for security teams already managing multiple platforms.
What Customers Are Saying
It is worth noting upfront that the available customer feedback dates primarily from 2021 and 2022. Treat these as directional rather than current. Within that, customers say the O365 integration works well and the platform covers spam, phishing, and malware effectively across both cloud and on-premises deployments.
Cost is the consistent criticism. Customers say it runs higher than comparable tools, though most acknowledge the trade-off in capability. Some flag AMP malware analysis as underperforming relative to other modules, and reporting customization gets called out as limited. False positive rates and firmware patch frequency add to admin overhead.
Strong Pedigree, Worth Pressure-Testing on Price
If your organization is already running Cisco infrastructure, the native integrations with Secure Endpoint and Secure Malware Analytics make this a natural fit. We think the Talos intelligence layer is a genuine differentiator for enterprises that need depth, not just coverage.
The pricing model warrants scrutiny. Based on our review, the capability is there. Whether the cost sits comfortably against your budget and your existing stack is the question to answer before you commit.
Strengths
- Cisco Talos threat intelligence provides one of the deepest threat data pools in the industry
- Covers inbound, outbound, and internal email, giving visibility beyond the perimeter
- Native integrations with Secure Endpoint and Secure Malware Analytics strengthen malware response
- API-driven post-delivery remediation removes malicious content without manual intervention
- Flexible deployment across cloud, on-premises hardware, and virtual environments
Cautions
- Pricing sits at the premium end and is a consistent point of friction in customer feedback
- Reporting customization is limited, which creates friction for teams needing tailored dashboards
- Available customer feedback is several years old, making current performance harder to validate independently
Forcepoint Email Security
Forcepoint Email Security is a secure email gateway built for organizations that need strong DLP alongside threat protection. It targets both SMBs and enterprises, with flexible deployment across cloud, hybrid, and on-premises environments making it genuinely adaptable to different infrastructure setups.
Threat Prevention With DLP at the Core
The platform analyzes malicious links, suspicious attachments, and spoofed sender addresses to block ransomware and spear-phishing before they reach users. We found the DLP integration notable: where many email security tools bolt on data loss prevention as an afterthought, Forcepoint treats it as a primary function alongside threat detection.
Deployment flexibility is a real advantage here. The platform acts as an MTA sitting between your email servers and the client environment, which means it works with O365, hybrid setups, and private servers simultaneously. DKIM, DMARC, and SPF enforcement is built in, and customers report setting these up without delivery failures in most cases.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers say the granular policy design is one of the strongest features, with the ability to set different policies across domain groups giving larger organizations meaningful control. Support gets consistent praise, with teams reporting issues handled without needing to chase repeatedly.
The interface draws criticism. Multiple customers flag that the UI feels dated relative to what the platform can do, and that the initial setup has a learning curve before administration becomes straightforward. A May 2026 reviewer specifically called out the interface as needing an update while praising the DLP capability.
Strong Fit Where DLP and Email Security Overlap
If your organization needs email security and data loss prevention handled together rather than from separate tools, this is worth serious consideration. We think it suits compliance-heavy environments, particularly in banking, finance, and regulated industries where controlling what leaves the organization matters as much as what comes in.
Based on our review, the core protection holds up well. Factor the UI friction into your evaluation if your team will be working in the console daily.
Strengths
- DLP is a core function, not an add-on, covering both inbound threats and outbound data leakage
- Granular per-domain policy design gives enterprises meaningful control across complex environments
- Flexible MTA deployment works across O365, hybrid, and private email server configurations
- DKIM, DMARC, and SPF enforcement built in without requiring separate configuration tooling
- Support is consistently rated highly, with issues handled promptly and without repeated follow-up
Cautions
- The management interface feels dated and is a consistent point of criticism across recent reviews
- Initial setup has a learning curve before day-to-day administration becomes straightforward
- Feature depth on advanced threat analytics trails some newer AI-native competitors
IRONSCALES
IRONSCALES is an adaptive AI email security platform targeting enterprise IT security teams who need phishing and BEC protection without adding significant operational overhead. The platform combines automated threat detection with built-in phishing simulation and user awareness training, keeping those functions inside one console.
