Cybersecurity firm Proofpoint Inc. has introduced new Microsoft 365 security features designed to assist managed service providers (MSPs) and their client organizations in securely adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
The four new features are integrated within the Microsoft 365 security products offered through Proofpoint’s MSP Platform, which focuses on collaborations with managed service providers and small to midsize enterprises. The Tenant Risk Exposure feature identifies permission and sharing risks across Microsoft 365 tenants. Moreover, email verdicts generated by the platform’s AI now come with explanations detailing how decisions were made.
The security awareness training module has been expanded to include Microsoft Teams, where an AI coach engages employees with quizzes following course completion. The fourth feature is an AI assistant tailored for partners and administrators, embedded in their control panel.
Daniel Hofmann, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Proofpoint MSP Platform, emphasized that the scope of data and channels accessible to an AI tool is critical, stating that outdated permissions and ambiguous sharing settings have existed prior to AI’s introduction, and these issues “can amplify their impact” when technology is applied.
Tenant Risk Exposure targets administrators already utilizing Proofpoint’s 365 Permission Manager for overseeing access rights in Microsoft 365. This new dashboard allows them to identify areas with anonymous access and inactive guest accounts on a tenant-by-tenant basis, with options to manually close these gaps through shortcuts. Additionally, remediation can be automated.
Security teams reviewing emails in the Email Live Tracking feature will now receive transparency regarding the reasons behind AI-generated verdicts, which Proofpoint believes will expedite responses to rare false positives.
The AI-driven Security Awareness Service now functions within Microsoft Teams. Employees completing e-learning sessions receive follow-up interactions from AI.MY, the unit’s AI Cyber Assistant, serving as a coaching tool.
This assistant poses three follow-up questions tailored to each individual’s awareness level, providing immediate feedback. Answers contribute to a knowledge profile that organizations can utilize to assess learning progress and identify individuals needing further training.
The AI assistant for partners and administrators is located within the control panel of Proofpoint 365 Total Protection, a security suite for Microsoft 365 initially developed by the German security company Hornetsecurity GmbH. It addresses questions around onboarding, configuration, and daily security operations through conversational interaction.
Additionally, managed service providers can utilize this assistant to align products with specific customer needs and identify opportunities to enhance customer security. Proofpoint anticipates that this feature will reduce the amount of time spent by providers on customer consultations.
Proofpoint finalized its $1.8 billion acquisition of Hornetsecurity in December and subsequently established the MSP unit based on that business in May. Currently, over 12,000 managed service providers and channel partners sell the unit’s products, benefiting more than 125,000 customers, with the rollout of the four new features expected in the fourth quarter.