GreenSQL

About GreenSQL

GreenSQL, founded in 2009, established itself as a significant player in the database security sector, specializing in protecting databases from SQL injection attacks. The company originated from an open-source project that began in 2007, reflecting its deep roots in the security software industry. The founding team, including CEO Amir Sadeh and security expert David Maman, brought extensive experience to the venture. Sadeh had previously founded Onigma, a data leakage prevention company acquired by McAfee, while Maman was a recognized international computer security expert.

The firm's core business revolves around providing a unified database security solution that operates as a reverse proxy or database firewall. This technology sits between applications and the database, analyzing SQL commands to identify and block malicious queries in real-time. GreenSQL's product suite offered a comprehensive approach, bundling database security, activity monitoring, auditing, data masking, and performance caching into a single package. This addressed a critical need for small to medium-sized businesses and enterprises looking to protect sensitive information from both internal and external threats and ensure regulatory compliance with standards like PCI-DSS and Sarbanes-Oxley. The business model included a free, open-source version to drive adoption, alongside commercial versions with advanced features available through a subscription or licensing model.

Initially gaining traction as a popular firewall for MySQL with over 100,000 downloads, the company expanded its support to include PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and Microsoft SQL Server. A significant milestone was the company's rebranding to HexaTier in January 2016, a move that signaled a strategic shift to focus on enterprise-level database security and compliance in cloud environments. This pivot included the appointment of Dan Dinnar, formerly of CyberArk, as the new CEO to drive this new focus. The company's journey culminated in its acquisition by Huawei in December 2016 for a reported $42 million, with the intention of establishing an R&D center for cloud database security in Israel.