What QUARKS LAB does

Quarkslab is a French cybersecurity company founded in 2011 and headquartered in Paris, with engineering offices in Rennes, France, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and approximately 100 employees. The company operates a dual model combining proprietary software products with expert security consulting, serving defense, aerospace, IoT, automotive, payments, software, and blockchain customers — named enterprise users include Bondzai, Viaccess-Orca, Doctolib, Crédit Agricole, Ingenico, Alan, Interlay, TariLabs, and Metalgear. Quarkslab's positioning is anchored in offensive and defensive security expertise, with an emphasis on forcing attackers rather than defenders to adapt.

The company's core technology is QShield, a four-module software protection suite: App Protection (30+ code obfuscation and RASP schemes for C, C++, Java, Kotlin, Objective C, Swift), Keys Protection (white-box cryptography without dedicated hardware), Data Protection (secure vault for IoT secrets and certificates), and Environment Checks (remote fleet monitoring with debugger/emulator/tampering detection). The technology stack is reinforced by open-source tools (Triton, QBDI, LIEF) and the company's ANSSI-accredited CESTI laboratory, which delivers CSPN certification support and is one of the first French facilities certified for post-quantum cryptography. QShield is also the first product worldwide with a white-box cryptography component certified under the EMVCo SBMP evaluation process.

Quarkslab generates revenue through annual QShield software subscriptions, multi-year enterprise contracts, and professional services spanning security audits, penetration testing, cryptography consulting, technical due diligence, CSPN certification, and post-quantum migration. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the company uses 'Request a demo' and 'Talk to our experts' CTAs as the primary conversion mechanism via enterprise field sales. The company has been backed by Tikehau Capital since 2020, and in April 2026 Airbus announced an agreement to acquire Quarkslab to strengthen sovereign European cybersecurity capabilities, with closing pending regulatory and social partner consultations.

Name

QUARKS LAB

Legal name

Quarkslab SAS

Website

https://quarkslab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quarkslab, founded 2011 in France, provides software protection (QShield) and security consulting across defense, aerospace, IoT, automotive, and payments sectors. ANSSI-accredited CESTI with PQC certification, backed by Tikehau Capital since 2020, subject to a 2026 Airbus acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Application Security Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

PQC Migration, Readiness Assessment & Crypto-Agility (HDAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Quantum Security (PQC/QKD) Training & Readiness Services (HDAGALAG)

Keywords

• Application security software
• Code obfuscation tools
• White-box cryptography
• Cybersecurity consulting
• Penetration testing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. QShield Software Licenses: Quarkslab generates revenue through licensing of their QShield software protection suite, which includes application protection, keys protection, data protection, and environment checks modules. The software is deployed during development and provides ongoing runtime protection with OTA security updates.
2. Security Audit & Consulting Services (QLab): Professional services revenue from security auditing, penetration testing, cryptography consulting, technical due diligence, and specialized R&D outsourcing. Services span connected devices, cryptography, CSPN certification, automotive, cloud, mobile ecosystem, and blockchain security.
3. Training Services: Security training programs offered on topics including Android applications, car hacking, binary fuzzing, reverse engineering, iOS security, and professional reverse engineering. Training delivered as client internal programs or through conference partnerships.
4. CSPN Certification Services: First Level Security Certification (CSPN) evaluation and support services through their ANSSI-accredited CESTI laboratory, helping clients address French and European public and defense markets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Quarkslab sells the QShield software protection suite that combines code obfuscation, runtime application self-protection, white-box cryptography, secure data vaulting, and remote fleet environment checks to safeguard applications, devices, and sensitive data. The company also delivers QLab expert security audit and consulting services spanning cryptography, connected devices, automotive, cloud, blockchain, mobile ecosystem, and standardized penetration testing (Pentest by QB). Additional offerings include ANSSI-accredited CSPN certification support and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration services.

Product overview

Quarkslab operates as a dual-offering company combining proprietary software products with expert security consulting services. The core product is QShield, a comprehensive software protection suite comprising four integrated modules: App Protection (code obfuscation and RASP), Keys Protection (white-box cryptography), Data Protection (secure data vault), and Environment Checks (remote fleet monitoring). QShield supports Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS, and BareMetal platforms. The consulting arm, QLab, provides specialized security audit services including cryptography, connected devices, automotive security, cloud security, blockchain security, mobile ecosystem, technical due diligence, and standardized penetration testing (Pentest by QB). Additional services include ANSSI-certified CSPN certification support and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration assistance. The company serves defense, aerospace, IoT, automotive, payment, entertainment, and blockchain industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• QShield: Comprehensive security suite designed to safeguard intellectual property (IP), data, devices, and software against modern cyber threats.

Products and services

• QShield
• QLab Security Audit & Consulting
• Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Migration Support
• CSPN Certification Services
• Pentest by QB
• IoT Security Services
• Blockchain Security Auditing

Quantifiable outcome

• QShield components successfully certified through PCI Security Standards Council's software-based mobile payment (SBMP) evaluation process by independent third-party laboratory
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AirbuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Airbus entered into an agreement to acquire Quarkslab in April 2026 to build sovereign cybersecurity capabilities. The acquisition is part of Airbus' broader strategy to create a pan-European cyber defense platform, following acquisitions of Infodas (Germany, 2024) and planned acquisition of Ultra Cyber Ltd (UK, March 2026).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PQShield: Post-quantum cryptography specialist offering PQC software/hardware IP, migration services, and consulting. Directly comparable to Quarkslab's PQC Migration Support offering.
• Guardsquare: Specialist in mobile application protection (DexGuard/iXGuard for Android/iOS) offering code obfuscation and RASP. Direct competitor in mobile code obfuscation and runtime protection.
• Verimatrix: Provides code obfuscation, white-box cryptography, and anti-tampering solutions for mobile, IoT, and video/content protection. Closely overlaps QShield App Protection and Keys Protection modules.
• Trail of Bits: Security research and consulting firm specializing in cryptography, reverse engineering, binary analysis, and blockchain security. Strong overlap with QLab's cryptography and PQC migration services.
• Irdeto: Global software security and platform protection vendor offering code obfuscation, white-box cryptography, and anti-tamper/RASP for pay-TV, OTT, automotive, and IoT. Direct competitor to QShield in app and key protection for connected devices.
• NCC Group: Global cybersecurity consulting and software resilience firm offering cryptography, reverse engineering, and penetration testing services. Directly comparable to Quarkslab's QLab consulting practice.

Emerging players

• Intertrust: Provides white-box cryptography, secure computing, and DRM/intertrust platforms for media, IoT, and payments. Closely comparable to QShield Keys Protection and Data Protection.

Broad incumbents

• Thales (Cyber Defence): French defense prime and major European cybersecurity provider serving defense, aerospace, and government clients. Comparable in sovereign-cybersecurity positioning and ANSSI ecosystem relationships.
• Synopsys (Software Integrity): Large software security and application testing vendor with broad portfolio covering SAST/DAST/RASP/penetration testing. Competes with Quarkslab in application security and IoT/embedded testing.
• Atos (Eviden Cybersecurity): European IT services and cybersecurity firm with large cryptography, defense cyber, and audit practices. Overlaps with QLab consulting in European public/defense markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/quarkslab
• GitHubgithub.com/quarkslab
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9pmXUZLuOr1d90rsf8zesw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quarkslab

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QUARKS LAB