Cybersecurity and compliance company Proofpoint has opened a new office in Singapore as part of its long-term strategy to scale operations across the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region. The new space will serve as a regional hub, supporting engineering, sales, marketing, HR and a dedicated AI Research & Development team.
The announcement reflects the company’s growing investment in Singapore, a recognised global technology and innovation centre. The office opening was officiated by CEO Sumit Dhawan alongside key local partners.
Singapore positioned as regional AI and security hub
Singapore has been chosen as the regional headquarters for Proofpoint’s APJ operations due to its strategic location, digital infrastructure and talent availability. The move comes as AI-related cyber threats continue to rise in the region. Countries such as Japan and South Korea have reported year-on-year increases in email fraud of 35% and 31% respectively, partly driven by generative AI tools that allow cybercriminals to craft more convincing messages in multiple languages.
In Singapore, 52% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) now see generative AI as a significant security risk. Despite 99% of users understanding the potential consequences of unsafe digital actions, 7 in 10 still take risks that could expose their organisations to harm. This trend has prompted a shift towards human-centric cybersecurity, moving away from infrastructure-focused models.
Proofpoint’s Singapore team aims to support this transition by offering AI-enhanced capabilities in areas such as threat detection, user behaviour analytics, and data protection.
Focus on AI innovation and human-centric defence
The newly launched AI Research & Development team includes over 20 professionals, ranging from AI researchers and software engineers to cybersecurity and big data experts. Their collective focus is on developing AI-driven defence solutions to counter the growing threat of human-targeted cyberattacks.
“AI is the core of modern cybersecurity. Proofpoint has been at the forefront of enabling protection with AI while keeping humans at the centre,” said Sumit Dhawan, CEO of Proofpoint. “Our recent launch of a dedicated data centre in Singapore, coupled with today’s unveiling of our new office, represents a significant milestone in our commitment to Singapore and the region. This investment not only enhances our ability to deliver localised, compliant security solutions but also reinforces our dedication to addressing the unique cybersecurity challenges faced by organisations across Asia-Pacific and Japan.”
George Lee, Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific and Japan at Proofpoint, added, “Singapore’s strategic position as a digital hub, along with its world-class infrastructure and skilled talent pool, makes it the ideal location for expanding our operations in the Asia-Pacific region to provide a human-centric cybersecurity platform. By establishing these essential assets in Singapore, particularly the AI Research & Development team, we are ensuring faster response times, enhanced data sovereignty, and improved AI-driven human-centric protection for our customers in this rapidly evolving threat landscape.”
Expanding local footprint and education efforts
Proofpoint currently employs over 4,500 people worldwide, with around 70 based in Singapore. The company has significantly increased its presence since establishing its APJ headquarters in the country. In 2022, Proofpoint acquired Singapore-based AI data protection start-up Dathena, further enhancing its local capabilities.
As part of its commitment to cybersecurity awareness, Proofpoint has helped to educate more than 3.5 million employees across the APJ region. This includes the deployment of approximately 10 million phishing simulation emails in 2024 to drive behaviour change. The company is also an Advocate Partner for Singapore’s Cyber Security Agency (CSA)’s SG Cyber Safe programme.
Today, Proofpoint protects over 13.6 million employees across the APJ region, including more than one in 10 of the working population in Singapore.