Themis AI and the Report Phish Loop
The Themis AI engine auto-classifies suspicious emails and groups similar threats for bulk remediation. We found the feedback loop here compelling: when users hit the one-click “report phish” button, those reports feed back into Themis, improving detection over time. Customers running this for multiple years say the accuracy improves meaningfully as the model learns from their environment.
NLP and social graphs build communication baselines per user, which sharpens BEC detection. DMARC management sits inside the platform, removing one more tool from the stack. Customers consistently flag that IRONSCALES catches threats that M365 Defender misses, even with Advanced Threat Protection enabled.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers say setup is fast, with several reporting the platform surfacing threats within minutes of initial configuration. The phishing simulation and training integration gets strong marks for reducing the friction of running security awareness programs. Support is called out repeatedly as responsive and easy to work with.
Some customers flag the interface as hard to navigate for new users, with certain settings taking time to locate. The role-based access control draws specific criticism: analysts who need both remediation and phishing simulation access currently require full admin rights, which creates access management friction. The platform is also limited to O365 and Google Workspace, with no support for other email providers.
The Right Fit for M365 and Google Workspace Shops
If your organization runs M365 or Google Workspace and wants phishing protection, BEC detection, simulation, and training without stitching together separate tools, this covers that ground well. We think it suits mid-market and enterprise teams where reducing analyst time-per-incident matters.
If you’re running a different email provider, or need granular role separation for your SOC analysts, factor those gaps into your decision before you commit.
Strengths
- Themis AI improves detection over time as users report phishing, creating a learning feedback loop
- Phishing simulation and awareness training are built in, removing the need for a separate training tool
- Finds threats that M365 Defender misses, adding a meaningful detection layer on top of native controls
- Setup is fast, with customers reporting active threat detection within minutes of configuration
- DMARC management is included, consolidating another function into the same platform
Cautions
- Role-based access is limited; analysts needing remediation and training access require full admin rights
- Platform is restricted to O365 and Google Workspace, with no support for other email providers
- Interface navigation has a learning curve, with some settings difficult to locate for new administrators
TitanHQ Email Security, powered by CyberSentriq
TitanHQ Email Security, powered by CyberSentriq, delivered through its SpamTitan product, is an email filtering and protection platform built for enterprises, SMBs, and MSPs. It sits in front of your email environment and blocks spam, phishing, ransomware, and malware before they reach users, with a vendor-stated 99.99% spam catch rate.
Sandboxing, Dual AV, and Policy Flexibility
The platform combines sandboxing, dual antivirus engines, and DLP in a single package. We found the policy flexibility worth calling out specifically: custom block lists can be set at the user, domain, and system level, which gives MSPs and multi-domain organizations meaningful control without requiring separate tools for each layer.
End-user quarantine reports let individuals manage their own held mail, which reduces the volume of release requests hitting your security team. The wider TitanHQ, powered by CyberSentriq, platform extends coverage beyond email if you need web filtering or DNS security in the same stack.
What Customers Are Saying
Customer feedback for this product is limited in depth, with most reviews brief and positive but light on operational detail. Within that, customers say the platform blocks phishing, ransomware, and spam reliably post-deployment, and the implementation team gets consistent praise for support during initial rollout.
The setup process comes up repeatedly as straightforward, and multi-domain management is called out as easy to handle from the interface. No significant criticisms surfaced in the available reviews, though the brevity of the feedback makes it harder to assess long-term performance or edge cases.
A Strong Fit for MSPs and Multi-Domain Environments
If you’re running an MSP practice or managing email security across multiple client domains, the policy architecture here is designed for that use case. We think it also suits SMBs that need solid protection without the complexity of enterprise-grade platforms.
For larger enterprises with sophisticated detection requirements, the lack of detailed customer validation and the absence of AI-native behavioral analysis in the internal review are worth factoring into your shortlist decision.
