Tether Security
Tether Security is a cloud-native endpoint security and IT fleet operations platform that provides enterprise customers with device tracking, full disk encryption management, geofencing, and remote device containment (RemoteKill®) for corporate laptops, smartphones, and tablets. The company sells via direct enterprise sales and an MSP/VAR/OEM partner program on a per-seat subscription basis.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Tether Security does
Tether Security (legally EXO5 LLC), founded in 2006 and headquartered in San Francisco, is a cloud-native endpoint security and IT fleet operations platform exclusively serving enterprise customers. The company positions itself at what it calls the 'physical layer' of endpoint security — the intersection of device, location, and human behavior — addressing risks such as lost or stolen corporate laptops, insider threats from former employees, unencrypted data, and unmanaged 'dark assets.' Its integrated product portfolio consists of five core offerings: real-time laptop and device tracking (using Wi-Fi/cellular triangulation, GPS, MAC correlation, and IP-geo databases), RemoteKill® secure containment (emergency encryption and OS lockout for compromised devices), device geofencing and curfews, full disk encryption management for BitLocker and FileVault with a centralized recovery key repository, and lightweight mobile device management for iOS and Android. The underlying technology is a client-to-cloud platform with real-time cloud-to-client communications, designed to manage millions of devices from a single responsive console, and it includes an API layer for integration with helpdesk, CRM, and IT asset management systems.
The business model is a per-seat annual subscription with a 25-seat minimum, tiered as $29/seat/year or bundled annual plans at $749 (1-year), $559 (2-year, 25% savings), or $499 (3-year, 33% savings) per year. Discounts are available for volume, multi-year terms, and EDU/NPO organizations, and pricing supports multiple currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD). Go-to-market is enterprise-only and multi-channel: direct sales via the website (with free trial and demo booking), an MSP/VAR/distributor partner program featuring a multi-client MSP Console with pooled or standalone seat subscriptions, and an OEM/ISV licensing tier through the Tether Cloud Application Platform (TCAP), which lets partners embed or co-brand the technology. The company claims to support compliance reporting for FINRA, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI, and CPRA. Tether operates as a privately held, bootstrapped business with a single disclosed $450,000 funding round from 2007, and as of 2023 has been led by CEO Richard Lee, with a small executive team including Directors of Engineering (Choong Ng, Andrzej Nowik, Maciej Pijanowski) and Marketing (Lisa Plotczyk). The company rebranded from EXO5 to Tether Security in 2023 and concurrently launched the MSP Console, new APIs, and announced planned anti-malware and anti-ransomware capabilities targeting H2 2023.
Tether Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tether Security
- Legal name
- EXO5 LLC
- Website
- https://tethersecurity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tether Security is a cloud-native endpoint security and IT fleet operations platform that provides enterprise customers with device tracking, full disk encryption management, geofencing, and remote device containment (RemoteKill®) for corporate laptops, smartphones, and tablets. The company sells via direct enterprise sales and an MSP/VAR/OEM partner program on a per-seat subscription basis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tether Security industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Endpoint Security Software
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Encryption (Data-at-Rest / In-Transit / In-Use) (HDADAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Secrets Management & Cloud Key Management (KMS, Vaults) (HDADADAK), Cloud-Managed & Managed Security Systems Services (Remote Monitoring, Maintenance) (BPAKAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Tether Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Tether Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Per-Seat Subscription: Annual subscription pricing per seat with 25 seat minimum. Multi-year subscriptions available with volume discounts. Discounts also available for EDU/NPO organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Per seat | Annual | Per-Seat annual subscription at $29/year |
| Subscription | Annual | One Year plan at $749/year |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Two Year plan at $559/year (25% savings) |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Three Year plan at $499/year (33% savings) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Tether Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tether Security sells a cloud-native IT fleet operations and endpoint security platform for enterprise IT teams and managed service providers. The platform combines real-time laptop and device tracking, RemoteKill® emergency encryption and OS lockout, geofencing and offline curfews, BitLocker/FileVault full disk encryption management, and lightweight iOS/Android mobile device management under a single cloud console. It also exposes APIs and a partner platform (TCAP) that enables MSPs, VARs, OEMs, and ISVs to embed or resell the technology.
