StrongDM
StrongDM is a Burlingame-based Zero Trust Privileged Access Management platform that mediates and audits access to databases, servers, Kubernetes, and network devices for enterprise and mid-market customers, now operating as part of Delinea following its March 2026 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersBurlingame, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What StrongDM does
StrongDM is a Burlingame, California-based infrastructure access management company founded in 2015 that provides a Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM) platform mediating human and machine access to databases, servers, Kubernetes clusters, and network devices. The platform is built on a proxy-based architecture comprising a local client, gateway intermediary, and configuration layer, with a Cedar-based policy engine that enforces fine-grained, context-aware policies continuously at runtime rather than only at login. Core capabilities include Just-in-Time (JIT) access, ephemeral credentials, session recording and replay, adaptive policy-based access controls, and real-time access analytics with built-in threat detection. The platform supports 100+ protocols, integrates natively with the major SSO/IdP, secrets vault, IaC, ITSM, EDR, and SIEM ecosystems, and helps customers satisfy SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS 4.0, GDPR, NIST 800-53/171, and FedRAMP-aligned requirements.
StrongDM operates a subscription SaaS model with three tiers — Essentials, Enterprise, and GovCloud — priced on annual contracts, with the Enterprise and GovCloud tiers requiring sales consultation. Its go-to-market blends direct enterprise field sales (targeting large organizations needing Zero Trust PAM and compliance) with self-serve demo requests for mid-market and developer-led adoption. Customer logos span financial services (SoFi, Chime, Betterment, Axos, Better, Clearcover), enterprise technology (Braze, Bullhorn, Yext, Seismic, Ironclad, StackAdapt, ClickUp), insurance, legal tech, media (Hearst), nonprofit (Benevity), and e-commerce, with named enterprise case studies including a UK insurance leader running StrongDM across 2,000+ users.
In late 2025 the company reported 300% growth, Gartner PAM Leader recognition, and Deloitte Technology Fast 500 placement; it also introduced Leash, an open-source project for AI agent authorization, and disclosed an internal Software Factory using autonomous coding agents. Total prior funding reached approximately $110 million across rounds including a $54 million Series B led by Tiger Global in September 2021. In March 2026, Delinea completed the acquisition of StrongDM, merging the companies' PAM and runtime authorization capabilities into a unified identity security platform for AI-driven environments and non-human identities.
StrongDM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- StrongDM
- Legal name
- StrongDM
- Website
- https://strongdm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- StrongDM is a Burlingame-based Zero Trust Privileged Access Management platform that mediates and audits access to databases, servers, Kubernetes, and network devices for enterprise and mid-market customers, now operating as part of Delinea following its March 2026 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where StrongDM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burlingame
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
StrongDM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription SaaS: StrongDM operates on a subscription SaaS model with three tiers: Essentials, Enterprise, and GovCloud. Pricing is typically per-seat or tier-based for enterprise deployments, with annual billing. The company generates recurring revenue from subscription licenses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Foundational Zero Trust access controls with robust resource management for teams looking to reduce access risk and stay compliant. |
| Subscription | Annual | Enhanced access and action control with advanced policy enforcement for enterprise organizations. |
| Subscription | Annual | Zero Trust Access Management for regulated workloads running in AWS GovCloud. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
StrongDM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
StrongDM provides a unified Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM) SaaS platform that centralizes and audits access to databases, servers, Kubernetes clusters, and SaaS applications through a proxy-based architecture (local client, gateway, configuration layer). Customers subscribe to annual plans (Essentials, Enterprise, GovCloud) to enforce continuous runtime authorization, just-in-time access, ephemeral credentials, and complete session recording across multi-cloud and hybrid infrastructure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- StrongDM Platform A unified Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM) SaaS platform for enterprises that manages and audits access to databases, servers, and Kubernetes through a proxy-based architecture (local client, gateway, configuration layer), sold under Essentials, Enterprise, and GovCloud annual subscription tiers.
- Leash An open-source project that extends continuous authorization from StrongDM's PAM platform to AI and autonomous workloads, enabling just-in-time, policy-based access for agents and non-human identities.
