Proofpoint lines up $6.3 billion deal for Varonis’ data security

Cybersecurity giant Proofpoint says it will acquire a similarly long-running company, Varonis, in an all-cash transaction worth $6.3 billion.

“The combined company will serve more than 16,000 enterprises and millions of organizations globally, creating one of the world’s leading pure-play cybersecurity companies and establishing the industry's largest data and AI cybersecurity organization,” Proofpoint said in announcing the deal on Thursday.

Miami-based Varonis, founded in 2005, focuses on data visibility and security. The footprint for California-headquartered Proofpoint, founded in 2002, traditionally includes email security and identity threat defense.

AI figured prominently in Thursday’s announcement. The goal is to create a platform that “helps organizations adopt AI with confidence: finding and protecting sensitive data, controlling what people and AI can access, and stopping data loss.”

Both companies are known for their cybersecurity research. 

Varonis researchers recently got headlines for a report in which they manipulated Microsoft’s AI assistant Copilot Personal into explaining how to hack itself.

Proofpoint analysts published research earlier this month about a high-level, apparently China-backed phishing campaign geared toward espionage.