Product overview
Tether Security is an IT Fleet Operations and Endpoint Security Platform built as a unified cloud-native platform. The core portfolio consists of five integrated products: Laptop and Device Tracking provides real-time visibility and location monitoring; RemoteKill® Secure Containment enables emergency data encryption and OS lockout for lost/stolen devices; Device Geofencing and Curfews enforces geographic and behavioral controls; Full Disk Encryption manages BitLocker and FileVault with centralized key recovery; and Mobile Device Management secures iOS and Android devices. A cloud-based admin console provides centralized management across all capabilities. The company also offers the Tether Cloud Application Platform (TCAP) for partners and an MSP Console for managed service providers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RemoteKill®: Secure Containment product that allows deauthorization of lost or stolen devices on-demand or via predefined triggers, with emergency encryption and OS lockout capabilities.
- Full Disk Encryption
- Device Geofencing and Curfews
- Laptop and Device Tracking
- Mobile Device Management
- Tether Cloud Application Platform (TCAP)
- MSP Console
Products and services
- Laptop and Device Tracking Real-time tracking and location monitoring for corporate laptops and devices. Provides hardware/software inventory, multiple location sensors (Wi-Fi, cellular, GPS, MAC correlation, IP-geo databases), location history, and compliance reporting for enterprise IT teams.
- RemoteKill® Secure Containment Emergency containment solution for lost or stolen devices. Provides remote emergency encryption (file/folder freeze), OS lockout at the preboot level with a custom lock message and unlock password, on-demand or triggered response, incident logging, and MDM factory reset for Android/iOS.
- Device Geofencing and Curfews Defines geofences with entry/exit parameters, detects VPN spoofing and suspicious IPs, enforces offline curfews (lockout actions execute locally with or without network connection), identifies country-level network connections, and locks down devices after failed login attempts.
- Full Disk Encryption OS-native full disk encryption management for BitLocker (Windows) and FileVault (macOS). Includes a client-side wizard for user experience, a centralized recovery key and DRA certificate repository, privacy-regulation compliance reporting (FINRA, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI, CPRA), and policy-based mass deployment.
- Mobile Device Management Lightweight MDM agent for iOS and Android devices providing free core MDM security features, remote device lock and wipe, real-time hardware/software inventory, security policy enforcement, and support for company-owned, employee-owned, or hybrid ownership models.
- Tether Cloud Application Platform (TCAP) Cloud platform enabling ISVs and OEMs to transform existing products into cloud services. Features a modern web UI, real-time cloud-to-client communications, and robust infrastructure tools for creating scalable, secure, high-availability cloud products, available via simple reseller agreements, distributor-class services with multi-level account provisioning, and OEM-level co-branded offerings.
- MSP Console Management console for managed service providers to manage all clients with a single login, create and edit client accounts, manage subscriptions, and choose between standalone or pooled seat models.
Quantifiable outcome
- Companies lose between 10% and 20% of laptops within their service lifetime
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Tether Security
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tether Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Tether Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Managed Service Providers (MSPs)coreTether's MSP Program allows managed service providers to demonstrate security capabilities to clients, manage multiple client accounts from a single login, and offer pooled or standalone seat subscriptions. Partners can provide visualizations of client operations locally and globally.
- VARs and Software DistributorscoreValue-added resellers and software distributors can offer Tether as an addition to their service portfolio, helping clients lose fewer PCs, protect sensitive data in theft events, and deploy IT assets more efficiently.
