netasq

About netasq

Founded in 1998 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France, Netasq established itself as a specialized provider of network security solutions. The company developed a portfolio of products centered around IP network protection, including firewalls with integrated intrusion prevention systems (IPS), antivirus and anti-spyware protection, anti-spam, and content filtering. Netasq's business model focused on the sale of these hardware appliances and associated security subscriptions, targeting a client base ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large corporations and government entities. Their offerings were designed to provide unified threat management (UTM) and received certifications from bodies such as the EU and NATO (EAL4+), underscoring their application in high-security environments.

The company's product lines, such as the U Series and NG line, were multifunction VPN and firewall solutions available as physical or virtual appliances. These products combined several security modules, including IPsec & SSL VPN, IPS, and various filtering capabilities for users, applications, and URLs. A key feature was the Active Scan for Quality (ASQ) technology, which analyzed network protocols and applications in real-time to detect and block threats. In January 2012, Netasq acquired EdenWall Technologies.

A significant milestone in Netasq's history occurred in October 2012, when it was acquired by Cassidian CyberSecurity, a division of EADS (which later became Airbus). This acquisition was a strategic move by Cassidian to expand its cybersecurity portfolio and establish a European center for integrated security solutions. Following the acquisition, Netasq was merged with Arkoon Network Security in 2014 to form a new entity named Stormshield. This merger combined the expertise of both companies, with Stormshield continuing to develop and expand the product lines, serving government organizations, critical operators, and a growing number of multinational corporations and SMEs.