Proofpoint vs. Symantec
Proofpoint vs. Symantec
Proofpoint vs. Symantec

Threat actors target Symantec Email Security

Switch to Proofpoint to get ahead of email threats for good

Overview

Stagnant innovation and shrinking support

Once a trusted name, Symantec Email Security.cloud (formerly MessageLabs) has steadily declined since its 2019 acquisition by Broadcom. By shifting R&D and support to focus narrowly on a handful of strategic accounts, Broadcom left many long-standing customers behind. The result has been sweeping cost cuts, including layoffs impacting roughly 7% of the global workforce and the closure of multiple facilities. (MarketWatch, TechTarget, ARN)

The industry and Symantec customers have taken note: 

How Symantec stacks up against Proofpoint

Falling behind on detection efficacy

Symantec Email Security.cloud has not kept pace with innovation in email threat detection. Customers report stagnant product development, limited AI investment, and gaps in protection against advanced threats, such as business email compromise (BEC) and credential phishing.

Proofpoint has delivered breakthrough innovations in Nexus AI, combining:

  • Machine learning models that classify billions of daily messages
  • Language models that understand intent and spot social engineering
  • Relationship graphs that track trusted sender–recipient patterns
  • Optical character recognition (OCR) and content analysis to uncover QR code phishing, image-based lures and malicious attachments
  • Global threat intelligence curated by our researchers

This multilayered stack delivers 99.99% detection efficacy with one of the lowest false positive rates in the industry.

A heavy lift for security teams

Symantec workflows force analysts into manual triage, repetitive searches and limited reporting capabilities. User-reported emails often pile up in inboxes, requiring hours of manual investigation, and critical alerts are buried in noise—slowing time to detect and respond.

Proofpoint streamlines the analyst experience, reducing typical investigation click paths from 12+ down to just 3–4. With automated abuse mailbox handling, user-reported messages are automatically correlated with known threats, cutting remediation times by up to 70%. This gives you enriched context, prioritized insights and timelines that turn hours of work into minutes.

Falling out of trust and relevance

Symantec email security platform has declined in both customer trust and industry recognition. The product is absent from the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Email Security Platforms and the 2025 Forrester Wave for Email, Messaging, and Collaboration Security Solutions, reflecting reduced investment and innovation under Broadcom. Customers increasingly cite detection misses, service outages and poor support experiences as reasons for leaving.

Proofpoint is trusted by 83% of the Fortune 100 and more than 2.7 million organizations worldwide. Recognized by analysts for leadership and innovation, Proofpoint continues to invest heavily in AI, automation and analyst efficiency. This means you gain a partner with a clear roadmap and a proven track record of keeping pace with an ever-changing threat landscape.

Why Proofpoint

Proofpoint vs. Symantec Email Security.cloud at a glance:

Capabilities Proofpoint Symantec Email Security.cloud
AI-powered detection for BEC and phishing
Yes
No
Real-time global threat intelligence
Yes
No
Behavioral anomaly detection
Yes
No
Adaptive threat detection
Yes
No
URL and attachment protection
Yes
No
Account takeover protection
Yes
No
SOC analyst efficiency
Yes
No
Support experience
Yes
No
R&D investment and analyst recognition
Yes
No

Smooth, low-risk migration from Symantec

Proofpoint has helped thousands of organizations replace outdated SEG tools such as Symantec Email Security.cloud with modern, flexible protection.

Our proven 5-step migration framework ensures a smooth transition:

1. Assess your current SEG and Microsoft 365 security coverage

2. Identify key protection gaps and operational pain points

3. Select your Proofpoint deployment model (SEG, API, hybrid)

4. Pilot and tune with coexistence support

5. Cut over confidently, supported by our global team of migration experts

Don’t settle for outdated email security

Legacy tools such as Symantec Email Security.cloud can no longer keep up with today’s threats or operational demands. Proofpoint delivers superior detection, smarter workflows and flexible deployment—backed by the trust of 83% of the Fortune 100.

Ready to make the switch?

See why leading enterprises are moving to Proofpoint.

 

Resources

Related resources

 

Blog

From Panic to Protection: A Smarter Way to Replace Your Symantec SEG

Solution Brief

Core Email Protection

Analyst Report

Proofpoint Named a Leader in 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Email Security Platforms

Solution Brief

Moving from a Legacy Email Gateway to Proofpoint: Guide