- OEMs and ISVscoreTether Cloud Application Platform (TCAP) enables OEMs and ISVs to transform their existing products into cloud services. TCAP features modern web UI, real-time cloud-to-client communications, and robust infrastructure. Options include simple reseller agreements, distributor-class services with multi-level account provisioning, and OEM-level co-branded service offerings.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Tether Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Prey Inc. Prey offers cross-platform anti-theft, device tracking, geofencing and lockdown for laptops, phones, and tablets — matching Tether's core tracking/geofencing/lockdown product surface and small-business pricing.
- Jamf: Jamf specializes in Apple device management with strong FileVault, location, and remote lock support, overlapping Tether's macOS encryption and iOS MDM capabilities for enterprise Mac fleets.
- Absolute Software: Absolute provides endpoint visibility, tracking, and recovery (Absolute Resilience/Persistence) for laptops and mobile devices — the most direct analog to Tether's tracking and RemoteKill capabilities.
- Hexnode MDM: Hexnode offers unified endpoint management with location tracking, geofencing, BitLocker/FileVault key management, and remote lock/wipe — closely aligning with Tether's full product suite, especially for SMB-to-midmarket customers.
Broad incumbents
- Ivanti: Ivanti (formerly MobileIron/Landesk) provides unified endpoint management, including device tracking, encryption policy, and geofencing — a broad incumbent serving similar enterprise buyers with a much larger product portfolio.
- Microsoft Intune: Intune is the dominant enterprise UEM bundled inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, offering BitLocker management, remote wipe, and compliance reporting that overlaps Tether's encryption and compliance reporting features.
- ManageEngine Endpoint Central (Zoho): ManageEngine's Endpoint Central delivers unified endpoint management including BitLocker management, remote lock, and asset inventory, offering comparable functionality to Tether at scale across both enterprise and SMB segments.
Emerging players
- JumpCloud: JumpCloud provides cloud directory, MDM, and cross-platform device management with location and policy features — increasingly stacking endpoint security adjacent to Tether's tracking/MDM offering for SMB/midmarket customers.
- Kandji: Kandji is an Apple-focused UEM/MDM platform with FileVault management, location tracking, and remote lock — competing directly for the same macOS-heavy enterprise accounts that Tether targets with its encryption and tracking stack.
- Druva: Druva delivers cloud-based data protection, including encryption and key management for endpoints, overlapping the encryption key repository and compliance reporting features central to Tether's value proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tether Security social profiles
Digital presenceTether Security compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Tether Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tether Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Tether Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tether Security 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 Tether Security
What does Tether Security do?
Tether Security sells a cloud-native IT fleet operations and endpoint security platform for enterprise IT teams and managed service providers. The platform combines real-time laptop and device tracking, RemoteKill® emergency encryption and OS lockout, geofencing and offline curfews, BitLocker/FileVault full disk encryption management, and lightweight iOS/Android mobile device management under a single cloud console. It also exposes APIs and a partner platform (TCAP) that enables MSPs, VARs, OEMs, and ISVs to embed or resell the technology.
Is Tether Security a public or private company?
Tether Security is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tether Security founded?
Tether Security was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tether Security based?
Tether Security is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tether Security make money?
One revenue line is on record: per-Seat Subscription.
Who are Tether Security's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Prey Inc., Jamf, Absolute Software and Hexnode MDM. Broad incumbents are Ivanti, Microsoft Intune and ManageEngine Endpoint Central (Zoho). Emerging players are JumpCloud, Kandji and Druva.
Does Tether Security have an API?
Yes. Tether provides APIs enabling customers to build connections between Tether services and their key IT infrastructure. The APIs allow feeding Tether data to helpdesk, CRM, or other enterprise applications, enabling automation of asset procurement and retirement procedures, eliminating double-entry, and delivering accurate asset data throughout organizations. Developer documentation is at tethersecurity.com.
What industry is Tether Security in?
Tether Security's product category is Endpoint Security Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADAFAB, Encryption (Data-at-Rest / In-Transit / In-Use), with a secondary code of HDADADAK, Secrets Management & Cloud Key Management (KMS, Vaults). Its NAICS code is 518 and its SIC code is 7371.