If you're coming to Protect 2026, make time for the Discovery Labs.
This year's labs offer more ways than ever to get hands-on. Attendees will have more seats, less waiting, 13 technical labs to explore, expanded self-paced stations, the return of instructor-led sessions, new AI-focused scenarios, and exclusive rewards for participating.
That means more chances to get hands-on with the Proofpoint Human-Centric Security platform, more flexibility to learn on your own schedule, and more opportunities to walk away with practical skills you can bring back to your organization.
And this year, there's something extra to chase.
Attendees will earn a Discovery Labs pin just for participating. Complete five labs, and you'll earn a milestone pin. Complete 10, and you'll unlock another. Complete all 13 labs, and you'll earn the Protect Discovery Labs Challenge Coin.
Whether you want to go deep with a Proofpoint expert, explore at your own pace, collect every reward, or challenge yourself to complete all 13 labs, this year's Discovery Labs offer more ways to learn—and have some fun along the way.
Built from customer demand
The Discovery Labs started in 2023 as hands-on experiences at Proofpoint field events. The idea was simple: give customers a way to experience Proofpoint technology instead of just hearing about it.
In 2024, we brought Discovery Labs to Protect for the first time through instructor-led sessions. In 2025, we moved to a self-paced model to give more attendees access and flexibility during a busy conference schedule.
Now, for Protect 2026, we're bringing the best of both models together.
Learn your way
This year, Discovery Labs will include expanded self-paced labs and instructor-led sessions.
The self-paced labs give you flexibility. You can stop by between sessions, choose the topics most relevant to you, move at your own speed, and complete as many labs as your schedule allows.
The instructor-led sessions are designed for attendees who want a deeper, guided experience. You'll work through hands-on scenarios with Proofpoint experts, ask questions in real time, hear practical implementation insights, and explore how the technology applies to real-world security challenges.
Some people learn best by exploring independently. Others want the conversation and context that come from an expert-led session. This year, you don't have to choose. You can do both.
More seats. Less waiting. More time learning
One of the biggest priorities for 2026 is making the labs easier to access.
We know the Discovery Labs have become a busy area at Protect. In past years, demand has been high, seats have filled quickly, and attendees have had to plan carefully to fit labs into their schedules.
This year, we're expanding capacity so more people can participate. With more self-paced stations and the return of instructor-led sessions, attendees will have more opportunities throughout the conference to get hands-on without spending as much time waiting.
That means more time exploring the platform, more chances to complete multiple labs, and more flexibility to build the lab experience around your schedule.
Choose from 13 hands-on labs
Protect 2026 will feature 13 Discovery Labs spanning three tracks across the Proofpoint Human-Centric Security platform. Whether you want to sharpen your threat protection skills, strengthen data security, or explore AI security, you can choose the labs most relevant to you.
Threat protection
- Operation Riptide: Eradicating Inbox Threats with API Defense
- Operation First Wave: Modernizing Pre-Delivery Email Defense for the AI Era
- Spoof Safari: Hunt Down a Brand Impersonation Threat
- AI Email Safari: Securing Application-Generated Email in the Wild
- Operation Break Point: Reducing Human Risk Across the Attack Lifecycle
Data security
- Transform Your DLP Program for the Age of AI
- Discover, Classify, and Remediate Your Data with DSPM and Data Access Governance
- Modernizing Email Data Protection for the AI Era
- From Suspicion to Evidence: A Digital Communications Investigation
- Inside the Insider: Investigating User Motive and Risk
- Avoid the "50-Year Storm" Wave by Securely Adopting AI
AI security
- Proofpoint AI Security: No Unsanctioned AI, No Stolen Resin
- AI Security Gateway: Enterprise Agentic Visibility and Enforcement
Each lab is built around realistic scenarios that reflect the challenges security teams face every day. You won't just click through features. You'll investigate, configure, analyze, protect, and respond.
AI is also woven throughout the experience. Rather than treating it as a standalone topic, the labs show how AI intersects with email security, data protection, governance, and threat defense in real-world scenarios.
Collect the pins. Earn the coin
This year, we're adding exclusive rewards to the Discovery Labs experience.
Attendees will receive a Discovery Labs pin for participating. Complete five labs, and you'll earn a milestone pin. Complete 10 labs, and you'll unlock another. Complete all 13 labs, and you'll earn the Protect Discovery Labs Challenge Coin.
It's a little friendly competition, but it's also a celebration of curiosity. The more labs you complete, the more of the platform you'll experience—and the more practical knowledge you'll take home.
Don't miss the labs
The Discovery Labs have evolved every year based on attendee interest in hands-on learning. What started as a field event experiment has become an established part of the Protect experience.
This year brings together more labs, more seats, more AI, more ways to learn, and more rewards—all with more opportunities to walk away with practical skills you can bring back to your organization.
So, when you're building your Proofpoint Protect 2026 schedule, don't leave the labs for "if there's time."
Make time.
We'll see you in the Discovery Labs.