Proofpoint has provided security solutions to businesses for over twenty years, preventing cyberattacks like SPAM and malicious content.

What does Proofpoint do?

With Proofpoint's secure email gateway (SEG) solution, you can protect your organization from email threats such as domain spoofing, malware, SPAM, and basic phishing attacks.

Proofpoint vs. IRONSCALES

IRONSCALES employs artificial intelligence via an API to detect advanced email threats, while Proofpoint uses a secure gateway to apply rule-based protection. Additionally, IRONSCALES engages employees directly within the platform with phishing simulation and training campaigns to harden user defenses.

Security Email Gateway (SEG) vs Integrated Cloud Email Security (ICES)

Security Email Gateways (SEGs), like Proofpoint Email Protection, protect organizations from malicious emails with a signature/rule-based approach. Integrated Cloud Email Security (ICES), like IRONSCALES, is a more advanced approach that utilizes an API-based platform to provide protection at the mailbox level using AI and ML for anomaly detection.

Does IRONSCALES require MX record changes?

No, IRONSCALES integrates with your Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other platforms seamlessly via API, eliminating the need for complex MX record modifications. Get up and running in minutes with minimal IT involvement.

What makes IRONSCALES different from traditional SEGs?

IRONSCALES employs Adaptive AI combined with human intelligence to detect threats both pre- and post-delivery. This mailbox-level anomaly detection allows for real-time identification and remediation of sophisticated attacks that traditional SEGs miss.

Why Choose IRONSCALES over Proofpoint

Compare an AI-native, API-based platform against the gateway model, including both the API and SEG models offered by Proofpoint. The comparison that decides it is the same either way: what reaches the inbox, and how fast it gets pulled back.

Proofpoint now runs two motions. Their traditional enterprise gateway, and, through its December 2025 acquisition of Hornetsecurity, a separate suite aimed at the MSP channel. This page covers both.

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Comparison Table

Adaptive AI, threat clustering, and automated remediation, deployed at the mailbox through a native API. Self-learning detection is confirmed and corrected by a live network of over 36k analysts across 18k organizations globally. Inbound and outbound protection, phishing simulation, security awareness training, DMARC, and encryption run from one unified console.

PROS:

Adaptive AI detection (Human-in-the-Loop): LLM verdicts are confirmed and corrected by 36,000+ analysts, so the model sharpens on real human decisions across 18,000+ organizations.
Threat clustering and remediation: Themis clusters and removes confirmed threats across every affected mailbox, cutting incident response from 30 minutes to 30 seconds.
The whole job in one console: Detection, phishing simulation, SAT, DMARC, and encryption share one platform.

CONS:

Built for cloud email: There is no deployment model that supports on-premises solutions.
Some capabilities are add-ons: Email Encryption, DMARC Management, and Deepfake Protection are licensed as add-ons rather than bundled into every tier.

Proofpoint's enterprise product is a secure email gateway in the mail path, with a Core Email Protection API option alongside it. Their 365 Total Protection (Hornetsecurity) deploys in three modes, and capability depends on the mode: MX and Hybrid run through the gateway with the full suite but change MX records, while API mode skips the MX record change.

PROS:

Mature gateway filtering: Detects BEC and impersonation pre-delivery on Proofpoint's own telemetry.
Backup and archiving: Proofpoint offers Microsoft 365 backup, recovery, and email archiving for those that use their gateway deployment.

CONS:

Capabilities depend on the deployment: Proofpoint's no-MX API mode gives up pre-delivery filtering, encryption, and continuity, and MX mode has no post-delivery auto-remediation.
A separate human layer: Phishing simulation and SAT are separate products with their own console rather than part of one platform.
Static threat intelligence: Detection leans on the vendor's own telemetry and research feeds, so a threat caught in one environment does not sharpen detection across the others.

Secure Email Gateway

The heritage model. Routes mail through the gateway for pre-delivery filtering and the full suite. Requires MX record changes per tenant, carries an up-to-24-hour DNS propagation window, and has no post-delivery auto-remediation.

