Kuppinger Cole
KuppingerCole Analysts AG is an independent German IT analyst and advisory firm founded in 2004, specializing in identity and access management, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. It sells research reports, maturity assessments, advisory engagements, and the EIC and Impact Days events to enterprise security leaders across regulated industries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersDüsseldorf, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kuppinger Cole does
KuppingerCole Analysts AG is an independent, vendor-neutral IT analyst and advisory firm founded in 2004 by Martin Kuppinger and headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany. The firm specializes in identity and access management (IAM), cybersecurity, and digital transformation, serving enterprise security leaders across regulated industries including financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, energy, and the public sector. Its core intellectual property consists of proprietary research methodologies — notably the Identity Fabric reference architecture, the Leadership Compass vendor evaluation framework, the IAM Maturity Assessment, and the more recent Product Value Navigator — supported by a research output of 150+ reports per year. The firm also operates the European Identity and Cloud Conference (EIC), a flagship annual event in Berlin drawing 1,500+ attendees, supplemented by three specialized one-day Impact Days focused on Identity Fabric, AI/Non-Human Identity, and CIAM, plus 80+ webinars.
The firm operates a hybrid go-to-market combining subscription-based membership (Professional €1,200/year, Expert €2,600/year, Corporate contact-based), professional advisory engagements (maturity assessments, Identity Fabric architecture design, vendor selection, Zero Trust roadmaps), event ticket sales and vendor sponsorships, and individual report purchases. Advisory sales are led by a dedicated Director Advisory Sales with 2+ decades of cybersecurity experience. KuppingerCole's evidence base is reinforced by 800+ annual vendor and client briefings covering 1,200+ technology providers, a 50,000+ global expert community, a CISO Council, and 500+ advisory engagements to date with Fortune 500 and DAX-40 organizations. The firm is privately held as a German stock corporation (AG), is ISO/IEC 27001 and TISAX certified, and is led by CEO Berthold Kerl (joined July 2020, ex-Deutsche Bank CIO), with founder Martin Kuppinger continuing as Distinguished Analyst.
Kuppinger Cole firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kuppinger Cole
- Legal name
- KuppingerCole Analysts AG
- Website
- https://kuppingercole.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- KuppingerCole Analysts AG is an independent German IT analyst and advisory firm founded in 2004, specializing in identity and access management, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. It sells research reports, maturity assessments, advisory engagements, and the EIC and Impact Days events to enterprise security leaders across regulated industries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kuppinger Cole industry classification
Industry- Product category
- IT Research & Advisory Services
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Security Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory (BPAKADAG)
Keywords
Where Kuppinger Cole is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Düsseldorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Kuppinger Cole business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership packages (Professional €1,200/year, Expert €2,600/year, Corporate) providing access to research library, analyst inquiry calls, workshops, event discounts, and community access. Membership is billed annually with tiered pricing based on team size and service scope.
- Advisory Services: Vendor-neutral advisory engagements including maturity assessments, architecture design, strategy reviews, tool selection, and implementation guidance. Services are tailored to enterprise security leaders with engagements ranging from 4-16 weeks for specific deliverables.
- Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue from conference tickets for EIC (€600-€2,500), Impact Days (€150-€850), and virtual access. Additional revenue from event sponsorships and exhibitions by technology providers seeking visibility with the IAM community.
- Research Reports and Briefings: Over 150 annual reports including Leadership Compass, Buyer's Compass, Advisory Notes, Whitepapers, Executive Views, Leadership Briefs, Rising Star reports, and Product Value Navigator assessments available through membership or individual purchase.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Professional membership for individuals at €1,200/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Expert membership for individuals at €2,600/year (best value) |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate membership for teams - contact for pricing |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | IF Impact Day 2026 End User Conference Ticket |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | IF Impact Day 2026 Vendor/Consultant Conference Ticket |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | EIC 2027 Conference Ticket |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | EIC 2027 Virtual Ticket |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Kuppinger Cole product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KuppingerCole Analysts AG is an independent IT analyst firm specializing in identity and access management (IAM), cybersecurity, and digital transformation. The firm sells proprietary research reports, vendor evaluations, vendor-neutral advisory engagements, and major industry events, supported by a tiered membership model and direct enterprise sales. Its portfolio includes Leadership Compass reports, Buyer's Compass guides, Advisory Notes, Whitepapers, Executive Views, and Product Value Navigator assessments.
