Clearswift
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer security |
| Founded | UK (1982) |
| Headquarters | Theale, Berkshire, UK |
Number of locations | UK, USA, Germany, Japan, Australia |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | SECURE Email Gateway, SECURE Web Gateway, SECURE File Gateway, SECURE ICAP Gateway, SECURE Exchange Gateway, Critical Information Protection Server & Agent, ARgon for Email |
| Services | Product support, Security consulting |
| Revenue | £20.8m (2012)[1] |
| Owner | RUAG |
Number of employees | 170 |
| Website | http://www.clearswift.com/ |
Clearswift is an information security company based in the UK. It offers cyber-security services to protect business's data from internal and external threats.
History
Clearswift was founded as NET-TEL in 1982.[2][3] One of the co-founders, John Horton, had previously worked at GEC and Acorn Computers.[4]
In 1988, NET-TEL launched Route400, the world's first mail client for MS-DOS (using the X.400 protocol). It was later ported to other platforms.[5][6]
1998, NET-TEL switched its main business to content filtering, as the popularity of the Microsoft Exchange Client took away the mail client market.[6]
2001, NET-TEL was rebranded as Clearswift, after a round of venture capital fundraising.[7]
2002, Clearswift acquired Content Technologies from Baltimore Technologies, along with the MIMEsweeper brand.[8]
Clearswift extended the MIMEsweeper line to include web and instant messaging filtering. These were marketed as protecting against the leakage of confidential company information on social networking sites - Clearswift argues that instead of banning Web 2.0 sites and services entirely, businesses can actually gain a competitive advantage by making use of them, provided their use is monitored.[9][10]
2003, the company received $6.07 million from its shareholders, including venture capital funds managed by Amadeus Capital Partners, BA Capital Partners, Cazenove Private Equity, and Kennet Partners.[11] Also, it was reported that Clearswift were the providers of a new email filtering system at the House of Commons, responsible for blocking Welsh language emails as "inappropriate content", and preventing MPs receiving copies of a Sexual Offences Bill.[12] Clearswift would not confirm that the House of Commons was a customer, citing customer confidentiality reasons.[7]
April 2005 Clearswift began to market an SMTP appliance (email gateway) based upon the technology.[13]
January 2008, failure to renew a domain name caused loss of email services to 5% of Clearswift's customers.[14]
Dec 2009, Clearswift sold the Deep-Secure, Bastion and Flashpoint products in to a spin-off company, "Deep Secure".[citation needed]
November 2011, Clearswift was sold to Lyceum Capital.[15]
August 2012, Clearswift acquired Jedda Systems Pty Ltd.[16]
February 2013, Clearswift acquired Microdasys in order to strengthen its web product line.[17]
January 2017, Clearswift is acquired by RUAG (A Swiss Defence Company) as part of its RUAG Defence Cyber division.[18]
Research & development
Clearswift has its main engineering office based in Arlington Business Park[19] (Theale, UK). A smaller engineering office is in Adelaide, Australia which was part of the Jedda acquisition.[20]
External links
References
- ^ Annual Report
- ^ NET-TEL Computer Systems Ltd - News Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ NET-TEL Computer Systems Ltd - Company - Profile Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The security of mutual support
- ^ NET-TEL Computer Systems Ltd - Products - Messaging Clients Archived 2012-03-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b FT.com / Services & tools / Search
- ^ a b Lyceum continues IT sector interest
- ^ Fortune favours bold Clearswift | Information Age Archived 2013-01-26 at archive.today
- ^ Don't ban social networking sites
- ^ BBC - Radio 4 - In Business
- ^ Clearswift Secures $6.07 Million in Funding; Email Management Leader Moves Into Significant Stage of Growth
- ^ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/02/05/plaid_up_in_arms_as/
- ^ Clearswift / News & Events
- ^ Domain name gaffe
- ^ Lyceum Acquires Clearswift
- ^ Clearswift extends delivery Data Leak Prevention strategy
- ^ Clearswift strengthens commitment to safeguarding critical information
- ^ "RUAG completes acquisition of cyber security company Clearswift | RUAG". www.ruag.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
- ^ "Clearswift (Contact Us)". Retrieved 2016-09-03.
- ^ Clearswift Jedda Acquisition Press Release