Hybrid Mode

Runs both layers together. It still relies on the gateway, so it still requires MX record changes. Separate consoles, separate workflows, and separate intelligence streams so you are running and fueling two of everything.

API-Based

Connects through the Microsoft 365 API, fast to stand up. Post-delivery only, and it gives up pre-delivery filtering, email encryption, and continuity. A feature-limited subset of the suite.

SEG Vendor

Mailboxes

—

Attacks missed by Mimecast
over 30-days for your org size.

Is This Legit?

You're probably wondering, "Is this real, or just vendor hyperbole?" Yeah, it's real, it's built on data from 1,921 customers who use IRONSCALES to catch what their SEGs miss. See the proof here.

Attacks by Category

Select mailbox count to see breakdown

Features
	API-native email security with real-time AI detection and automated remediation.	Enterprise gateway in the mail path, with an API option and Nexus AI.	Hornetsecurity platform rebranded with MX, API, or Hybrid deployment.
Inbound Email Protection Inspect and detect inbound email attacks
URL / Link / Attachment Inspection Automatically analyze links in emails to detect and block malicious content, protecting against malware and ransomware
API-Native Cloud Email, No MX Record Change Native API integration with M365 & GWS		API Option Only Gateway Requires MX Record Change	API Option Only Gateway Requires MX Record Change
Deployment in Minutes Turns on protection in minutes rather than a staged rollout with DNS or gateway configuration.		Days API onboards with 48 hour learning window	API Fast MX Mode adds up to 24 hours
Full Feature Set Without Changing Mail Flow Delivers the complete protection set without placing anything in the mail delivery path.
Adaptive AI (Human-in-the-Loop) Incorporates human insights and feedback from employees and admins to continuously train and update machine learning models
Manual MX Record, YARA Rule Updates Requires manual updates to MX records and YARA rules for configuration and threat detection, ensuring accurate email routing and custom threat identification			Gateway and Hybrid
Phishing Simulation Testing Conduct realistic phishing simulations to train employees on recognizing and avoiding phishing attacks		Add-on
Security Awareness Training (SAT) Empower employees with interactive training modules to enhance their understanding of cybersecurity threats and best practices		Add-on
Non-Disruptive DMARC Integrity Maintains DMARC, DKIM, and SPF authentication without altering MX records or transport rules, preserving the original email headers
Continuous Inbox Scanning for Time Delayed Attacks Re-scans delivered mail so links and files weaponized after delivery are caught and removed		Add-on
Crowdsourced Threat Intelligence Detection sharpened by a live analyst network, so a threat seen in one environment strengthens protection across all of them
Static Threat Intelligence Detection runs on the vendor's own fixed threat intelligence feeds
Dynamic Inbox Banners warnings/guidance Adds contextual warning banners to suspicious messages to guide employees in the inbox
Email Encryption Encrypts sensitive outbound email through policy or user action		Gateway Only Not Available in API	Gateway Only Not Available in API
Email Archiving Retains email in a long-term archive for compliance and e-discovery		Gateway Only Not Available in API	Gateway Only Not Available in API
M365 Backup and Recovery Backs up and restores Microsoft 365 mailboxes and data.
MSP Features
Multi-Tenant Console Manages many client tenants from one console built for the MSP operating model.
Dedicated Partner Success Manager A named partner success manager assigned to every partner regardless of size or program tier, not earned by hitting a tier threshold.		Tier-Gated	Tier-Gated
Annual Contractual Obligation An annual contractual obligation required for email security services
Monthly Billing Payment model providing flexibility with no minimums or quotas
Reporting & Investigation Depth How much historical reporting and investigation detail analysts can access.	Two Years of History	90 Days Unless Paying for Archive	14 Months

API-native platform 3 steps. One action.

DetectAI flags the threat

ClusterGroups all related mail

RemoveOne action, tenant-wide

ClearedEvery mailbox, in milliseconds

Secure email gateway Manual post-delivery cleanup.

