Proofpoint is set to acquire messaging security and threat intelligence vendor Cloudmark for $110m.
With visibility spanning ISPs and mobile carriers, Cloudmark correlates email threat telemetry data from billions of daily emails into its Global Threat Network, including intelligence derived from malware campaigns and targeted attacks.
As part of the acquisition, Cloudmark's Global Threat Network will be incorporated into Proofpoint's Nexus platform, and will complement Proofpoint's Email Fraud Defense and Domain Defense products. The acquisition will also provide visibility into fraudulent and malicious SMS messages.
"Messaging has been the number one threat vector for years, but with ransomware and BEC, it's never been a more urgent issue," said Jason Donahue, chief executive officer of Cloudmark. "We're thrilled to be continuing our work to fight advanced threats in messaging as part of Proofpoint."
Gary Steele, chief executive officer of Proofpoint, said: “By combining the threat intelligence from Cloudmark with the Proofpoint Nexus platform, we can better protect all of our customers - both enterprises and ISPs - from today's rapidly evolving threats."
In an email to Infosecurity, Scott Crawford, research drector for Information Security at 451 Research said that if there’s anyone that needs actionable threat intelligence applied to content, it’s an email and content security provider like Proofpoint.
“While we expect Proofpoint to sustain Cloudmark’s business, the integration of Cloudmark’s Global Threat Network with Proofpoint’s Nexus platform will enhance the broader Proofpoint portfolio with telemetry from Cloudmark’s substantial service provider and carrier customer base, giving Proofpoint considerable visibility across many of the networks that connect enterprises as well as individuals worldwide. Proofpoint has been building out a more comprehensive portfolio in recent years – this move gives it a much wider range of intelligence from global service providers.”