Overview
Proofpoint and Abnormal both offer API-based email security for Microsoft 365, but they take significantly different approaches. Abnormal focuses on post-delivery detection and remediation using behavioural AI. Proofpoint combines API-based email protection with multiple AI models, threat intelligence and connected controls to provide continuous protection that augments Microsoft 365's native security.
Abnormal detects anomalies with a behavioural AI-only approach, creating more false positives and extra work for administrators.
Proofpoint uses five independent AI models, including language processing, relationship graphs, computer vision, machine learning, and threat intelligence, to catch threats Abnormal misses.
Abnormal’s behavioural model-only approach does not adapt to emerging threats with the latest threat intelligence.
Proofpoint's multi-model behavioural AI scans 2.1 trillion emails, 19.5 trillion URLs, and 1.2 trillion attachments per year, and is trained on 9,000+ campaigns tracked by Proofpoint Threat Research.
Abnormal's recently announced AI Governance focuses on detecting and flagging risky AI activity for review, rather than enforcing preventive controls inline.
Proofpoint offers market-leading data security and AI security platforms, with inline runtime enforcement to halt risky AI activity as it happens.
| Capability | Abnormal Security | Proofpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Detection efficacy | Higher false positives due to exclusive use of behavioural AI. | Uses behavioural AI and threat intelligence to detect 99.999% of threats with a 1-in-19.7 million false positive rate. |
| Detection methodology | Relies primarily on behavioural AI and anomaly detection. Does not provide predictive sandboxing or detonate URLs or attachments. | Combines behavioural AI, semantic analysis, sandboxing, computer vision, and threat intelligence to detect phishing, BEC, malware, QR code attacks, and more. |
| BEC and social engineering | Uses behavioural AI to detect BEC and social engineering based on communication patterns. | Detects BEC using intent analysis, behavioural signals, relationship intelligence, and global threat intelligence. |
| Visibility and response scope | Focuses on email and messaging security, with immature DLP solutions. | Shows risk across inbound, internal, and outbound email, messaging, apps, and suppliers via Threat Interaction Maps, augmented with Microsoft XDR and CrowdStrike endpoint intelligence. |
| Deployment flexibility | API deployment only. Does not support gateway or continuous options. | Supports API, secure email gateway (SEG), and continuous protection through a unified management experience. |
| Threat intelligence scale | Protects about 30% of the Fortune 500 across approx. 5,000 customers. | Processes more than 2 trillion emails each year and tracks 100+ threat actor groups and 8,400+ campaigns across 2.7+ million organisations. |
| AI governance and security | Detects AI tools and agents, assigns risk scores, and flags risky behaviour for review, rather than enforcing prevention inline. | Provides visibility and runtime controls for AI tools and agents, including intent-based controls, inline enforcement, and MCP security. |
Run Proofpoint alongside Abnormal, compare detection results, and migrate when your team is ready.
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Both Proofpoint and Abnormal Security offer API-based email security for Microsoft 365, but they use different approaches. Abnormal relies on behavioural AI to detect and remediate threats after delivery. Proofpoint combines multilayered threat detection with global threat intelligence to stop phishing, malware, business email compromise (BEC), and other advanced email threats. Proofpoint also supports API, secure email gateway (SEG), and continuous protection deployment options.
Compare detection efficacy, false-positive rates, protection against phishing, malware and business email compromise (BEC), threat intelligence, URL defense, remediation, and deployment options. Also consider visibility and response across inbound, internal and outbound email, messaging, suppliers, applications, and AI agents, as well as integration with data security and insider threat capabilities.
API-based email security can provide fast deployment and work with Microsoft 365's native security. When comparing API-only and other approaches, consider detection quality, pre- and post-delivery protection, remediation, click-time URL defense, and coverage for phishing, malware, and business email compromise (BEC). Proofpoint supports API deployment as well as secure email gateway (SEG) and continuous protection options as security needs evolve.
Proofpoint uses behavioural AI and global threat intelligence to detect BEC. It looks at message intent, relationships, and other threat signals. Abnormal relies mainly on behavioural AI and communication patterns, which can lead to a higher rate of false positives and manual reviews.
Abnormal uses behavioural AI to detect changes in user sign-in, device, and email activity. Proofpoint adds global threat intelligence and machine learning to behavioural AI, giving teams a broader set of signals to detect, investigate, and automatically remediate account takeovers. Both platforms support automated response actions. Organisations comparing solutions should also compare the breadth of signals used to identify compromised accounts.
Abnormal AI Governance discovers AI tools and agents, assigns risk scores, and flags risky activity for review. Proofpoint adds inline runtime enforcement to stop risky activity as it happens. Proofpoint also uses intent-based controls to detect when AI agents act outside a user’s request and provides an MCP gateway to secure agent access to enterprise data.
Abnormal Security customers can migrate to Proofpoint in less than 48 hours using Proofpoint's Microsoft Graph API integration with Microsoft 365. Proofpoint also supports inline protection combined with API-based protection, enabling pre-delivery blocking and a continuous learning loop.