How do G Suite and Proofpoint compare for email gateway security?

Key findings

• Integrated vs. Specialized: G Suite provides email security as part of a broader platform, whereas Proofpoint is a dedicated email security solution designed for comprehensive threat protection.
• Postini Legacy: G Suite's email gateway functionality largely originates from its acquisition of Postini, giving it a solid foundation for email routing and filtering.
• Layering Solutions: It is possible to use both solutions, layering Proofpoint on top of G Suite for enhanced security, although this incurs additional costs.
• Spam Filtering: G Suite's spam filter is generally considered good, but its handling of marketing emails and potential for false positives can be a concern for some users, as discussed in the effectiveness of Gmail and G Suite spam filters.
• Advanced Threat Protection: Proofpoint is often chosen for its robust capabilities against advanced malware, zero-day attacks, and sophisticated phishing attempts.

Key considerations

• Cost Implications: Adding a dedicated email security gateway like Proofpoint to an existing G Suite environment will result in additional expenses.
• Customization and Visibility: G Suite is often perceived as a 'closed box' with limited customization and visibility into its underlying security mechanisms, unlike Proofpoint which offers more granular controls and reporting options. Tools like Google Postmaster Tools provide some visibility but are not a substitute for a full security gateway.
• False Positives: Organizations need to evaluate how each solution handles legitimate marketing or bulk emails to minimize false positives and ensure critical communications reach the inbox. More information can be found in comparisons by TrustRadius.
• Specific Threat Needs: The choice depends heavily on an organization's specific security posture, compliance requirements, and the sophistication of threats it anticipates.

Key opinions

• Marketing Email Concerns: A common apprehension is that G Suite's spam filter might aggressively quarantine legitimate marketing emails, leading to missed communications, which directly impacts email deliverability.
• Dual Delivery Testing: Some marketers use dual delivery setups to compare the two systems, noting instances where emails flagged as spam by Proofpoint still reach the inbox via G Suite.
• Cost vs. Features: While Proofpoint offers robust features, the additional cost of layering it on top of G Suite is a significant factor for many organizations.
• Advanced Threat Handling: There are questions about G Suite's standalone capability to handle advanced malware and zero-day attacks effectively compared to a specialized solution like Proofpoint.

Key considerations

• Balancing Security and Deliverability: The primary challenge for marketers is balancing aggressive spam filtering with the need to ensure legitimate emails are delivered. This impacts overall email deliverability rates.
• User Experience: The interface and management of quarantined emails are crucial for IT administrators and end-users alike.
• Value Proposition: Marketers need to assess whether the added security and features of Proofpoint justify the additional investment over G Suite's built-in protection, especially considering solutions mentioned by Expert Insights.
• Specific Industry Needs: Organizations in highly regulated industries may have stricter requirements that necessitate advanced email security features not natively available in G Suite.

Key opinions

• Fundamental Differences: Experts emphasize that G Suite (Google Workspace) and Proofpoint are not directly comparable due to their differing primary purposes; G Suite is a groupware platform, while Proofpoint is a dedicated email gateway.
• G Suite's Capability: Despite its integrated nature, G Suite's email gateway functionality is robust, largely inheriting capabilities from the Postini acquisition, allowing for complex routing and good spam filtering.
• Layering for Security: Many experts suggest that layering Proofpoint on top of G Suite is a viable strategy for organizations seeking enhanced security, particularly for advanced threats. Implementing proper email authentication (DMARC, SPF, DKIM) is critical for any layered setup.
• Addressing Concerns: For specific concerns about G Suite's capabilities, experts often recommend consulting Google Support, as they are best positioned to address detailed security queries.

Key considerations

• Specific Requirements: Organizations must clearly define their specific security requirements before choosing or combining solutions. This includes evaluating needs related to advanced malware, zero-day attacks, and sophisticated phishing.
• Budget and ROI: The additional cost of Proofpoint must be weighed against the perceived security benefits and the organization's budget. Tools for scanning outgoing email content for abusive behavior can help identify issues.
• Existing Infrastructure: The existing IT infrastructure and how well a new solution integrates with it should be a key consideration, especially when contemplating layering. Discussions on SpamResource often touch on these integration challenges.
• False Positives and Good Mail: Organizations need to assess how each system handles legitimate email, particularly marketing or bulk communications, to avoid false positives. This is an ongoing concern in email deliverability, as noted by Word to the Wise.

Key findings

• G Suite's Integrated Security: Google Workspace includes robust built-in security features covering spam, phishing, and malware detection, leveraging Google's vast threat intelligence network.
• Proofpoint's Advanced Capabilities: Proofpoint is engineered to provide comprehensive protection against advanced threats, including targeted attacks, ransomware, and complex phishing schemes, often through features like URL rewriting and attachment sandboxing.
• Visibility and Control: Documentation often highlights Proofpoint's more granular control options and in-depth reporting features for security incidents, offering greater visibility than G Suite's more streamlined approach. Even with Google Postmaster Tools data, direct control is often limited.
• Compliance Features: Proofpoint typically offers more specialized compliance, archiving, and data loss prevention (DLP) features, which may be critical for certain industries.

Key considerations

• Core vs. Enhanced Security: Organizations should distinguish between G Suite's essential, built-in security and Proofpoint's enhanced, specialized capabilities. This decision can impact whether email encryption is a standalone feature or part of a comprehensive suite.
• API and Integration: Review how each solution offers APIs or integration points with other security tools within your environment. Documentation on secure email gateway solutions often details these aspects.
• Threat Intelligence: Understand the scope and real-time nature of the threat intelligence each vendor uses to protect against emerging threats.
• Scalability: Evaluate whether the solution can scale with your organization's growth and evolving email volumes without compromising security or performance.