PGP Corporation

About PGP Corporation

PGP Corporation was established as a significant player in the enterprise data protection market, focusing on encryption technologies. The company's origins trace back to the original creation of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) in 1991 by Phil Zimmermann, who developed it as a way to ensure secure and private communications for the masses. This foundational work in public-key cryptography laid the groundwork for the commercial entity that would later become PGP Corporation. The journey involved Zimmermann's legal battles with the U.S. government over encryption export regulations, which he ultimately won, solidifying PGP's reputation. After being acquired by Network Associates Inc. (NAI) in 1997, the technology was later repurchased by a group of private investors, including the original PGP development team, leading to the formal launch of PGP Corporation in 2002 with Philip Dunkelberger serving as CEO. A major milestone in its corporate history was the acquisition by Symantec Corp. in 2010 for approximately $300 million, integrating PGP's encryption capabilities into Symantec's extensive security portfolio.

The core business of PGP Corporation centered on providing robust encryption solutions to large enterprises, governments, and businesses globally. Its target market included sectors with high-security needs, such as finance, healthcare, and government, aiming to protect sensitive data and ensure regulatory compliance. The business model was based on licensing its software and providing support services. PGP generated revenue through the sale of its integrated encryption applications that addressed a wide array of security needs.

The flagship offering was the PGP® Encryption Platform, a comprehensive suite built on a unified key management and policy infrastructure. This platform allowed organizations to secure various forms of data. Its applications covered email encryption, full-disk encryption for laptops and desktops, and protection for file transfers, network storage, and mobile devices. A key benefit was its ability to provide a centralized approach to data security, enabling clients to manage encryption policies across the entire enterprise from a single point. The solution was known for its adherence to open standards and its reputation for trustworthiness, which helped it gain widespread adoption among the world's largest corporations, including a substantial percentage of the Fortune 100 and major international indices.