Astaro

In 2000, in Karlsruhe, Germany, a team including Markus Hennig, Jan Hichert, and Gert Hansen founded Astaro. They recognized that businesses were struggling to manage a complex web of separate security products. Their solution was to develop a line of network security appliances and software, the Astaro Security Gateway. This product integrated nine security applications—covering web, email, and network security—into a single platform with one management interface. The company focused on building what would become known as the Unified Threat Management (UTM) market. Astaro offered its products as software, virtual appliances, or physical hardware, providing flexibility for its customers. By 2011, Astaro had grown significantly, protecting over 100,000 networks for 47,000 customers across more than 60 countries. This success attracted a major player in the cybersecurity space. In May 2011, the British security firm Sophos announced its intention to acquire Astaro for an undisclosed sum. At the time, Astaro was the fourth-largest UTM provider. The acquisition, completed in July 2011, aimed to combine Astaro's comprehensive network security with Sophos's endpoint protection, creating a more integrated defense for businesses. The Astaro Security Gateway was subsequently rebranded as the Sophos UTM.