← Proofpoint
Proofpoint role-play cheat sheet
For the mock cold call at the end of most SDR interviews.
What they sell, in one line
Proofpoint sells email security and tools that protect people, data and AI from phishing and data leaks.
Who you'd be calling
CISOs, Directors of Security, Email/Messaging admins and IT security managers at mid-size and large companies.
Your opener
“Hi [Name], this is [You] from Proofpoint. We help security teams stop phishing emails before employees ever see them, and I wanted to ask how your team handles that today. Do you have a minute?”
Problems you solve for them
- Phishing emails that trick employees into clicking or paying fake invoices
- Sensitive data accidentally leaving the company through email or chat
- Employees who haven't been trained to spot attacks
Discovery questions to ask
- What do you use today to catch phishing emails?
- How often do bad emails slip through to your employees' inboxes?
- How do you train employees to spot suspicious messages?
Objections they'll throw at you
“I'm busy, now's not a good time.”
→ No problem, I'll keep it to 20 seconds. Can I ask one quick question about how phishing is handled on your team?
“We're not interested.”
→ Understood. Most security leaders I speak to say that until they see how many threats get through. Would a quick look at that be useful?
“We already have email security.”
→ That's good, most companies do. Many still tell us a few threats get past it. How often does that happen for you?
“Send me an email.”
→ Sure thing. So it's relevant, are you more worried about phishing, data loss, or employee training?
Competitors worth knowing
Mimecast, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Abnormal Security
Interview tips for this company
- Learn the basics of phishing, ransomware and business email compromise (fake CEO or invoice emails) in plain words.
- Mention that Proofpoint says it protects 80+ of the Fortune 100 only as a company claim, not as your own fact.
Written from public information about Proofpoint to help you practice. Ask an insider what their role play looked like; it's the best prep there is.