XignSys

What XignSys does

XignSys GmbH is a German cybersecurity company founded in 2016 as a spin-off from the Institute for Internet Security at Westfälische Hochschule in Gelsenkirchen. The company specializes in digital identity and authentication infrastructure for regulated German markets, including eGovernment, E-Health, KRITIS (critical infrastructure), utilities, and education. Its core technology, XignIn, is a BSI-certified, passwordless multi-factor authentication solution that uses smartphone Secure Enclaves for cryptographic key management, comprising a server-side XignIn Manager, native XignIn SDK for Android/iOS, and a consumer-facing Xign.Me app. Complementing this, the ID-Broker middleware provides standardized OIDC/SAML intermediation between online services and German government identity providers (BundID, ELSTER, EUDI-Wallet), positioning XignSys as a cooperative partner of the Federal Ministry of the Interior for OZG implementations. The company also offers Keycloak expert solutions, Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM), and a Postfach-Broker for secure government-to-citizen communication.

The business model combines recurring software licensing (XignIn SDK, 12-month auto-renewing terms), managed services (ID-Broker operated in BSI-C5 / ISO-27001 German cloud environments or on-premise), and project-based professional services and consulting. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; offers are built per customer requirement. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with direct engagement supplemented by technology partners (e.g., Noske Office Consulting) for vertical-specific deployments. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and appears bootstrapped aside from a 2019 EY Startup Academy participation and ongoing public research grants. Geographic focus remains Germany/DACH with EUDI-Wallet readiness signaling intent to extend into broader European digital identity interoperability.

Name

XignSys

Legal name

XignSys GmbH

Website

https://xignsys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

XignSys GmbH is a German cybersecurity firm providing BSI-certified passwordless authentication (XignIn) and identity intermediation middleware (ID-Broker) to government agencies, critical infrastructure operators, utilities, healthcare, and educational institutions, primarily serving OZG-compliant eGovernment deployments in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Identity and Access Management

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHDAEAJAC

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) & Passwordless Authentication

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Identity & Access Management (IAM) & Directory Services Platforms

SECONDARYBPAMAEAE

Authentication (MFA/Passwordless/Biometrics) Platforms

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/Digital Identity, Authentication & Access

SECONDARYBPAEABAJ

Identity & Access Management (IAM) Administration Services

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/Managed IT Services (MSP)

SECONDARYHDAEAJAI

Identity Verification, Proofing & KYC (IDV)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Identity & Access Management (IAM) & Directory Services Platforms

Keywords

• Digital identity management
• Multi-factor authentication
• Single sign-on solutions
• Customer identity access
• Passwordless authentication

Headquarters

HQ city

Gelsenkirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing (XignIn SDK and XignIn Technology): License fees for using XignIn SDK and XignIn technology solutions. The SDK is provided under a license agreement with specific terms including a 12-month initial term that automatically renews for additional 12-month periods unless terminated with 3 months notice. Payment is due annually or for the entire term upfront, with invoices payable within 14 days.
2. Professional Services and Consulting: Security consulting, secure software development, implementation services, and project-based engagements covering the entire software lifecycle from concept through ongoing maintenance and support.
3. Managed Services / ID-Broker Operations: Managed service delivery of ID-Broker in certified German cloud environments, providing ongoing operation, maintenance, and support for identity infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

XignSys develops and operates BSI-certified digital identity and authentication solutions centered on the proprietary XignIn passwordless MFA technology (Manager, SDK, and Xign.Me authenticator app). The company also delivers the ID-Broker middleware for connecting to German and EU government identity schemes (BundID, ELSTER, EUDI-Wallet) under the Onlinezugangsgesetz, plus Postfach-Broker for certified mailbox integration, and a suite of Keycloak-based CIAM, SSO, and managed trust infrastructure services. Target customers are enterprises, public administration, healthcare, critical infrastructure operators, and higher education institutions.

Product overview

XignSys is a cybersecurity company specializing in digital identities and authentication solutions, founded in 2016 as a spin-off from the Institute for Internet Security at Westfälische Hochschule. The product portfolio centers on the XignIn technology (comprising the XignIn Manager server component, XignIn SDK for Android/iOS, and Xign.Me consumer app) for passwordless MFA, supplemented by the ID-Broker middleware for OZG compliance connecting to BundID/ELSTER/EUDI-Wallet, Keycloak expert solutions, Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM), and the Postfach-Broker for government mailbox integration. Services include Security Driven Development consulting, Professional Services (cloud/app development), and Technical Consulting, all built on open standards (OpenID Connect, OAuth2, SAML) and combined with proprietary BSI-certified security technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• XignIn: Passwordless, cryptography-based multi-factor authentication technology solution developed by XignSys
• Xign.Me
• ID-Broker für OZG
• City.Pass
• XignIn SDK
• Keycloak Solutions

