CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Proofpoint vs Sublime Security

Proofpoint sells security that covers data and AI as one system, with access that follows intent. Sublime Security sells email security software that offers AI-powered protection against modern email threats. CISO Tribune files both under Email security. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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  • Proofpoint
  • Sublime Security
Proofpoint vs Sublime Security: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
ProofpointProofpoint sells security that covers data and AI as one system, with access that follows intent.proofpoint.comSublime SecuritySublime Security sells email security software that offers AI-powered protection against modern email threats.sublime.security
What it sells
  • ITM / Endpoint DLP[19]Endpoint software whose main features are supported on Windows, Mac and Linux.
  • Proofpoint Threat Intelligence Services[21]A Proofpoint team that provides Threat Insights.
  • ET Intel[21]A subscription that gives full access to all insights.
  • ET Pro[21]A subscription that gives full access to all insights.
  • Tailored Phishing Simulations and Training[7]Creates phishing simulations from attacks detected in the customer's environment and delivers just-in-time training.
Categories
Headquarters
Sunnyvale, United States[1]Not stated on its pages
Founded
2002[1]Not stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Owned by Thoma Bravo since 2021[3][12][14][15]Privately held[1][4][9][14]
Named customers
  • Xcel Energy[4]
  • Princeton University[5]
  • Columbia University[6]
  • Informatica[7]
  • California Department of Motor Vehicles[8]
Not stated on its pages
Recent news
  • October 15, 2026Proofpoint and Varonis announced a definitive agreement under which Proofpoint will acquire Varonis in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.3 billion.[16]
  • September 22, 2026Proofpoint announced the Agentic Collaboration Security system, combining an intent-based detection model with agentic capabilities for email, collaboration tools and the browser.[17]
  • September 22, 2026Proofpoint announced the Proofpoint Agentic Data and AI Security system, built to secure AI and data as one connected risk.[18]
  • September 3, 2026Proofpoint introduced the SOC Analyst Agent, an AI capability that helps security teams investigate threats across Proofpoint security data, built with OpenAI models.[9]
  • August 4, 2026Proofpoint launched an OEM program that lets technology providers, security vendors and managed service providers embed its threat intelligence and detection capabilities.[10]
Not stated on its pages
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen November 10, 2026[14]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: listed, seen November 4, 2026[9]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
From its own pages, Proofpoint addresses cyberattacks on organisations where people and AI agents work side by side across email, cloud and collaboration tools. The customers Proofpoint quotes include an organisation using Proofpoint for AI security for employees using AI services and tools, and for AI security in the tools and agents it is building. A quoted Proofpoint customer runs email security, DLP and insider threat management that work together, with its analyst using a single security console.Not written yet
Last verified
October 10, 2026September 27, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Email security is the primary category of both Proofpoint and Sublime Security.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Proofpoint is also filed under Collaboration app security, Human risk management and Insider risk management. Sublime Security is also filed under Data loss prevention and AI SOC analysts.
  • Proofpoint lists ITM / Endpoint DLP, Proofpoint Threat Intelligence Services, ET Intel and ET Pro. Sublime Security lists Tailored Phishing Simulations and Training.
  • Proofpoint is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States.
  • Proofpoint was founded in 2002.
  • Proofpoint is owned by Thoma Bravo, since 2021. Sublime Security is privately held.
  • Proofpoint publicly names Xcel Energy, Princeton University, Columbia University, Informatica and California Department of Motor Vehicles.

How they differ

CISO Tribune files Proofpoint under Email security, Collaboration app security, Human risk management and Insider risk management, with Email security as its primary category. CISO Tribune files Sublime Security under Email security, Data loss prevention and AI SOC analysts, with Email security as its primary category. Both companies therefore sit in email security, but their listed offerings diverge from there. Proofpoint sells ITM / Endpoint DLP, which supports Windows, Mac and Linux, along with threat intelligence subscriptions named ET Intel and ET Pro. Sublime Security sells email security software, a Tailored Phishing Simulations and Training add-on, and two named AI agents, ASA and ADÉ. Sublime connects to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace via API and offers multi-tenant SaaS, single-tenant SaaS or self-hosted deployment.