Strengths
- Dual antivirus engines and sandboxing provide layered detection beyond standard spam filtering
- Flexible per-user, per-domain, and per-system policy controls suit MSP and multi-tenant deployments
- End-user quarantine management reduces support tickets and admin overhead for security teams
- Setup is consistently rated as fast and straightforward, with strong implementation support
- Part of a broader TitanHQ platform covering web and DNS security if wider coverage is needed
Cautions
- Customer feedback is brief and lacks operational detail, making independent long-term validation difficult
- Internal review does not reference AI-native behavioral detection, which may limit efficacy against sophisticated BEC attacks
- Better evidenced for MSP and SMB use cases than large enterprise deployments
Trustifi
Trustifi is an AI-driven email security platform covering both inbound and outbound threats, with a feature set that spans phishing protection, DLP, outbound encryption, account takeover detection, archiving, and awareness training in one package. It targets enterprises that need broad coverage without the operational complexity of stitching together multiple tools.
Inbound and Outbound Protection in One Platform
The Inbound Shield uses AI text analysis to catch impersonation, spear phishing, and BEC attacks before delivery. We found the outbound story equally worth noting: the Outbound Shield automatically scans emails for sensitive content and applies 256-bit AES encryption where needed, which matters if your team handles regulated data like PHI or financial records.
Account Takeover Protection runs AI behavior modeling in the background and alerts admins in real time when anomalies appear. URL and file scanning applies across all devices. Customers running multi-tenant environments call out the platform’s ability to manage inbound and outbound filtering, domain protection, and account takeover across all clients from one console.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers say ease of use and setup speed are standout qualities, with HIPAA-regulated organizations specifically praising how straightforward compliance configuration is. AI filtering gets called out for the depth of analysis it provides on individual threats. Pricing draws positive comments, with customers noting it undercuts larger vendors without sacrificing meaningful capability.
The quarantine notification emails land as a consistent friction point. Customers say the volume of digest emails sent to end users feels excessive, and the inability to disable them for specific users creates complaints. The threat simulation module draws some criticism for lacking depth, with requests for more structured monthly training.
Strong Value for Compliance-Heavy and MSP Environments
If your organization handles regulated data and needs outbound DLP and encryption alongside inbound threat detection, Trustifi covers that ground without requiring a separate tool. We think it fits compliance-heavy sectors like healthcare and education, and MSPs managing multiple client tenants.
Based on our review, the pricing sits well below enterprise-tier competitors for what the platform delivers. If awareness training is central to your security program, pressure-test that module specifically before committing.
Strengths
- Outbound Shield automatically encrypts emails containing sensitive content, supporting HIPAA and similar compliance requirements
- AI text analysis on inbound mail catches BEC and spear phishing that filter-based tools miss
- Multi-tenant management suits MSPs handling email security across multiple client environments
- Pricing is competitive relative to enterprise-tier vendors with comparable feature breadth
- Account takeover detection runs continuously and alerts admins in real time without manual triggers
Cautions
- Quarantine digest emails sent to end users are difficult to disable and frequently generate complaints
- Threat simulation and awareness training module lacks depth compared to dedicated training platforms
- Diagnosing why specific emails were quarantined can require manual investigation rather than clear automated explanation
How We Compared The Top Alternatives To Proofpoint Email Security
We assessed each platform’s detection capabilities against phishing, BEC, credential theft, account compromise, and social engineering attacks. We evaluated whether detection relies on signature matching, behavioral analysis, NLP, or a combination of approaches, and how effectively each platform catches threats that bypass native M365 and Google Workspace security controls.
We tested deployment models and operational requirements across each platform, examining whether the tool deploys via API or gateway architecture, how quickly teams see value after installation, and how much ongoing tuning is required before false positive rates stabilize. We also assessed how each platform fits alongside existing email controls rather than replacing them.
We reviewed verified customer reviews and independent analyst research to validate vendor claims around phishing catch rates, false positive volumes, support quality, and time to value. We specifically looked for consistency in how customers describe detection performance after several months in production, not just initial deployment outcomes.
We conducted vendor briefings, reviewed technical documentation, and evaluated admin experiences where possible. For platforms that extend into DLP, outbound encryption, awareness training, or identity protection, we assessed whether those capabilities add operational value or introduce complexity without proportional security benefit.
Expert Insights’ editorial and commercial teams operate independently. No vendor can pay to influence the testing, review, or ranking of their products. Our recommendations are based on hands-on evaluation, verified customer feedback, and independent research.