Detectpre-delivery only

It landsno auto-pull

Locatefind it manually

Removeper mailbox

Repeatper tenant

In gateway mode, Proofpoint does not offer post-delivery auto-remediation.

In API mode, Proofpoint does not offer their whole technology stack.

The Problems with Hybrid

It starves the model it depends on
An API-based model learns by watching how people actually communicate, across the full flow of mail. A gateway screens and quarantines messages before the API layer ever sees them, so the model builds its baseline from a pre-screened sample and adapts slower for it. The internal and lateral traffic that exposes an account takeover never crosses the gateway at all.

Two stacks that never compound.
The gateway and the API layer run on separate telemetry that does not feed one model. Proofpoint describes its own hybrid deployments as separate consoles, separate workflows, and separate intelligence streams, so a threat caught on one side does not sharpen the other.

You still change MX records.
Hybrid keeps the gateway in the mail path, so the MX changes, the DNS propagation window, and the delivery risk an API deployment avoids all come right back.

Full protection still lives in the gateway.
The capabilities that make hybrid look attractive sit in the gateway modes, so the no-MX convenience and the complete feature set never actually arrive together.

The Mail Path or Mailbox

IRONSCALES API-only connection. Mail never routes through its infrastructure, and MX records never change.

Proofpoint Gateway in the mail path. 365 Total Protection needs MX or Hybrid mode for its full feature set.

Self-Learning

IRONSCALES Adaptive AI retrains on verdicts from 36,000+ analysts, so a threat caught once hardens detection everywhere.

Proofpoint Nexus AI and the Vade engine behind 365 Total Protection run on their own telemetry, with no analyst-in-the-loop network.

Platform or Bundle

IRONSCALES Detection, simulation, SAT, DMARC, and outbound encryption in one simple console.

Proofpoint Simulation and SAT are separate lines, and 365 Total Protection bundles awareness as a distinct service.

Threat Remediation

IRONSCALES Clusters related threats and removes them across every mailbox automatically, 30 minutes down to 30 seconds.

Proofpoint Post-delivery removal only in 365 Total Protection's API mode, and none when it runs as a gateway.

Why IRONSCALES is Ideal for Your Team

For The CISO:
An acquisition turns a security choice into a continuity bet. Standardizing on a suite whose roadmap now belongs to another vendor is a decision you have to defend. IRONSCALES is one platform with one accountable owner.

For The IT Admin:
API-native deployment means no MX changes per client and no delivery risk during onboarding. Full visibility into internal mail from day one, not just what crosses a gateway.

For The MSP Owner & Operator:
Standardizing on a suite means betting margin and renewals on another vendor's integration timeline. IRONSCALES is one platform, per-tenant, with billing built for the motion.

For The Threat Analyst:
Automated tenant-wide remediation and crowdsourced intelligence cut the manual grind across every client, instead of per-tenant gateway rules to maintain by hand.

Join 18,000+ Companies and Counting

Advanced Threat Protection

Protect Better

Block advanced phishing and BEC attacks (and never seen before threats) with our Adaptive AI—dynamically sharpened by real-world user insights and a community of over 36,000 threat hunters.

SOC Automation

Simplify Operations

Slash the time your team spends remediating email incidents from 30 minutes per incident to 30 seconds.

Our Adaptive AI scans every email for malicious indicators. When it finds a threat, it doesn’t just block it, it automatically finds and remediates all others like it in your environment.

HUMAN RISK MANAGEMENT

Empower your Org

Triple the email security awareness of your workforce and transform your employees into a crucial line of phishing defense. We make it dead simple to sharpen your employees' understanding of real-world threats with:

Phishing simulation testing
Security awareness training (SAT)
Dynamic email banners

...and a GPT-powered chat assistant

Case Studies

"The ability to provide real-time feedback on both positive and negative performance has proven very effective. It’s a wake-up call for our employees.”

Itzik Menashe Global IT Director of Telit

Read the Case Study

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Why Choose IRONSCALES over Proofpoint