Proofpoint is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States, was founded in 2002, and has been owned by Thoma Bravo since 2021. Sublime Security is privately held. Proofpoint publicly names Xcel Energy, Princeton University, Columbia University, Informatica and California Department of Motor Vehicles as customers. Sublime Security's records show Elastic using it for email security, and Snowflake observing fewer false positives after implementing it.

On October 15, 2026, Proofpoint and Varonis announced a definitive agreement under which Proofpoint will acquire Varonis in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.3 billion. On September 22, 2026, Proofpoint announced the Agentic Collaboration Security system and the Proofpoint Agentic Data and AI Security system. On September 3, 2026, Proofpoint introduced the SOC Analyst Agent, built with OpenAI models.

What it sells: Proofpoint

What Proofpoint Threat Intelligence Services does[21]
Threat Insights are provided by the Proofpoint Threat Intelligence Services team. Premium Threat Intelligence Services analysts curate threat news highlights.
What ET Intel does[21]
Subscribing to ET Intel or ET Pro gives full access to all insights. Threat Insights are provided by the Proofpoint Threat Intelligence Services team.
What ET Pro does[21]
Subscribing to ET Intel or ET Pro gives full access to all insights. Threat Insights are provided by the Proofpoint Threat Intelligence Services team.

What it sells: Sublime Security

What Tailored Phishing Simulations and Training does[7]
Tailored Phishing Simulations and Training is a Sublime add-on that uses attacks detected in the customer's environment to prioritize and create simulations. When employees click, Sublime delivers immediate, attack-specific training on the email and signals they missed. Teams can track click and report rates and see exposure by attack type.

Questions about Proofpoint and Sublime Security

What do Proofpoint and Sublime Security sell?
Proofpoint sells ITM / Endpoint DLP, Proofpoint Threat Intelligence Services, ET Intel and ET Pro. Sublime Security sells Tailored Phishing Simulations and Training.
Are Proofpoint and Sublime Security in the same category?
Yes. Email security is the primary category of both on CISO Tribune.
Where are Proofpoint and Sublime Security headquartered?
Proofpoint is headquartered in Sunnyvale, United States.
When were Proofpoint and Sublime Security founded?
Proofpoint was founded in 2002.
Who owns Proofpoint and Sublime Security?
Proofpoint is owned by Thoma Bravo, since 2021. Sublime Security is privately held.
Which customers do Proofpoint and Sublime Security name?
Proofpoint publicly names Xcel Energy, Princeton University, Columbia University, Informatica and California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Who are Proofpoint and Sublime Security sold to?
From its own pages, Proofpoint addresses cyberattacks on organisations where people and AI agents work side by side across email, cloud and collaboration tools.
What have Proofpoint and Sublime Security announced recently?
October 15, 2026: Proofpoint and Varonis announced a definitive agreement under which Proofpoint will acquire Varonis in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $6.3 billion.

About Proofpoint

Proofpoint sells security that covers data and AI as one system, with access that follows intent. Proofpoint describes the problem it addresses as cyberattacks evolving as people and AI agents work side by side across email, cloud and collaboration tools. Proofpoint describes its approach as understanding intent in order to protect every interaction. Proofpoint has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Varonis.[2]

Proofpoint uses intent-based detection models and autonomous agents to stop AI-scaled threats across the attack chain.

Proofpoint covers visibility into sensitive data and every person, AI app and agent using it, including shadow AI. Proofpoint covers stopping data loss and misuse in real time across employee prompts, files and agent actions. Proofpoint covers control over who and what can reach data, with a full audit trail.

A Proofpoint customer describes using Proofpoint in two areas: AI security for employees using AI services and tools, and AI security in the tools and agents that customer is building. A Proofpoint customer describes Proofpoint email security, DLP and insider threat management working together, with its analyst using a single security console for all possible issues.[2]

ITM / Endpoint DLP features are supported on Windows, Mac and Linux, depending on the feature. ObserveIT is a division of Proofpoint. ObserveIT installation includes granting the ObserveIT Service Account user the dbcreator role on the SQL server. The service account permission is required only during the installation phase and may be removed once installation is complete. Removing that permission prevents ObserveIT from creating additional archive databases with the service account.[19][20]

Proofpoint Threat Intelligence Services provides Threat Insights. Premium Threat Intelligence Services analysts curate threat news highlights. Proofpoint offers ET Intel and ET Pro subscriptions that give full access to all insights.[21]

Proofpoint research examines how 1,600 CISOs across 16 global markets are navigating AI risk, human behavior, data security and rising business expectations. Proofpoint publishes guidance for reducing AI agent risk while supporting innovation.[2][13]

Proofpoint on the record

Sources

Proofpoint full record

  1. [1]AboutProofpoint · proofpoint.com · published April 21, 2025 · Tier A
  2. [2]ProductsProofpoint · proofpoint.com · published September 24, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Thoma bravo completes acquisition of proofpointThoma Bravo · thomabravo.com · published August 31, 2021 · Tier A
  4. [4]Xcel energyProofpoint · proofpoint.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Princeton university safe with proofpoint email securityProofpoint · proofpoint.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Columbia universityProofpoint · proofpoint.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]InformaticaProofpoint · proofpoint.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]California department motor vehiclesProofpoint · proofpoint.com · undated page, accessed October 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Proofpoint soc analyst agent openai daybreakProofpoint · proofpoint.com · published September 3, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Proofpoint launches oem program help security providers embed trusted threatProofpoint · proofpoint.com · published August 4, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Proofpoint launches dedicated msp business unit and introduces 365 totalProofpoint · proofpoint.com · published May 13, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Enterprise Cybersecurity Solutions, Services & Training | Proofpoint USProofpoint · undated page, accessed October 27, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Integrating ITM On-Prem (ObserveIT) with a Service Desk SystemProofpoint · undated page, accessed October 27, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Proofpoint Core Email Protection Reviews & Product Details - G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 27, 2026 · Tier C
  15. [15]Proofpoint Acquires Acuvity to Deliver AI Security and Governance Across the Agentic WorkspaceProofpoint · published February 12, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Proofpoint to Acquire Varonis in a $6.3 Billion TransactionProofpoint · published October 15, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Proofpoint Stops the Attacks Traditional Defenses Miss in the AI EraProofpoint · published September 22, 2026 · Tier A
  18. [18]Proofpoint Breaks Down the Divide Between Data Security and AI Security with the Industry’s First Unified Agentic SystemProofpoint · published September 22, 2026 · Tier A
  19. [19]ITM / Endpoint DLP Windows / Mac / Linux SupportProofpoint · published November 9, 2026 · Tier A
  20. [20]Assigning SQL Permissions to the Service Account UserProofpoint · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  21. [21]Proofpoint: Emerging Threats IntelligenceProofpoint · published November 9, 2026 · Tier A

Sublime Security full record

  1. [1]Sublime security raises 150m in series c funding as industry first ai agents accelerate growth 302596266Sublime Security via PR Newswire · prnewswire.com · published October 28, 2025 · Tier A
  2. [2]Email Security Software Features | SublimeSublime Security · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]AboutSublime Security · sublime.security · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Sublime Security | Agentic Email SecuritySublime Security · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Adaptive Email Security Platform | SublimeSublime Security · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Email Data Loss Prevention | SublimeSublime Security · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Tailored Phishing Simulations and Training | SublimeSublime Security · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Sublime Security | Customer storiesSublime Security · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Sublime Email Security Platform Pros and ConsG2 · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier C
  10. [10]Email security software for Microsoft Office 365 | SublimeSublime Security · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Plans · Sublime SecuritySublime Security · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Security at Sublime · Sublime SecuritySublime Security · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Email security software for Google Workspace | SublimeSublime Security · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Built & Backed by Security Experts · Sublime SecuritySublime Security · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A

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