Case Study: Michigan State University sharply reduces security incidents and gains people-focused email and cloud protection with Proofpoint

Michigan State University Enlists Proofpoint to Protect a Diverse Range of Users, Industries

Michigan State University, a 50,000‑student campus with extensive healthcare, research, and municipal‑style operations, faced escalating cyber threats—especially sophisticated email phishing that targeted vulnerable students and critical research, financial, and infrastructure data. MSU needed broad, tailored protection across diverse departments while preserving network openness and user privacy.

MSU deployed Proofpoint’s people‑focused suite—Email Protection, Targeted Attack Protection, Internal Email Defense, CASB, and Threat Response Auto‑Pull—to block advanced threats, automate incident response, and provide deep forensic intelligence. The result was a sharp drop in incidents requiring manual intervention, risk‑aware control over cloud apps, and a security team freed to focus on proactive protection, training, and strategic initiatives.

Michigan State University

Seth Edgar

Chief Information Security Officer