Microsoft Purview vs Proofpoint

March 12, 2025 | Author: Michael Stromann
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Microsoft Purview
Govern, protect, and manage all of your data with Microsoft Purview, comprehensive solutions to help give you better visibility and control.
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Proofpoint
Proofpoint allows to protect your people from advanced email attacks and identity-based threats, defend sensitive data from theft, loss and insider threats.
Microsoft Purview and Proofpoint are like two intergalactic bureaucrats trying to prevent highly classified memos from being intercepted by interstellar spies. Both are terribly concerned with compliance, security and making sure that humans don’t accidentally email their company’s deepest secrets to a cybercriminal posing as Dave from Accounting. They integrate with modern cloud environments, obsess over regulations and cater to enterprises and governments who, quite understandably, prefer their data not to be sprinkled across the dark corners of the universe.

Microsoft Purview, being part of the grand Microsoft empire, is less of a single product and more of a vast, sprawling ecosystem that quietly absorbs compliance and governance tasks while pretending it’s not watching you. It’s got AI that can classify data faster than you can say “privacy policy,” and it’s deeply embedded in Microsoft 365 like an enthusiastic houseguest who refuses to leave. Officially launched in 2022 as a grand rebranding effort, it hails from the same US-based company that brought you Windows updates at the least convenient times.

Proofpoint, on the other hand, is an entirely different beast—one that has been lurking in cyberspace since 2002, dedicated to sniffing out phishing emails and stopping bad actors from ruining everyone’s day. It doesn’t care if you’re in the Microsoft ecosystem, Google or some obscure on-premise setup from the dawn of IT civilization—it just wants to protect you. Heavily focused on email security and threat intelligence, it’s like that one paranoid friend who always assumes someone is out to get you… and is usually right.

See also: Top 10 DLP software
Author: Michael Stromann
Michael is an expert in IT Service Management, IT Security and software development. With his extensive experience as a software developer and active involvement in multiple ERP implementation projects, Michael brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his writings. Having previously worked at SAP, he has honed his expertise and gained a deep understanding of software development and implementation processes. Currently, as a freelance developer, Michael continues to contribute to the IT community by sharing his insights through guest articles published on several IT portals. You can contact Michael by email [email protected]