Proofpoint Acquires Acuvity: A New Era in AI Security and Governance
In a significant move within the cybersecurity landscape, Proofpoint, Inc. has announced its acquisition of Acuvity, a pioneer in AI enterprise security and governance. This strategic acquisition positions Proofpoint as the first comprehensive cybersecurity platform to address the complexities of protecting the agentic workspace, where humans and AI collaborate seamlessly.
Enhancing Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
As generative AI transforms work processes across various sectors, organizations are increasingly integrating AI copilots, autonomous agents, and model-connected applications. While these innovations drive productivity, they also introduce new risks, such as shadow AI, sensitive data exposure, and sophisticated AI-specific attacks like prompt injection and model manipulation.
With the integration of Acuvity’s capabilities, Proofpoint aims to deliver comprehensive visibility, governance, and control across the agentic workspace. This workspace is characterized by collaboration between humans and AI agents, a dynamic that requires a new level of security and oversight.
Key Features of the Acuvity Acquisition
Acuvity enhances the Proofpoint platform by introducing:
- AI-native security capabilities that allow enterprises to confidently adopt generative AI without compromising security and compliance.
- A unified platform that secures people, data, and AI through integrated governance and visibility.
- New control points and detection models tailored for the AI era, ensuring comprehensive security across all dimensions of AI usage.
Collaboration and Data Security
Through this acquisition, Proofpoint strengthens its leadership among CISOs and CIOs, offering an integrated portfolio that includes:
- Collaboration Security: Protecting individuals from human-centric threats.
- Data Security and Governance: Safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring it is accessible only to authorized users.
- AI Security: Governing enterprise AI usage and protecting custom AI models and applications.
The Future of Work in an AI-Driven World
As AI becomes an integral part of the workplace, the need for a robust security framework is paramount. Ryan Kalember, Chief Strategy Officer at Proofpoint, emphasizes that “AI agents are becoming active participants in the enterprise.” This necessitates an understanding of human intent and agentic behavior to manage risks effectively.
Satyam Sinha, co-founder and CEO of Acuvity, notes, “Securing that future requires a new approach — one that governs how AI thinks, acts, and learns in real time.” With Acuvity’s capabilities, Proofpoint is set to enhance its portfolio, enabling secure interactions between humans and AI agents, while fostering confidence in AI adoption.
About Proofpoint and Acuvity
Proofpoint, Inc. is recognized as a global leader in human- and agent-centric cybersecurity, protecting how people, data, and AI agents connect across various platforms. With a trusted partnership network that includes over 80 of the Fortune 100, Proofpoint aims to stop threats and prevent data loss effectively.
Acuvity, on the other hand, is designed as the AI security and governance platform for enterprises. It specializes in runtime inspection and enforcement, ensuring organizations can operate AI safely at scale.
As AI continues to reshape the business landscape, the integration of Proofpoint and Acuvity signifies a pivotal step in securing the future of work.
