<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0205</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-04-19</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001212458</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROOFPOINT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PFPT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001129541</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MDV VII LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3000 SAND HILL ROAD, BLDG. 3, SUITE 290</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001027621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FEIBER JONATHAN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3000 SAND HILL ROAD BLDG 1</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 240</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MENLO PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94025</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3750000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series B Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1979519</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series C Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1442906</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series E Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1147588</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series F Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>563910</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-10-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote 9</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 0.5 shares of Issuer's Common Stock upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering of Common Stock for no additional consideration, and has no expiration date.  This conversion ratio reflects an adjustment following a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected by the Issuer on April 2, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each share of Series B Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 0.5 shares of Issuer's Common Stock upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering of Common Stock for no additional consideration, and has no expiration date.  This conversion ratio reflects an adjustment following a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected by the Issuer on April 2, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each share of Series C Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 0.5 shares of Issuer's Common Stock upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering of Common Stock for no additional consideration, and has no expiration date.  This conversion ratio reflects an adjustment following a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected by the Issuer on April 2, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each share of Series E Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 0.502315 shares of Issuer's Common Stock upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering of Common Stock for no additional consideration, and has no expiration date.  This conversion ratio reflects an adjustment following a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected by the Issuer on April 2, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Each share of Series F Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 0.5 shares of Issuer's Common Stock upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering of Common Stock for no additional consideration, and has no expiration date.  This conversion ratio reflects an adjustment following a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected by the Issuer on April 2, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Jonathan Feiber, a director of the Issuer and a managing member of Seventh MDV Partners, L.L.C., the general partner of the MDV VII, L.P. (&quot;MDV&quot;), may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the shares held by MDV.  Mr. Feiber disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by MDV except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The stock option is immediately exercisable in full.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Reflects a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected by the Issuer on April 2, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Stock option held directly by Jonathan Feiber, a director of the Issuer and a managing member of Seventh MDV Partners, L.L.C., the general partner of MDV.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jonathan Feiber, as a managing member of Seventh MDV Partners, L.L.C., the general partner of MDV VII, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jonathan Feiber</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
