| Clearswift Limited | |
| 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] |
| Parent: | HelpSystems |
| Homepage: | 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.
The company is owned by Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based HelpSystems.
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]
In 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]
In 2001, NET-TEL was rebranded as Clearswift, after a round of venture capital fundraising.[7]
In 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]
In 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]
In April 2005 Clearswift began to market an SMTP appliance (email gateway) based upon the technology.[13]
In January 2008, failure to renew a domain name caused loss of email services to 5% of Clearswift's customers.[14]
In Dec 2009, Clearswift sold the Deep-Secure, Bastion and Flashpoint products in to a spin-off company, "Deep Secure".
In November 2011, Clearswift was sold to Lyceum Capital.[15]
In August 2012, Clearswift acquired Jedda Systems Pty Ltd.[16]
In February 2013, Clearswift acquired Microdasys in order to strengthen its web product line.[17]
In January 2017, Clearswift was acquired by Swiss defense company RUAG as part of its RUAG Defence Cyber division.[18]
In December 2019, Clearswift was acquired by HelpSystems to expand its cybersecurity portfolio.[19]
Clearswift has its main engineering office based in Arlington Business Park[20] (Theale, UK). A smaller engineering office is in Adelaide, Australia which was part of the Jedda acquisition.[21]