Suped

Cloudflare vs Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense

Choose Cloudflare for robust general web security with DMARC, or Proofpoint for dedicated email fraud defense.
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Compare product functionality

Feature set

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Cloudflare's DMARC Management is a newer addition to their comprehensive suite of internet security and performance tools. It integrates DMARC reporting and enforcement directly into their ecosystem, leveraging their extensive network and existing DNS infrastructure. This means DMARC becomes another layer within a broader security strategy, benefiting from Cloudflare's global reach and real-time threat intelligence.
We found that its strength lies in consolidating security services. For organizations already using Cloudflare for DNS, WAF, or CDN, adding DMARC feels like a natural extension. It aims to simplify the DMARC journey by providing a unified platform for managing email authentication alongside other web properties, offering capabilities like automated DMARC record creation and monitoring, although specific advanced DMARC-centric features may still be evolving as it progresses from beta.
Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense (EFD) is a dedicated solution focused purely on email authentication and preventing email fraud. Its feature set is purpose-built to streamline DMARC deployment, protect against domain and lookalike domain spoofing, and provide visibility into supplier risk. Proofpoint emphasizes a hands-on approach with dedicated consultants and guided workflows, which is particularly beneficial for complex DMARC implementations.
We experienced EFD's depth in email-specific security. It includes hosted authentication services for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, addressing common challenges like DNS lookup limits and key management. The product also integrates with Proofpoint's secure email gateway for enforcing DMARC on inbound traffic and offers a Virtual Takedown Service for malicious lookalikes, highlighting its specialized focus on comprehensive email fraud prevention.
How easy is each product to use

User experience

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Cloudflare's dashboard is generally known for its intuitive design, especially for users already familiar with their other services. The DMARC management features, while in beta, are integrated into this familiar interface. For those already managing DNS and other web security settings within Cloudflare, the DMARC setup process feels like adding another configuration to an existing domain. We found it straightforward for basic DMARC deployment, leveraging their existing domain management tools.
However, for users new to Cloudflare or DMARC, the breadth of options within the larger Cloudflare platform can sometimes be overwhelming. While core DMARC functionalities are accessible, understanding how they interact with other Cloudflare services might require a slight learning curve. The goal is a unified experience, but that also means navigating a more extensive system compared to a standalone DMARC tool.
Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense is designed with a specific focus on DMARC and email security, which can lead to a more direct and less cluttered user experience for email-centric tasks. The product emphasizes guided workflows and dedicated support, which can significantly simplify the often complex process of DMARC implementation and policy enforcement. We observed that this hands-on approach aims to reduce the burden on internal IT teams.
The G2 reviews suggest that while the core functionality for filtering and protecting against email fraud is strong, the UI might not always be the most intuitive or interactive, with one reviewer noting, 'The UI can be a bit more intuitive if it was up to me.' This suggests that while the functionality is robust, there might be areas where the dashboard could be streamlined for quicker navigation and easier interpretation of data for everyday users.
Which product has the best support

Support

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Cloudflare's support often receives mixed reviews, particularly for users on free or lower-tier plans. While extensive documentation and a strong community forum are available, direct technical support response times for free-tier users can be slow. Several G2 reviews highlight this, with comments like 'Horrible Support' and 'Support very unresponsive,' often citing issues with support not fully understanding the problem or delayed responses.
For enterprise-level Cloudflare customers, the support experience generally improves, offering more dedicated channels and quicker assistance. However, for DMARC Management, which is currently in beta, the support availability and responsiveness might still be in development. Our experience indicates that self-service and community resources are prominent, requiring users to be proactive in finding solutions unless on a premium plan.
Proofpoint is known for its enterprise-focused solutions, and their support model reflects this. They often provide dedicated consultants and professional services to guide organizations through complex deployments, especially for DMARC. This high-touch approach is a significant benefit when dealing with the intricacies of email authentication policies and infrastructure changes. One G2 reviewer stated, 'Having a professional team driving it is great.'
However, some G2 reviews indicate that despite the high-quality support, responsiveness can sometimes be an issue. A reviewer mentioned, 'Their support is not responsive we need to follow up at least 2-3 times to get a single reply.' Another noted that it can be 'hard to find time on their busy schedule.' This suggests that while expertise is available, accessing it might sometimes require persistence, aligning with an enterprise-level, scheduled support model rather than instant access.
Who should use each product

