Clearswift
{{Short description|British technology company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{third-party|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Clearswift Limited
| logo = Clearswift_-_A_HelpSystems_Logo.png
| type = Private
| founded = 1982; United Kingdom
| founder =
| location = Theale, Berkshire, UK
| locations = UK, USA, Germany, Japan, Australia
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people =
| industry = Computer security
| 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){{cite web|url=http://www.clearswift.com/about-us/pr/press-releases/clearswift-builds-platform-strong-future-growth/|title=Clearswift Builds Platform for Strong Future Growth - Clearswift|website=www.clearswift.com}}
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| parent = HelpSystems
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = http://www.clearswift.com/
| footnotes =
}}
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.
History
Clearswift was founded as NET-TEL in 1982.[http://www.net-tel.co.uk/frames/news.shtml NET-TEL Computer Systems Ltd - News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316091705/http://www.net-tel.co.uk/frames/news.shtml |date=2012-03-16 }}[http://www.net-tel.co.uk/frames/profile.shtml NET-TEL Computer Systems Ltd - Company - Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316092034/http://www.net-tel.co.uk/frames/profile.shtml |date=2012-03-16 }} One of the co-founders, John Horton, had previously worked at GEC and Acorn Computers.{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/14dfd4ac-8d49-11da-9daf-0000779e2340.html|title=The security of mutual support|publisher=}}
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.[http://www.net-tel.co.uk/frames/prod-2.shtml NET-TEL Computer Systems Ltd - Products - Messaging Clients] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316092040/http://www.net-tel.co.uk/frames/prod-2.shtml |date=2012-03-16 }}{{cite web|url=http://search.ft.com/nonFtArticle?id=060125000846|title=FT.com / Services & tools / Search|publisher=}}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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.
In 2001, NET-TEL was rebranded as Clearswift, after a round of venture capital fundraising.{{cite web|url=http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/news-and-market-deals/mergers-and-acquisitions/1676113/lyceum-continues-it-sector-interest.thtml|title=Lyceum continues IT sector interest|date=29 November 2011|publisher=}}
In 2002, Clearswift acquired Content Technologies from Baltimore Technologies, along with the MIMEsweeper brand.[http://www.information-age.com/article/2002/april/fortune_favours_bold_clearswift Fortune favours bold Clearswift | Information Age] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130126124354/http://www.information-age.com/article/2002/april/fortune_favours_bold_clearswift |date=2013-01-26 }}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/analysts-dont-ban-social-networking-sites/|title=Analysts: Don't ban social networking sites - ZDNet|first=Suzanne|last=Tindal|website=ZDNet |publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/inbusiness/inbusiness_20080117.shtml|title=BBC - Radio 4 - In Business|last=BBC|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3339638/Clearswift-Secures-6-07-Million.html#abstract|title=Find Local Contractors - Home Remodeling Contractors on Ecnext|website=goliath.ecnext.com}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/02/05/plaid_up_in_arms_as/|title=Plaid up in arms as Commons spam filter bans Welsh|website=The Register |publisher=}} Clearswift would not confirm that the House of Commons was a customer, citing customer confidentiality reasons.
In April 2005 Clearswift began to market an SMTP appliance (email gateway) based upon the technology.{{cite web|url=http://www.clearswift.com/news/item.aspx?ID=807|title=Newsroom|publisher=}}
In January 2008, failure to renew a domain name caused loss of email services to 5% of Clearswift's customers.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/23/domain_name_snafu/|title=Domain name gaffe launches Clearswift clients into e-mail panic|website=The Register |publisher=}}
In Dec 2009, Clearswift sold the Deep-Secure, Bastion and Flashpoint products in to a spin-off company, "Deep Secure".{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}}
In November 2011, Clearswift was sold to Lyceum Capital.{{cite web|url=http://www.clearswift.com/about-us/pr/press-releases/lyceum-acquires-clearswift-and-exceeds-%C2%A3100m-it-investment-milestone/|title=Lyceum acquires Clearswift and exceeds £100m IT investment milestone - Clearswift|website=www.clearswift.com}}
In August 2012, Clearswift acquired Jedda Systems Pty Ltd.{{cite web|url=http://www.clearswift.com/about-us/pr/press-releases/clearswift-extends-delivery-data-leak-prevention-strategy/|title=Clearswift Extends Delivery of Data Leak Prevention Strategy - Clearswift|website=www.clearswift.com}}
In February 2013, Clearswift acquired Microdasys in order to strengthen its web product line.{{cite web|url=https://www.clearswift.com/about-us/pr/press-releases/clearswift-strengthens-commitment-to-safeguarding-critical-information/|title=Clearswift Strengthens Commitment to Safeguarding Critical Information - Clearswift|website=www.clearswift.com}}
In January 2017, Clearswift was acquired by Swiss defense company RUAG as part of its RUAG Defence Cyber division.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ruag.com/en/about-ruag/media-room/news/ruag-completes-acquisition-cyber-security-company-clearswift|title=RUAG completes acquisition of cyber security company Clearswift {{!}} RUAG|website=www.ruag.com|language=en|access-date=2017-04-06}}
In December 2019, Clearswift was acquired by HelpSystems to expand its cybersecurity portfolio.{{cite web|url=https://www.itjungle.com/2019/12/04/helpsystems-bolsters-data-loss-prevention-with-clearswift-buy/ |title=HelpSystems Bolsters Data Loss Prevention with Clearswift Buy - ITJungle|website=www.ITJungle.com|date=4 December 2019 }}
Research & development
Clearswift has its main engineering office based in Arlington Business Park{{cite web
|title=Clearswift (Contact Us)
|url=https://www.clearswift.com/contact-us#location
|accessdate=2016-09-03
}} (Theale, UK). A smaller engineering office is in Adelaide, Australia which was part of the Jedda acquisition.{{cite web|url=https://www.clearswift.com/blog/2013/09/05/clearswift%E2%80%99s-jedda-acquisition-paves-way-accelerated-growth|title=Clearswift's Jedda acquisition paves way for accelerated growth|publisher=}}
References
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