Companies that use StrongDM
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
StrongDM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration54 records
AI capability8 records
Feature6 records
StrongDM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- DelineaflagshipDelinea completed acquisition of StrongDM in March 2026. The acquisition combines StrongDM's just-in-time runtime authorization with Delinea's enterprise PAM to create a unified identity security platform for AI-driven environments and non-human identities. Financial terms not disclosed.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
StrongDM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CyberArk: CyberArk is the leading enterprise Privileged Access Management vendor, offering vaulting, session management, and just-in-time privilege elevation. StrongDM integrates with CyberArk Conjur and CyberArk Digital Vault while competing head-on for PAM budget; the two are the most direct comparables in the market.
- Delinea: Delinea (formerly Centrify + Thycotic) is an enterprise PAM and privileged credential management vendor and StrongDM's now-parent company. Pre-acquisition, Delinea and StrongDM competed directly on privileged access for cloud and modern infrastructure; StrongDM's integration now layers just-in-time runtime authorization on top of Delinea's Secret Server.
- BeyondTrust: BeyondTrust is a long-standing PAM and vulnerability management vendor offering privileged password, session, and endpoint privilege management. It competes with StrongDM in the same enterprise RFPs, particularly for hybrid infrastructure access and vendor remote access.
- Teleport: Teleport provides identity-aware access for SSH, Kubernetes, databases, and web applications with a Zero Trust approach that closely mirrors StrongDM's. Both target developer and infrastructure teams seeking to replace VPNs and jump servers with certificate- and identity-based access.
Emerging players
- HashiCorp Boundary: HashiCorp Boundary is an identity-based session access proxy for infrastructure, tightly integrated with HashiCorp Vault. It overlaps with StrongDM on Zero Trust access to servers, databases, and Kubernetes, particularly for HashiCorp-centric cloud and DevOps shops.
- JumpCloud: JumpCloud is a cloud directory platform offering SSO, device management, and lightweight server access controls aimed at mid-market and DevOps-leaning IT teams. It overlaps with StrongDM in SMB/mid-market where Zero Trust access for servers and SaaS apps is being consolidated under a single directory vendor.
Broad incumbents
- One Identity (OneLogin): One Identity offers a broad IAM and PAM portfolio including OneLogin SSO, identity governance, and privileged account management. It competes with StrongDM at the intersection of SSO, PAM, and governance inside large enterprise accounts.
- Okta: Okta is the leading cloud identity provider offering SSO, MFA, lifecycle management, and increasingly privileged access via Okta Privileged Access. It is a broad incumbent that competes with StrongDM for identity-driven access budgets, especially where customers standardize on Okta as their IdP.
- Microsoft Entra (Azure AD) Privileged Identity Management: Microsoft Entra ID includes Privileged Identity Management (PIM) for just-in-time role activation and access reviews across Azure. As Microsoft bundles PIM into its enterprise agreements, it represents a structural competitor to StrongDM inside Microsoft-centric environments.
Regional players
- WALLIX: WALLIX is a European-based PAM vendor offering privileged account, session, and password management. It is a comparable PAM platform to StrongDM but primarily serves EMEA customers with strong OT/ICS positioning, making it a regional rather than direct US competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
StrongDM social profiles
Digital presenceStrongDM compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
StrongDM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
StrongDM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
StrongDM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors23 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
StrongDM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about StrongDM
What does StrongDM do?
StrongDM provides a unified Zero Trust Privileged Access Management (PAM) SaaS platform that centralizes and audits access to databases, servers, Kubernetes clusters, and SaaS applications through a proxy-based architecture (local client, gateway, configuration layer). Customers subscribe to annual plans (Essentials, Enterprise, GovCloud) to enforce continuous runtime authorization, just-in-time access, ephemeral credentials, and complete session recording across multi-cloud and hybrid infrastructure.
Is StrongDM a public or private company?
StrongDM is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was StrongDM founded?
StrongDM was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is StrongDM based?
StrongDM is headquartered in Burlingame, United States, in the North America region.
How does StrongDM make money?
One revenue line is on record: subscription SaaS.
Who are StrongDM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CyberArk, Delinea, BeyondTrust and Teleport. Emerging players are HashiCorp Boundary and JumpCloud. Broad incumbents are One Identity (OneLogin), Okta and Microsoft Entra (Azure AD) Privileged Identity Management. WALLIX is listed as a regional player.
Does StrongDM have an API?
Yes. StrongDM offers open APIs allowing integration with any system in the stack to automate access management, enforce security policies, and customize workflows. The API provides access to audit data and configuration management. Developer documentation is at www.strongdm.com/docs/api.