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MailGuard · comparison

Proofpoint and Conbool — side by side.

If you're looking for an email security platform hosted in the EU and billed by module, it's worth looking at the differences from the global Proofpoint suite. This page compares publicly verifiable points — as of May 2026.

Request a demoMailGuard in detailUpdated: May 2026

In three sentences

What matters.

Proofpoint is an established global email security vendor with a broad feature scope from SEG through insider threat to awareness training. Conbool MailGuard is a German alternative with EU hosting and modular licensing per feature. Which fits depends on the breadth you need, licensing granularity and your hosting requirement.

The five most common questions, side by side.

Every statement about Proofpoint links to a public source. Every Conbool claim is verifiable in a demo.

Where is my data hosted?

Conbool MailGuard

Exclusively in EU data centres on ISO 27001-certified infrastructure. Contract party and data processor is Conbool GmbH in Germany. On request, the data location is named in your DPA.

ProofpointProofpoint Email Protection

According to Proofpoint's Trust Center, Proofpoint operates several global cloud regions, including locations in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. Which region is active for your tenant is governed by the contract.

Source: proofpoint.com — Trust Center / Data Centers. Please confirm the active region with the vendor.

Why it matters: For GDPR records of processing, NIS-2 risk assessments and KRITIS requirements the concrete data location has to be documented.

How is licensing structured?

Conbool MailGuard

Modular per feature. You book phishing protection, BEC protection, attachment sandbox, DLP and audit log individually or as a bundle. Term monthly or yearly, no multi-year minimum.

ProofpointProofpoint Email Protection

Proofpoint bundles features in bundles or editions (e.g. P0, P1, P2, P3). What is included and which terms apply is governed by the current offer.

Source: proofpoint.com — Email Protection and bundle overview. Pricing and terms are negotiated by Proofpoint sales.

Why it matters: If you don't need all bundle features or want a shorter commitment, the model directly drives total cost of ownership.

What protection features are included by default?

Conbool MailGuard

In the standard tier: spam and phishing detection, BEC protection with behavioural analysis, attachment sandbox, URL rewriting, DLP with DACH detectors, audit log. Each feature is configurable per tenant in the admin portal.

ProofpointProofpoint Email Protection

Proofpoint covers the same functional categories — anti-phishing, BEC (NexusAI), attachment sandbox (Targeted Attack Protection), URL protection and DLP. Which details are available depends on the bundle.

Source: proofpoint.com — Email Protection and Targeted Attack Protection product pages.

Why it matters: Both solutions cover the standard SEG features. The difference is licensing granularity, hosting and DACH detectors — not the feature list.

Which DACH-specific features does the solution offer?

Conbool MailGuard

DLP detectors with DACH focus: German IBAN with checksum, VAT IDs (DE, AT, CH-UID), AHV number, German tax ID, social security number. Custom detectors via regex and lookup lists per tenant.

ProofpointProofpoint Email Protection

Proofpoint offers a large library of predefined DLP detectors for global and regional identifiers. Which DACH detectors are concretely covered is governed by the current detector library.

Source: proofpoint.com — Information Protection / Email DLP documentation. Please check specific DACH detectors with the vendor.

Why it matters: If your compliance has to handle German or Austrian identifiers (VAT ID, AHV), predefined DACH detectors save custom regex work.

How quick is the migration?

Conbool MailGuard

MX switch under 30 minutes technically, default policies active immediately. Parallel operation with the existing Proofpoint gateway during migration is supported, mail flow can be cut over gradually.

ProofpointProofpoint Email Protection

Proofpoint uses, according to documentation, a guided onboarding with connector configuration, mail flow rules and anti-spoofing setup. The migration is documented as a structured process.

Source: proofpoint.com — Implementation Guide / Knowledge Base.

Why it matters: Migration duration and parallel operation are direct cost drivers in IT projects.

Migration checklist

What to watch for when migrating away from Proofpoint.

Replacing Proofpoint typically runs in six steps — with particular attention to migrating TAP and Email DLP policies and the Nexus AI configuration.

  1. 1. Review Proofpoint bundle, region and contract term

    Note the booked bundle (P0–P3 or Information Protection add-ons), the active tenant region and contract term. Proofpoint contracts are often multi-year — plan run-out or notice accordingly.