Suitability

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Cloudflare is highly suitable for organizations of all sizes already leveraging their broader suite of services for web security and performance. For small to medium businesses (SMBs) and even some Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who need an integrated solution, Cloudflare's DMARC Management offers convenience and cost-effectiveness by consolidating vendors. Enterprises using Cloudflare extensively will find DMARC as a logical extension of their existing infrastructure.
We see Cloudflare as a strong choice for those prioritizing a unified security stack, especially if DMARC is part of a larger strategy to protect web assets. Its generous free tier and ease of setup make it accessible for SMBs, while its scalability and extensive feature set (beyond DMARC) cater to enterprise needs. For MSPs, managing multiple client domains within a single Cloudflare dashboard could be an attractive proposition, streamlining security operations.
Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense is primarily best suited for larger enterprises and organizations with complex email ecosystems that require a deep, specialized focus on email security and fraud prevention. It is particularly strong for businesses in highly regulated industries or those frequently targeted by email-based attacks. MSPs managing security for enterprise clients may find value in its robust, expert-guided deployment and management capabilities.
For SMBs, Proofpoint's extensive feature set and dedicated consultancy model might be an overkill or financially prohibitive compared to simpler solutions. Its strength lies in providing comprehensive protection against sophisticated phishing, spoofing, and lookalike domain threats, making it an ideal choice for enterprise-level organizations that need a proven, high-assurance email security platform that includes DMARC enforcement.

How does Cloudflare compare with Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?

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DMARC report analysis
Source detection
Forward detection
Spoof detection
Notifications and alerts
Reporting
API
Multi-tenancy
SPF flattening
Hosted DMARC
BIMI
MTA-STS/TLS-RPT
Blocklists and reputation
AI copilot
DNS monitoring
Self hostable
Free trial/free tier

