Proofpoint is on the verge of acquiring Normalyze to strengthen its data security offerings in the ever-evolving cloud environments. This strategic acquisition, slated to be finalized in November, will bolster Proofpoint’s human-centric platform by incorporating Normalyze’s cutting-edge AI-powered tools for data discovery, classification, and risk management.
The integration of Normalyze’s capabilities comes at a crucial time when concerns about human-related risks in data handling across multi-cloud, SaaS, and hybrid environments are on the rise, particularly with the rapid adoption of cloud technologies.
In today’s data-driven landscape, safeguarding sensitive information within expansive cloud environments is of utmost importance. Proofpoint’s acquisition of Normalyze enables the company to expand its security measures, focusing specifically on the impact of human errors as significant risk factors in data security.
Normalyze’s Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) tools offer advanced visibility, helping identify sensitive data and assess risks effectively. This enhanced visibility is particularly vital in cloud and SaaS systems where traditional security models may fall short.
Mayank Choudhary, EVP of Data Security at Proofpoint, emphasized the significance of addressing human behavior-induced risks in modern applications. With the evolving nature of applications driven by small teams of developers working independently, data proliferation has become a major challenge, complicating data management for security teams. By leveraging Normalyze’s technology, Proofpoint aims to strengthen data security for its clients with a human-centric approach.
Recently, Normalyze was recognized as a Cool Vendor in the “2024 Gartner Cool Vendors™ in Data Security” for its innovative approach to securing data pipelines associated with Large Language Models (LLMs), catering to the unique risks posed by AI-driven environments such as ChatGPT, Microsoft 365 CoPilot, and Amazon Bedrock.
Normalyze’s AI-driven tools facilitate streamlined data discovery and classification, crucial in environments spanning on-premises, cloud, and hybrid platforms. The agentless scanning technology ensures rapid detection without adding security overhead, offering real-time insights for governance and regulatory compliance support.
Ravi Ithal, CTO and co-founder of Normalyze, highlighted the importance of streamlined data management tools and emphasized the alignment of Normalyze’s mission with Proofpoint’s vision. By joining forces, the organizations aim to empower businesses to enhance their data security posture, mitigating the risk of data breaches stemming from human errors and prioritizing data loss threats.
One of the key features of Normalyze’s DSPM technology is its risk assessment capabilities, notably through DataValuator™. This tool provides visibility into data vulnerabilities by assigning monetary values and identifying access points that could potentially lead to breaches. By enabling security teams to prioritize risks based on impact, the tool enhances operational efficiency by directing resources towards critical threats.
As companies increasingly adopt AI and generative tools, stringent security controls are often bypassed for the sake of speed and innovation. Normalyze’s DSPM platform becomes essential in addressing these challenges, particularly in the realm of cloud-native applications, by facilitating collaboration between data and security teams and identifying over-permissioned access and potential attack paths through features like Data Risk Navigator and Data Access Graph.
Proofpoint anticipates that the acquisition of Normalyze will assist customers in addressing security gaps and managing risks associated with high-value, sensitive data that may be overlooked amid rapid innovation and cloud complexity.