Product overview
KuppingerCole Analysts is an analyst and advisory firm specializing in identity and access management (IAM) and cybersecurity. Their offering consists of a comprehensive portfolio of research reports (Leadership Compass, Buyer's Compass, Advisory Notes, Whitepapers, Executive Views, Leadership Briefs, Rising Star reports, and Product Value Navigator assessments), advisory services including IAM maturity assessments and Identity Fabric architecture guidance, and major industry events (EIC, Identity Fabric Impact Day, AI & NHI Impact Day, and CIAM Impact Day). The company operates on a membership model with Professional, Expert, and Corporate tiers, supplemented by one-time report purchases. Their core differentiator is the Identity Fabric framework - a proprietary architectural approach that serves as the foundation for their advisory engagements and research coverage across identity security topics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Leadership Compass Comprehensive market analysis reports evaluating vendors across Product, Innovation, and Market Leadership categories, helping organizations identify solutions for their IAM and security needs.
- Buyer's Compass Decision-making framework providing key criteria and functional/non-functional requirements for evaluating services and products in specific technology categories.
- Advisory Notes Short reports presenting information about specific topics, companies, or products aimed at management decision-makers with usage recommendations.
- Whitepapers In-depth reports informing readers about specific complex issues, helping them understand problems or make decisions.
- Executive View Concise reports covering specific products or services, describing strengths and challenges to give end users expert reference.
- Leadership Brief Condensed research papers for executives covering business challenges and advising on key issues for quick decision-making.
- Rising Star Reports identifying and promoting innovative next-generation companies in identity and cybersecurity.
- Product Value Navigator Research evaluating business impact and financial value of products, focusing on measurable outcomes, risk reduction, efficiency, and ROI.
- Advisory Services Vendor-neutral advisory services including maturity assessments, strategy development, architecture design, tool selection, and implementation guidance backed by 20+ years of research.
- IAM Maturity Assessment Online self-assessment evaluating identity security maturity across Architecture, Governance, Compliance, Operations, and Risk Management dimensions.
- KC Membership Membership packages providing access to independent research, personalized analyst advice, and global community of digital trust leaders. Available in Professional (€1,200/year), Expert (€2,600/year), and Corporate (contact-based pricing) tiers.
- European Identity and Cloud Conference (EIC) Europe's leading annual conference on digital identity, security, privacy, and governance, bringing together over 1,500 leaders with 250+ speakers and 230+ sessions.
- Identity Fabric Impact Day One-day focused event for IAM professionals on Identity Fabrics - modular, flexible architectures for enterprise identity needs.
- AI & NHI Impact Day Event dedicated to securing and governing non-human identities at scale, exploring AIdentity, dynamic credentials, and automated governance.
- CIAM Impact Day Event dedicated to transforming Customer Identity & Access Management, exploring EUDI Wallets, verifiable credentials, decentralized identity, and passwordless authentication.
Quantifiable outcome
- 500+ advisory engagements with Fortune 500 and DAX-40 organizations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Kuppinger Cole
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kuppinger Cole technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Kuppinger Cole partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Ping IdentityflagshipFeatured sponsor for IF Impact Day 2026, AI & NHI Impact Day 2026, CIAM Impact Day 2026, and EIC 2027. Collaboration on AI agent security research with KuppingerCole Analysts' Martin Kuppinger featuring CEO André Durand discussing AI, non-human identities, and digital trust.
- SaviyntcoreFeatured sponsor for IF Impact Day 2026, AI & NHI Impact Day 2026, and EIC 2027. Identity security company recognized as Overall Leader in multiple KuppingerCole Leadership Compass reports.
- SailPointcoreFeatured sponsor for AI & NHI Impact Day 2026. Identity governance leader recognized in multiple KuppingerCole Leadership Compass reports including IGA and CIEM.
- ThalescoreFeatured sponsor for IF Impact Day 2026, AI & NHI Impact Day 2026, CIAM Impact Day 2026, and EIC 2027. Security technology provider with ongoing collaboration with KuppingerCole on identity management strategies.
