| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Information security |
| Founded | Timonium, Maryland USA 1983 |
| Headquarters | Belcamp, Maryland, USA |
| Key people |
Chris Fedde, President and CEO |
| Products | Encryption, Semiconductor IP, Electronics, SRM, Hardware Security Modules, Authentication, Tokens |
| Employees | 1,600 (2011) |
| Parent | Vector Capital |
| Divisions | Commercial Security, Government Solutions, Software Rights Management |
| Website | www.safenet-inc.com |
SafeNet, Inc. is an information security company based in Belcamp, Maryland, United States. It is notable as one of the largest suppliers of encryption technology to the United States Government.[1]
The company's products are used in wide-area networks, wireless networks, digital rights management, and other applications.[2] SafeNet customers include corporations, governments, financial institutions, and OEMs. Annual revenues are in the $300 million range[3] and the company employs about 1,600 people.[4]
Contents |
SafeNet, Inc was originally founded as Industrial Resource Engineering by two NSA engineers in 1983 and went public in an IPO in 1989. The firm grew steadily during the 1980s and 1990s via organic growth. After the turn of the century SafeNet took a driving role in the information security market consolidation and acquired multiple companies in the following years, most notable acquisition being Rainbow Technologies, a company twice the size of SafeNet in 2004. As a result of these strategic acquisitions, SafeNet became the world’s seventh largest information security company and tripled its revenue. Continuing its interest in technological growth, SafeNet acquired a number of other complementary companies including Datakey, DMDsecure and Eracom Technologies during the next few years. The resources of these companies improved SafeNet’s already broad range of interests. In 2007, SafeNet was acquired by Vector Capital.
In 2008, SafeNet acquired Ingrian Technologies. Ingrian's DataSecure family of products complements SafeNet's security solutions to ensure that enterprise and government organizations are compliant and limit liabilities. With this acquisition, SafeNet became the first vendor to offer a comprehensive Enterprise Data Protection (EDP) Solution Suite that secures sensitive data across devices, applications, networks, and databases.
In March 2009, Aladdin Knowledge Systems acquired by Vector Capital and placed under common management with SafeNet. In April 2010 Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd. and its subsidiaries became wholly owned subsidiaries of SafeNet Inc, bringing together the first comprehensive set of critical solutions in rights management and data protection. The company is now the fifth largest vendor in the security market and third largest provider of information security solutions in the world with revenues ~$500M.[5]
The former Rainbow Technologies subsidiary SafeNet Government Solutions, LLC formerly SafeNet Mykotronx is still based in Torrance, California with offices in Irvine, California and Columbia, Maryland.[10] SafeNet Government Solutions, LLC has been operationally merged into SafeNet, and the lines between the two organizations have been intentionally blurred due to financial reasons. SafeNet Government Solutions is no longer considered a subsidiary.
SafeNet Government Solutions, LLC formerly Mykotronx provides INFOSEC and COMSEC technology for the US government. The firm has an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for its KIV-7 line of commercial off-the-shelf cryptographic devices that provide protection for digital and voice communications through TOP SECRET, used by agencies such as the NSA and the NRO.[11]
Other SafeNet Government Solutions, LLC products include the KOV-14 Fortezza Plus PC card which was developed as part of the NSA's NSSI program and is used on Secure Terminal Equipment.[12] They previously developed the clipper chip.[13][14]
The company was founded in 1979 as Myko Enterprises. It changed its name to Mykotronx, Inc in 1987 and merged with SafeNet as part of the SafeNet merger with Rainbow in 2004.[15]
In 2009, Vector Capital acquired Aladdin Knowledge Systems, and placed it under SafeNet with the annotation of 'under common management'. In 2010, the two companies were officially merged.
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