The email security specialist, owned by Thoma Bravo, is acquiring Varonis in an all-cash deal to address a new risk: AI agents accessing sensitive corporate data.
Proofpoint, owned by the Thoma Bravo fund, announced on October 15 the acquisition of Varonis Systems for $6.3 billion, paid entirely in cash. Completion is expected in the first half of 2027, subject to the green light from shareholders and regulatory authorities.
The AI agent, the new "insider"
The two companies complement each other: Proofpoint is built on the protection of people (messaging, phishing, fraud), Varonis on data visibility and security. The takeover is presented as a response to a double pressure of the AI era: attackers who industrialize their campaigns thanks to generative models, and internal AI agents who manipulate sensitive information, creating a new form of insider threat. For Sumit Dhawan, CEO of Proofpoint, protecting data from compromise or misuse, whether by humans or agents, has become the top priority.
Proofpoint claims 3.4 million customers, 2,370 billion emails analyzed each year and more than 13,000 sensors in 105 countries. Yaki Faitelson, co-founder and CEO of Varonis, joins the group.
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