- OktacoreFeatured sponsor for AI & NHI Impact Day 2026 and CIAM Impact Day 2026. Identity and access management platform featured in KuppingerCole research and event programming.
- CuritycoreFeatured sponsor for AI & NHI Impact Day 2026. API-driven identity server provider participating in non-human identity and AI agent security discussions.
- cidaasminorFeatured sponsor for EIC 2027. Customer identity and access management solution from Germany.
- Transmit SecurityminorFeatured sponsor for CIAM Impact Day 2026. Passwordless authentication and identity verification provider.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kuppinger Cole competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Forrester Research: Forrester is a global research and advisory firm that directly competes with KuppingerCole in IAM, cybersecurity, and digital transformation research, with overlapping flagship products (Forrester Wave vs. KuppingerCole Leadership Compass) and similar enterprise advisory engagements.
- IDC (International Data Corporation): IDC is a global provider of market intelligence and advisory services covering cybersecurity, identity, and digital transformation, with subscription research, advisory, and events that directly overlap KuppingerCole's offering.
- Enterprise Management Associates (EMA): EMA is an IT research and consulting firm that produces vendor evaluations and advisory in cybersecurity, IAM, and enterprise IT — closely comparable to KuppingerCole in scope, depth, and enterprise buyer audience.
Broad incumbents
- Gartner: Gartner is the largest global IT research and advisory firm, covering IAM and cybersecurity as part of a much broader IT portfolio. It is the dominant incumbent competitor for enterprise research budgets but is far less specialized than KuppingerCole in identity.
- 451 Research (S&P Global): 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, is a broad technology research firm covering cybersecurity, data, and enterprise IT — overlapping with KuppingerCole in cybersecurity/IAM but distributed through a much larger corporate parent.
Emerging players
- Constellation Research: Constellation Research focuses on disruptive and emerging technologies, including digital transformation and security, with a subscription and advisory model similar to KuppingerCole but a broader technology remit and US-centric base.
- Omdia: Omdia (formerly Ovum/Heavy Reading) is a global technology research firm covering cybersecurity, IoT, and enterprise IT, with research subscriptions and advisory engagements overlapping KuppingerCole's enterprise buyer segments.
- HFS Research: HFS Research is an emerging global research and advisory firm covering IT services, automation, and cybersecurity. Its subscription + advisory + community model is structurally comparable to KuppingerCole, though it leans more toward services research.
- TAG Cyber: TAG Cyber is a US-based cybersecurity research and advisory firm that produces enterprise security research, vendor reports, and advisory — comparable in cybersecurity specialization but with a much smaller team and US-first focus.
Regional players
- NelsonHall: NelsonHall is a UK-based IT services and operations research firm covering cybersecurity, BPO, and digital transformation with a buyer-focused research and advisory model similar to KuppingerCole, but with a stronger UK/European IT services angle.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kuppinger Cole social profiles
Digital presenceKuppinger Cole compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Kuppinger Cole financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kuppinger Cole leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Kuppinger Cole funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kuppinger Cole 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 Kuppinger Cole
What does Kuppinger Cole do?
KuppingerCole Analysts AG is an independent IT analyst firm specializing in identity and access management (IAM), cybersecurity, and digital transformation. The firm sells proprietary research reports, vendor evaluations, vendor-neutral advisory engagements, and major industry events, supported by a tiered membership model and direct enterprise sales. Its portfolio includes Leadership Compass reports, Buyer's Compass guides, Advisory Notes, Whitepapers, Executive Views, and Product Value Navigator assessments.
Is Kuppinger Cole a public or private company?
Kuppinger Cole is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kuppinger Cole founded?
Kuppinger Cole was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kuppinger Cole based?
Kuppinger Cole is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Kuppinger Cole make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advisory Services, event Tickets and Sponsorships and research Reports and Briefings.
Who are Kuppinger Cole's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Forrester Research, IDC (International Data Corporation) and Enterprise Management Associates (EMA). Broad incumbents are Gartner and 451 Research (S&P Global). Emerging players are Constellation Research, Omdia, HFS Research and TAG Cyber. NelsonHall is listed as a regional player.
Does Kuppinger Cole have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kuppinger Cole.
What industry is Kuppinger Cole in?
Kuppinger Cole's product category is IT Research & Advisory Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAKADAG, Security Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.