Proofpoint

Crawford said Proofpoint is among email security incumbents that are broadening their portfolios. It’s listed as a leader on the Q2 2021 Forrester Wave for Email Security. 

“Proofpoint has expanded its portfolio through things like social media awareness, threat intelligence, process automation for organizations and just a host of other areas in which they’ve invested,” he said.

Turner said Proofpoint being taken private by Thoma Bravo for $12.3 billion was significant.

“Private equity firms can of course be asset strippers seeking to make their money on the sale of parts, but they can also be serious investors who can turn an unprofitable company around, get it leaner and meaner, and launch it back into the market in a reinvigorated form,” he said. “The jury’s out on which will be Proofpoint’s fate, but if I were a betting man, my money would be the latter, given that the email security market is still growing.”