  2. 2. Export TAP and DLP policies

    From the Targeted Attack Protection module export URL Defense, Attachment Defense and forensics configurations. Email DLP rules are exported separately via the Information Protection dashboard.

  3. 3. Document Nexus AI detection learnings

    If you used Nexus AI training results (e.g. trained VAP lists), document these as a baseline. Conbool uses its own learning pipeline that we calibrate in parallel during the transition.

  4. 4. Switch MX records to Conbool

    Inbound MX points to Conbool, the outbound connector to Microsoft 365 or Exchange stays. Proofpoint can stay as secondary MX (higher Conbool priority) during the transition if you want a cautious cutover.

  5. 5. Replace non-SEG functions separately

    If you also used Proofpoint Information Protection, Insider Threat Management or Awareness, plan specialised partners for these functions. Conbool focuses on email security, not the full Proofpoint ecosystem.

  6. 6. Decommission the Proofpoint tenant

    After 30 days with no mail volume on Proofpoint and after migrating the reports you need, the tenant is deactivated. Archive the audit log and compliance reports. Cancel the contract on time.

This checklist covers the typical Email Protection migration. If Insider Threat Management or Cloud App Security are in use, we plan them separately in the consult.

Decision aid

When Conbool, when Proofpoint.

Conbool MailGuard fits when …

  • You need to document EU hosting and a German contract party as a requirement.
  • You only need individual modules instead of a broad bundle.
  • DACH DLP detectors (IBAN, VAT ID, AHV) matter in your standard.
  • You want to cancel monthly or yearly, no multi-year commitment.

Proofpoint fits when …

  • You need an established global platform with worldwide region choice.
  • You want a broad full package including insider threat, awareness and information protection.
  • Existing Proofpoint integrations (Nexus AI, TAP, SIEM hooks) already run in your environment.
  • You want to establish global, multi-year enterprise master agreements.

Matched to your setup

Conbool MailGuard by industry and use case.

E-Mail-Sicherheit für Banken

BaFin-konforme Schutzmaßnahmen für Phishing-, Spear-Phishing- und CEO-Fraud-Vektoren.

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E-Mail-Sicherheit für Versicherungen

Mehrschichtiger Schutz für Schadens- und Vertragsdokumente vor Datenabfluss und Phishing.

Learn more

Phishing-Schutz

BEC, Spear-Phishing und QR-Code-Phishing in Echtzeit erkennen und entfernen.

Learn more

Hornetsecurity-Alternative

Deutsche MailGuard-Alternative nach der Proofpoint-Übernahme.

Learn more

Phishing-Schutz

BEC, Spear-Phishing und QR-Code-Phishing erkennen und entfernen.

Learn more

Ransomware-Schutz E-Mail

Mehrstufige Anhang-Filter und URL-Reputation gegen Ransomware-Kampagnen.

Learn more

Spam-Filter Unternehmen

Spam und unerwünschte Massenmail mit DACH-Heuristiken filtern.

Learn more

CEO-Fraud-Schutz

BEC und CEO-Fraud-Attacken über Authentifizierungs-Layer abwehren.

Learn more

Also compared

Further Proofpoint alternatives and cross-comparisons.

Proofpoint is often weighed up against Mimecast, Microsoft Defender and Hornetsecurity. Here are the direct comparison pages.

Frequently asked

See Conbool MailGuard in your own setup.

30-minute demo. Modular per feature. Hosting in the EU.

Request a demoMailGuard in detail

Sources and fairness note

Statements about Proofpoint on this page rely exclusively on publicly accessible sources: Proofpoint Trust Center, Proofpoint product pages, Proofpoint Knowledge Base and Proofpoint documentation. Claims about internal processes, architecture details or roadmap items that are not publicly substantiated are avoided. Statements about Conbool rely on our product documentation, infrastructure certifications and contractual commitments.

As of May 2026. For your final decision we recommend you ask both vendors directly about the points relevant to you and get statements confirmed in writing.

Proofpoint is a registered trademark of Proofpoint Inc. or its group companies. Conbool is a trademark of Conbool GmbH. This page is an editorial comparison — not official Proofpoint material.