Drawbacks and what to watch out for

Cloudflare's primary drawback often centers around its customer support for non-enterprise tiers, as highlighted in numerous reviews, particularly when issues become complex or involve billing discrepancies. For Proofpoint, a common concern among users is the perception of over-filtering or too much filtering, occasionally catching legitimate emails, alongside a user interface that some find less intuitive.
We have pulled the average ratings from G2 for each product, and also included the most recent negative reviews for each product in full. Positive reviews tend to have less detail and have a higher chance of being fraudulent, so negative reviews are a better signal for your decision.
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Horrible Support and Billing - They run with your money and don't care to get billing correct
What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Ease of deployment, dashboard and configurations for the WAF, Cache, and other features are top tier with ease, settings, and logging. Just don't have an issue with them or you're on your own. Also, don't keep a credit card on file or they'll bill you for their mistakes. What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Customer support and billing. Their support does not read what you have to say but rather comes in with their own interpretation of what has happened and forces their views on your issue rather than trying to understand exactly what is happening. On two occassions in the last few months I have had this happen when I encountered an issue with the core product and their billing. The billing should be detailed further as it is sketchy business practices. Back in April they changed their billing software and charged me incorrectly for a month as it included the previous month as well (which I already paid). I brought this to their attention and the billing support assured me that it was not a problem. Come last week, they limited my account as I "had unpaid biling" so I contacted them again and brought attention to this wrong invoice that they never corrected. Come yesterday, they just charged my credit card on file without my authorization or explanination of what is going on. I've replied to the open ticket and created a new ticket and no one is answering. I don't want to be a drama case but this is ridiculous to have been charged something from months ago and not be given an explanation. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? Improve the security and performance of our websites/applications. Their configurable/customizable WAF, CDN/Caching, bot mitigation, and DDoS protection accomplish this for our websites/applications.
Jim M.
Owner Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Overkill
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? Great filters for junk and spam. Easy widgets in email notifications to release legit email that is not spam What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? Too much filtering. At times, overkill. Filters out legitimate emails. What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you? Protect network from illicit email spoofing. Employees that are non tech savvy that click on fishing emails.
Verified User in Food & Beverages
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
Support very unresponsive. Not understanding P1 urgency. Delayed project 3 whole days.
What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? The website is intuitive, implementation steps are straightforward. It has numerous features, and they are indeed needed by a web app. What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? If your implementation goes well, it's fine. However, if you are in trouble, the support doc is useless. You pay for the pro plan to try to get some technician support. No one cares about your business or service, even if you identify it as a P1 urgency. My project was down and could not get anyone to help me when I identified it as a high-impact ticket. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? The ticket support system is horrible. No technicians provide you with timely manner answers and support. Not worth the price.
Andrew Z.
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Not sure if it's worth the hassle
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? I do like that it auto scans my emails and sorts out the scam/fraudulent ones. What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? I greatly dislike having to wait for the flagged emails, that are actually not fraudulent, but something that I am looking for. It does not send me the alert until the next day, and then once its been released and approved, it ends up taking another 10 minutes or so (Max) to get to me. What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you? I am getting significantly fewer fraudulent/scam emails
Verified User in Construction
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
WAF is good, but so many half baked side features
What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? The WAF is pretty industry standard. Its not too slow, gets regular updates, easy to deploy and cheap What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? The side features are just trash. Its clear they have been shipped and dropped. Cloudflare Bot Detection should not exist. Its not even funny how easy it is to bypass. Page Shield is a joke, their API security is a joke. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? OWASP top 10
Verified User in Computer Software
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
Email Protection by Proofpoint Fraud Defence
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? This product provides email protection for both Inbound and outbound emails from all the domains which help in securing the mailboxes. This adds the advantage of the analytics features alike continuously shows the volume of mails as phishing /secures messages. What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? Like other proofpoint products this also has implementing and configuring problems as they are not easy to configure in the organization environment. Recommendations to others considering Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense: This product offers you great security over emails and customers can leverage the support and different product portfolio they offer. What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you? We are securing our emails from phising mails /messages for all the domains and for both inbound outbound messages.
Anjali V.
Cyber Security Analyst Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
Love the product- support could use some work
What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Super easy to use. Very developer friendly. Tons of value for price. Undoubtedly #1 in WAF. What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Could use some better support. No direct channels for tech questions. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? It's providing great security for our web app.
Verified User in Computer Software
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
Reliable tool for spam emails!
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? It's a great reliable tool and keep your inbox more secure and spam free. As a security measure this is great tool which prevents from any fraudulent emails and send alerts as necessary. I am currently using at my company and find all the spam emails being avoided. We usually receives too many on our generic email alias and this help in securing. What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? It's a great tool, though I find the use of it a very little. Only being capable of avoiding spam emails. Also the dashboard is not much interactive Recommendations to others considering Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense: It was always better to have precaution than being penalized by unwanted threat. It's always good to be more secure and spam free and take preventive steps towards running your business securely. What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you? We consider our emails to be safe and spam free. And probably easy to set up
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
Don't Pay for Support
What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? In general, cloudflare is really easy to navigate, especially for simple DNS and domain management. Unless you have a complicated setup, I find it easy enough to move a domain or simply manage DNS for most sites. What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Their support is terrible. Had an issue with a client's DNS and the person I was talking to clearly didn't have a clue what they were talking about. They took so long between answers, it seemed like they were just asking someone else. Ultimately, they were of no help and we were out the money we paid to have live support. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? Makes DNS and Security easy for most websites and domains.
Verified User in Marketing and Advertising
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
We use it as our Email Proxy.
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? Ability to filter by most likely spam emails. We also have the ability to open up domains. What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense? The UI can be a bit more intuitive if it was up to me. Recommendations to others considering Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense: I would recommend for the ease of use and security features offered. What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you? Fraud emails and Spam emails for our Enterprise account.
Verified User in Computer & Network Security
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

Pricing

Cloudflare offers its DMARC Management in a free beta, while Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense requires contacting sales for pricing, indicating it targets enterprise budgets.
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Small
Free (Beta)
Contact for pricing
Medium
Free (Beta)
Contact for pricing
Large
Free (Beta)
Contact for pricing
Enterprise
Contact sales
Contact for pricing

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Still not satisfied with Cloudflare or Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
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Suped double trouble

What makes Suped different

Automated sender discovery that finds shadow IT and third-party services
DMARC copilot that pinpoints failures and prescribes the exact fix
Guided path to full p=reject enforcement, safely and quickly
Proactive alerts to prevent misconfigurations before they block your mail
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Frequently asked questions