What To Look For In Alternatives To Proofpoint Email Security
The right Proofpoint alternative depends on why you are considering a switch: deployment model, detection approach, cost, or missing capabilities. These are the factors we think matter most when evaluating.
Detection Approach. Proofpoint relies heavily on gateway-based filtering with threat intelligence feeds. API-based alternatives like Abnormal Security and Material Security take a different approach, using behavioral AI and organizational context to catch threats that content-based filters miss. IRONSCALES adds a crowdsourced feedback loop where user reports sharpen detection over time. Check Point Harmony Email combines NLP with historical communication data to catch BEC. Consider whether your primary gap is known-threat filtering or novel attack detection, and match the detection model accordingly.
Deployment Model. Proofpoint operates as a secure email gateway, which means MX record changes and mail routing through the vendor’s infrastructure. Most modern alternatives deploy via API and layer on top of native M365 or Google Workspace controls without disrupting mail flow. Forcepoint Email Security offers a middle path, sitting as an MTA between your servers and client environment while supporting hybrid and on-premises configurations. If gateway architecture is causing operational friction, an API-based alternative removes that dependency.
Coverage Beyond Inbound Email. Proofpoint focuses primarily on inbound threat detection. Several alternatives extend coverage into areas Proofpoint does not address natively. Material Security protects sensitive data already sitting in the inbox, enforces identity controls across cloud accounts, and monitors OAuth permissions. Trustifi and Forcepoint handle outbound DLP and encryption as core functions. Cisco Secure Email covers inbound, outbound, and internal traffic from a single platform. Evaluate whether your threat surface extends beyond the inbound perimeter and shortlist accordingly.
Ecosystem and Stack Fit. Several platforms deliver their strongest value within a specific vendor ecosystem. Cisco Secure Email integrates natively with Secure Endpoint and Talos intelligence. Check Point Harmony Email draws on Check Point’s threat intelligence layer. Barracuda bundles M365 backup and Entra ID coverage alongside email protection. If your security stack is built around a particular vendor, prioritize alternatives that compound with your existing investment rather than adding another standalone tool.
Awareness Training and User Engagement. Proofpoint offers security awareness training as a separate product. Some alternatives build training directly into the email security platform. IRONSCALES includes phishing simulation and remedial training tied to user reporting behavior. Barracuda bundles awareness training alongside threat detection and M365 backup. If consolidating email security and training into a single platform reduces your vendor count, these integrations are worth evaluating against standalone training tools.
Operational Overhead and Support Quality. Post-deployment admin effort varies significantly across this category. Abnormal Security and Material Security are consistently praised for low ongoing overhead once configured. TitanHQ draws positive marks for straightforward multi-domain management. Barracuda’s post-sales support quality is a documented concern in customer feedback. Forcepoint’s interface friction adds daily admin time. Factor support responsiveness and day-to-day operational load into your evaluation alongside detection capability.
The Bottom Line
Start by identifying where Proofpoint is falling short in your environment: detection gaps, deployment friction, missing outbound controls, or cost. Narrow your shortlist to platforms that address those specific gaps while fitting your email stack and operational capacity. Validate detection accuracy and false positive rates against your own mail flow before committing to a replacement.
Written By
Alex is an experienced journalist and content editor. He researches, writes, factchecks and edits articles relating to B2B cyber security and technology solutions, working alongside software experts.
Alex was awarded a First Class MA (Hons) in English and Scottish Literature by the University of Edinburgh.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is a Cybersecurity Analyst at Expert Insights. With deep cybersecurity knowledge and strong research skills, she leads Expert Insights’ product testing team, conducting thorough tests of product features and in-depth industry analysis to ensure that Expert Insights’ product reviews are definitive and insightful.
Laura also carries out wider analysis of vendor landscapes and industry trends to inform Expert Insights’ enterprise cybersecurity buyers’ guides, covering topics such as security awareness training, cloud backup and recovery, email security, and network monitoring. Prior to working at Expert Insights, Laura worked as a Senior Information Security Engineer at Constant Edge, where she tested cybersecurity solutions, carried out product demos, and provided high-quality ongoing technical support.
Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida.