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By Cian Fitzpatrick | 3rd June 2025
Proofpoint’s acquisition of Hornetsecurity: Why now is the perfect time to review your security posture.
When big players like Proofpoint and Hornetsecurity make moves, the ripple effect can be felt across the entire cybersecurity ecosystem. Proofpoint’s recent agreement to acquire Hornetsecurity is such big news that tremors are being felt in the cybersecurity industry. This is most especially for the real implications for the more than 125,000 SMBs and 12,000 MSPs across Europe who rely on Hornetsecurity every day.
If your organisation is one of them, you have a perfect opportunity in front of you. Now is the time to take a breath, zoom out and review your overall security posture, especially with email security. Not just because things might change, but because in moments like these, they usually do.
Some quick numerical facts illustrate the reason why this purchase is such major news:
This acquisition could be a net positive for many organisations. They will now be the beneficiaries of new resources, better threat intel and broader service coverage.
However, if your organisation is one of those affected by the acquisition, it’s worth pausing before getting caught up in the excitement. Change can be a good thing, but there will be many factors you need to pay attention to.
M&A integration is rarely seamless. Combining different IT infrastructures can open up unintended security gaps. This is especially true if legacy systems are involved or if security policies don’t align.
Even small inconsistencies, think of different password policies, unpatched software, or conflicting authentication systems, can create cracks that cybercriminals are more than happy to exploit.
Mergers often trigger staff changes. When IT or security staff leave, especially those familiar with legacy Hornetsecurity platforms, organisations can lose institutional knowledge at the worst possible time.
This transition period also tends to see an increase in insider threats. This might be accidental or intentional, as employees navigate new tools, policies and processes.
As Proofpoint begins to absorb Hornetsecurity’s offerings, there could be product retirements, pricing shifts or changes in support models. This matters. You might lose access to a feature you rely on. Alternatively, you could face new costs to maintain the same level of protection.
The purpose of this blog isn’t to cause worry. However, there is a need to be proactive rather than passive as Proofpoint gets underway with their new purchase.
Here are five proactive steps to keep your business secure during this transition:
Get a clear picture of your current security setup. Identify where you rely on Hornetsecurity’s tools and evaluate whether alternatives are needed. This is especially important if those tools are deeply integrated into your infrastructure.
Remember, 17% of M&A-related security incidents happen during integration. Keep a closer eye on threat activity during this time. It’s a worthwhile idea to explore temporary extra monitoring for high-risk systems.
If you work with a Managed Service Provider, don’t wait for them to bring it up. Ask what their plan is. Are they staying with Proofpoint? Switching? Are they anticipating any disruptions? A good MSP will already be preparing, but it’s important to align early. As a managed email provider, our Topsec team is always looking ahead on behalf of our clients.
If you’re in a regulated industry, now’s a good time to double-check compliance. New systems or platform changes can inadvertently put you out of sync with GDPR, ISO standards or sector-specific mandates.
Every one of the 125,000+ SMBs affected has slightly different needs. Proofpoint’s integration strategy won’t be tailored to your business. The responsibility is on you to manage the change internally. Brief your team, document new protocols and update incident response plans if needed.
Proofpoint’s acquisition of Hornetsecurity is a reminder that the cybersecurity landscape never sits still. M&A activity brings both opportunity and uncertainty. This isn’t the first change those of us in the cybersecurity industry have faced and nor will it be the last. Therefore, in times like these, your best strategy is awareness, action and adaptability.
Don’t wait to see what changes.
Take the initiative to review your security posture now. That way, whether your current stack evolves or gets replaced entirely, your business will remain secure, compliant, and ready for whatever comes next.
Contact us if you’d like to discuss your security posture. Our team works with both large and small organisations across the globe. More details can be found on our case study page. We’d be delighted to help you!
We are also offering a discount on our products for Hornet Security Customers!
