By PYMNTS | October 15, 2026
Proofpoint plans to acquire Varonis Systems for $6.3 billion to create what it said will be the largest data and artificial intelligence (AI) cybersecurity organization and a leading pure-play cybersecurity company.
Proofpoint, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, is a provider of human and agent cybersecurity, while Varonis offers data and AI security, Proofpoint said in a Thursday (Oct. 15) press release.
Once combined, the companies will deliver a security platform that protects against AI-accelerated threats and data risks. Proofpoint intends to deliver a combined platform that will help organizations find and protect sensitive data, control what people and AI can access, and stop data loss, according to the release.
The combined company will serve 16,000 enterprises and millions of other organizations around the world, the release said.
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Proofpoint and Varonis entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition, and the companies expect the transaction to close in the first half of 2027, subject to customary closing conditions. Until then, they will continue to operate as independent companies, per the release.
Proofpoint CEO Sumit Dhawan said in the release that the acquisition comes at a time when AI is becoming embedded across enterprises and AI agents are accessing sensitive information and taking action across systems.
“By connecting communications, identities, permissions, data and AI, we are creating an intelligence advantage that helps customers see risk more clearly, respond faster and defend against the next generation of AI risks,” Dhawan said.
In his own blog post about the planned acquisition, Varonis Co-Founder and CEO Yaki Faitelson told Varonis customers: “Over time, joining forces with Proofpoint means we can move faster on the problems that matter most for you: protecting your data, your AI environments and the collaboration tools your teams use every day. For security leaders, that means fewer vendors and a partner with even greater resources behind it.”
This planned acquisition follows two others Proofpoint has made over the past 18 months.
Proofpoint announced in May 2025 that it planned to acquire Hornetsecurity Group to enhance its ability to provide human-centric security to small- to medium-sized businesses around the world through managed service providers. The company completed that acquisition in December 2025.
In February, Proofpoint said it acquired Acuvity to add agentic workspace protection to its cybersecurity platform.