Products and services

• XignIn BSI-certified, hardware-independent passwordless multi-factor authentication technology based on asymmetric cryptography, delivered through three components: the XignIn Manager (central management), the XignIn SDK (for integration into web and mobile applications), and the Xign.Me authenticator app (end-user mobile token). Designed for organizations that need strong, phishing-resistant authentication with flexible key management on standard HSMs.
• ID-Broker (OZG) Middleware that enables OZG-compliant connection of online services to BundID, ELSTER, and the EUDI-Wallet, providing a central integration point for German and European government identity schemes. Targeted at public administration and companies that need to provide legally compliant digital administrative services.
• Postfach-Broker REST-API middleware that enables integration of certified digital mailbox solutions into applications, allowing organizations to send and retrieve documents via DE-Mail, BeBPo, and other certified mailbox providers.
• Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM) Keycloak-based CIAM solution that combines login, registration, self-service, and consent management with the company's BSI-certified authentication components, offered as a managed package for organizations that need customer-facing identity.
• Single Sign-On (SSO) Keycloak-based SSO solution that unifies access to multiple applications and services for employees, citizens, or customers, with support for OIDC, SAML, and integration with XignIn and ID-Broker.
• All-in-One Trust Infrastructure Managed service that covers the complete lifecycle of a Keycloak-based identity infrastructure, from initial architecture and design through secure implementation, operation, and ongoing support, delivered by BSI-qualified personnel.
• Keycloak Expert Solutions Specialized consulting and engineering services for organizations that already run or want to deploy Keycloak at scale, including custom plugins, themes, migration, performance optimization, and cluster hardening.
• Security Driven Development Software development service that builds secure, OZG-compliant applications on top of the XignSys identity stack, with embedded security expertise and BSI-aligned development practices.
• Professional Services and Consulting Strategic consulting, architecture, integration, and support services for customers adopting the XignSys identity platform, delivered by BSI-qualified consultants and engineers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Significantly improved data quality, accelerated registration, and secure, convenient authentication for citizens, tourists and employees
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, minor and moderate.

• Bundesministerium des Innern und für Heimat (BMI) / Federal Ministry of the InteriorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016XignSys operates as a cooperative partner of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) for OZG implementations. They are responsible for implementing interfaces for connecting applications to BundID and Mein Unternehmenskonto (ELSTER) under the Onlinezugangsgesetz (OZG).
• Institut für Internet-Sicherheit an der Westfälischen HochschulecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016XignSys was founded as a spin-off from this research institute, establishing ongoing collaborative research relationships. The company benefits from academic research partnerships for innovation and talent development.
• Noske Office Consulting + Marketing GmbH (NOC)flagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016NOC uses XignSys ID-Broker for OZG-compliant connections to BundID and ELSTER for their tibros-Online education portal serving chambers of commerce. This partnership enables digital administration of training records and examination registrations for apprentices, trainers, and examiners across German chambers.
• Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-LippeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the CoSiMo project for inclusive mobility systems, combining AI-based assistance with secure identity management for autonomous transportation systems.
• Hochschule Rhine-Waal (Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the CoSiMo project for inclusive mobility systems, contributing to the development of secure, interoperable mobility systems.
• TeleTrust - Bundesverband IT-Sicherheit e.V.moderateOthersXignSys holds the TeleTrust 'Security made in Germany' seal and is a member of the TeleTrust association. This certification indicates compliance with German IT security standards and supports trust-building with German customers requiring domestic security certifications.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding source for NetLab research project on secure digitalization and networking of testing laboratories in industry and automotive sectors, and Smartphone ID+ project for secure digital identities on smartphones.
• Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding source for Smartphone ID+ research project as part of the Digital Identities showcase initiative, focused on identification, authentication, digital signatures, and payment processes.
• Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Industrie, Klimaschutz und Energie des Landes Nordrhein-WestfalenmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding source for Smartphone-Bürger-ID project for mobile use of digital administrative services and CoSiMo research on inclusive mobility systems.
• Bescheinigungsstelle ForschungszulageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding certification body for Corona platform research project on secure communication platform for health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Deutsche PostmoderateTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partner for City.Pass solution, providing address verification interface during user registration to ensure clean and precise address data.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IDnow: IDnow is a German identity verification (KYC/AML) provider offering AutoIdent and similar services. It overlaps with XignSys's identity verification integrations and is comparable in serving German regulated industries, though with a stronger verification rather than authentication focus.
• Verimi: Verimi is a German cross-industry identity platform offering secure login, eID, and identity verification. It directly competes with XignSys in the German consumer and citizen identity space, especially for e-government and regulated digital services.
• HYPR: HYPR is a passwordless authentication provider using FIDO2 and smartphone-based cryptographic credentials. It is a direct competitor to XignIn in the phishing-resistant MFA category, though HYPR's footprint is more US-centric while XignSys is Germany-centric.
• Keycloak (open source / Red Hat / Wildfly): Keycloak is the open-source IAM platform on which XignSys builds its Keycloak Expert Solutions and integrates XignIn. It is a direct technology peer, with XignSys positioned as a specialized system integrator and value-added extension provider on top of Keycloak.
• Auth0 by Okta (developer identity): Auth0 (now part of Okta) provides developer-focused authentication and identity APIs including passwordless MFA. It is a direct peer in API-first authentication and competes with XignIn SDK and ID-Broker for developer and customer identity use cases.
• Okta (including Auth0): Okta is a leading cloud-based IAM platform offering MFA, passwordless, SSO, and CIAM capabilities. It directly competes with XignSys's passwordless MFA, CIAM, and SSO offerings, though Okta operates at global scale rather than specializing in German-regulated e-government.

Broad incumbents

• Ping Identity: Ping Identity provides enterprise-grade IAM, MFA, and CIAM solutions with strong presence in regulated industries including government and financial services. It competes with XignSys for complex, high-assurance identity deployments.
• ForgeRock: ForgeRock is a digital identity platform serving enterprise, government, and regulated industries with CIAM, MFA, and identity governance. It is a broad incumbent that competes with XignSys in complex, large-scale government and enterprise identity deployments.
• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory): Microsoft Entra ID is the dominant enterprise identity platform offering MFA, passwordless, SSO, and CIAM. It is a broad incumbent that competes across all of XignSys's verticals, with particular pressure in enterprise and government segments via Microsoft 365 bundling.
• Bundesdruckerei: Bundesdruckerei is the German federal government's identity services provider and operates the eID and related identity infrastructure. It is a broad incumbent in the German identity ecosystem with potential overlap with XignSys's government-facing offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/xignsys
• Xx.com/xignsys
• Facebookfacebook.com/xignsys

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 XignSys