What happened
In December 2025, Proofpoint, Inc. completed its acquisition of Hornetsecurity Group, a German security company offering services around email security, backup, compliance, awareness training and access control. Hornetsecurity will operate as a dedicated business unit focused on serving MSPs and SMBs.
What this means for existing Proofpoint Essentials customers
Hornetsecurity’s 365 Total Protection platform will be the future platform for MSP and SMB clients, requiring Proofpoint Essentials customers to migrate to the Hornetsecurity platform, now called Proofpoint 365 Total Protection. Proofpoint will support Essentials customers to move to the 365 Total Protection platform by offering a migration tool, which will automate certain steps of the migration process. Proofpoint has also not released an official end-of-life date for Proofpoint Essentials.
FAQ
1. What do I need to do to migrate?
Migrating to 365 Total Protection is a multi-step process which will be different depending on which mail service provider you are using. If you are using Microsoft 365, you will be able to use Proofpoint's migration tool, which will help you to copy over certain configurations and settings from Essentials. Proofpoint recommends that you start your migration in the migration tool to create your clients account and assign them the needed licenses. After this you can follow this guide. It helps you through the different steps like disabling the M365 Spam Filter, change your MX records, check email connectors, etc. The whole migration process with the migration tool should take you around 45 minutes per client and without the tool around 60-90 minutes.
2. When will I have to migrate?
There is currently no official end-of-life date for Proofpoint Essentials.
3. How does the migration tool work?
The migration tool operates from within the new Proofpoint 365 Total Protection portal and will show you all your customers with an active Proofpoint Essentials account. From here you will be able to start the migration process. You will be able to create your client account, assign 365 Total Protection licenses and provide needed permissions to your mail service provider. As a Microsoft 365 customer, you will then have the ability to migrate specific configuration settings from Essentials to 365 Total Protection - this will not work for partners with Google Workspace, Local/Hosted Exchange, or other mail service providers like Zimbra.
4. What does the migration tool migrate?
The following Essentials configuration settings will be automatically migrated for partners using Microsoft 365 as mail service provider. If you are using another provider, you will need to manually copy over the configurations.
Migrated settings:
Primary domain
Admin contact
Customer-level sender lists (i.e., allow list, block list)
User-level sender (i.e., allow list, block list)
URL defense / domains and IP exclusion entries
Anti-Spoofing Policies / DMARC exceptions
Anti-Spoofing Policies / SPF exceptions
Anti-Spoofing Policies / DKIM exceptions
Branding – Color Scheme / Logo
5. What does the migration tool not migrate?
The following configurations settings cannot be migrated via the tool:
Not migrated settings:
Quarantine (30-day quarantine remains in Proofpoint Essentials. Access to the customer’s account in Essentials will remain for at least 30 days post migration in order to access the quarantine)
Email filter policies
Groups
Spam settings
Quarantine digest settings
Attachment defense settings
DKIM key
Security Awareness settings
Please be aware that the migration tool cannot yet migrate your Essentials archive (at the time we are publishing this article).
6. Where can I find more information about the migration tool?
You can find more details and a step-by-step guide here.
7. Will my Proofpoint Essentials price change?
Proofpoint has not announced any price increase for Proofpoint Essentials at the moment. Sherweb does not plan any increase of its own, but we will generally reflect any price increase from the vendor.
8. Will my price change when I migrate?
Yes, with your migration to 365 Total Protection, you will also switch to a new plan with different features and a different price. Proofpoint is currently offering a promotion for customers who are migrating to the new platform. If you migrate early, you can keep your Essentials' price until November 30, 2026. After November 30 you will receive the Gold status price of the 365 Total Protection Partner Program for the next 12 months (you need to sign up to the program to receive this benefit). If you migrate later, you will pay the standard 365 Total Protection price. If you sign up for the 365 Total Protection Partner Program, you will be able to reduce your price depending on your partner level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum). You can find more information about the 365 Total Protection Partner Program here.
9. How much will my price change and can I keep my Sherweb partner discount?
Your price change will depend on which 365 Total Protection plan you will choose. Proofpoint Essentials has a wider split of plans. The following website will help you compare the best plan for you. The difference between the list prices is between 15%-27% (excluding Essentials Beginner).
Proofpoint 365 Total Protection is not part of Sherweb Partner Discount program. To receive discounts on your 365 Total Protection subscription, you will need to sign up for the 365 Total Protection Partner Program. The 365 Total Protection Partner Program is controlled by Proofpoint & Hornetsecurity. You can still purchase Total Protection through Sherweb while you benefit from the Total Protection Partner Program.
10. How does the 365 Total Protection Partner Program work?
You will have to accept and enroll into the partner program during your onboarding process. The partner program classifies MSPs in 4 different tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) based on their monthly revenue and other factors like sales/technical certification, yearly growth rate etc. You will keep your tier or status for one year and Proofpoint reviews your status annually. Each tier comes with specific benefits like discounts on your subscription price, NFR licenses or marketing development funds. The current discount on 365 Total Protection subscriptions is between 10%-20% based on your partner program tier.