PHYSEC
PHYSEC GmbH is a German deep-tech IoT/OT security company providing cyber-physical security solutions for critical infrastructure operators, utilities and OEMs via its IoTree platform, SEAL anti-tamper radio technology, and regulatory compliance consulting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersBochum, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What PHYSEC does
PHYSEC GmbH is a German deep-tech company providing cyber-physical security solutions for the Internet of Things and Operational Technology (IoT/OT) ecosystem, with a primary focus on critical-infrastructure operators, municipal utilities and device manufacturers. Founded on 29 February 2016 as a spin-off from the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI) at Ruhr University Bochum by Prof. Dr. Christian Zenger and Dr. Heiko Koepke, the company is headquartered in the MARK 51°7 innovation quarter in Bochum and operates as a privately held GmbH.
The company's portfolio combines proprietary Physical Layer Security research with certified cryptography across multiple low-power communication protocols. Core products are PHYSEC IoTree, a manufacturer-independent IoT service platform that aggregates LoRaWAN, wM-Bus and NB-IoT devices under a single management, visualization and compliance layer; PHYSEC SEAL, an Anti-Tamper-Radio (ATR) solution that creates electromagnetic wave-propagation fingerprints of three-dimensional environments and uses cloud-based machine learning to detect physical manipulation in real time; and PHYSEC SIoT, an OEM-facing secure-IoT integration product. Complementary offerings include LoRaWAN quality-assurance services and regulatory/compliance consulting covering CRA, RED, NIS-2, KRITIS-Dachgesetz and IEC 62443.
PHYSEC monetizes through a hybrid model: annual subscription and licensing for IoTree, hardware-plus-monitoring revenue for SEAL, and professional services for LoRaWAN support and regulatory consulting. Go-to-market is enterprise-led, combining direct field sales to utilities and KRITIS operators, OEM integration partnerships (e.g., Kamstrup, Pipersberg, Festool, Gelsenwasser), and system-integrator channels. The company cites more than 50 customers and approximately 130,000 connected devices managed on its platform, with publicly visible logos concentrated in German municipal utilities and critical-infrastructure operators. PHYSEC has been recognized with the Deutscher IT-Sicherheitspreis (2018), the European Cyber Security Organisation award (2021), the NRW Founder's Prize (2019) and the NRW Innovation Award (2024), and achieved ISO/IEC 27001 certification in December 2024.
PHYSEC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PHYSEC
- Legal name
- PHYSEC GmbH
- Website
- https://physec.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PHYSEC GmbH is a German deep-tech IoT/OT security company providing cyber-physical security solutions for critical infrastructure operators, utilities and OEMs via its IoTree platform, SEAL anti-tamper radio technology, and regulatory compliance consulting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PHYSEC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- IoT and OT Cyber-Physical Security
- NAICS
- Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed OT Security Services (MSSP/MDR for ICS/OT) (HDADAJAN)
Keywords
Where PHYSEC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bochum
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
PHYSEC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- IoT Security Platform (IoTree): Annual subscription and licensing model for IoTree platform access, device management, and data visualization services. Revenue generated through platform fees based on connected device count or infrastructure scale.
- SEAL Hardware and Monitoring: Sale of Anti-Tamper-Radio hardware modules combined with ongoing monitoring services. Physical security verification with cloud-based evaluation.
- Consulting Services: Regulatory and compliance consulting for CRA, RED, NIS-2 and KRITIS-Dachgesetz. Risk-based advisory with workshops and economic implementation support.
- LoRaWAN Services: LoRaWAN network quality assurance, optimization and troubleshooting services. Revenue from service contracts and support agreements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Custom enterprise pricing based on scope and requirements |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
PHYSEC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PHYSEC sells cyber-physical security products and solutions for IoT and OT ecosystems. Its core offerings include the IoTree IoT service platform for secure device management and infrastructure operation, the SEAL Anti-Tamper-Radio hardware for physical tamper detection, OEM security integration via SIoT, LoRaWAN network quality assurance services, and regulatory compliance consulting for CRA, RED, NIS-2, and KRITIS frameworks.
Product overview
PHYSEC offers a modular IoT/OT security portfolio combining cyber and physical security. The core offerings include IoTree (secure IoT service platform for device management and infrastructure visualization), PHYSEC SEAL (Anti-Tamper-Radio technology for physical integrity monitoring), PHYSEC SIoT (secure IoT implementation), and LoRaWAN services (secure network deployment and quality assurance). Consulting services for regulatory compliance (CRA, RED, NIS-2, KRITIS) complement the product portfolio. The company combines modern communication technologies including LoRaWAN, wM-Bus, and NB-IoT with certified cryptography for applications in critical infrastructure, energy, and water industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IoTree®: IoT service platform for secure IoT infrastructure operation, developed to be secure by design, user-friendly and compliant with regulations. Enables secure connection of IoT hardware and IoT applications for larger rollouts of water and heat meters.
- PHYSEC SEAL
- PHYSEC SIoT
Products and services
- PHYSEC IoTree IoT service platform for secure, user-friendly, and regulation-compliant operation of IoT infrastructure. Combines LoRaWAN, wM-Bus, and NB-IoT communication protocols with certified cryptography. Provides device management, infrastructure visualization, management capabilities, and full data sovereignty for operators. Designed for Stadtwerke, utilities, and operators of critical infrastructure running secure IoT rollouts of water and heat meters.
- PHYSEC SEAL Anti-Tamper-Radio (ATR) technology solution that creates electromagnetic wave propagation fingerprints of three-dimensional environments to detect tampering, manipulation, or unauthorized access in real time. Data is evaluated using machine learning models in the cloud and transmitted end-to-end encrypted via existing network connections or LPWAN. Designed for operators of distributed critical assets, industrial sites, and defense applications requiring near-effortless integration where power is available.
- PHYSEC SIoT
Quantifiable outcome
- 130,000 connected devices managed on the platform
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PHYSEC
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PHYSEC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability3 records
Feature5 records
PHYSEC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LoRa AlliancecorePHYSEC participates in the LoRa Alliance, contributing to the development of LoRaWAN standards. Founder Christian Zenger has worked with the LoRa Alliance on security standards for LoRa technology.
- OMS-Group e.V.minorCollaboration with OMS-Group e.V. for standardization in meter communications and security technologies.
- Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI)corePHYSEC originated as a spin-off from the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security at Ruhr University Bochum, maintaining ongoing research collaboration and access to academic expertise.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PHYSEC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ForeScout Technologies: ForeScout provides network-based device visibility and compliance for connected assets across IT/OT/IoT. Comparable to PHYSEC in addressing connected-asset security posture for regulated enterprises, though as a broader platform without cyber-physical fingerprinting.
- Claroty: Claroty specializes in OT and industrial cybersecurity for critical infrastructure operators. Comparable to PHYSEC in its targeting of utilities and KRITIS-relevant verticals, but with a software-centric, broader-platform approach rather than hardware-anchored cyber-physical protection.
- Dragos: Dragos is an OT cybersecurity specialist focused on industrial control system environments including utilities and critical infrastructure. Comparable to PHYSEC's KRITIS focus, but with a software-incident-response and asset-monitoring orientation rather than physical-layer detection.
- Armis: Armis is a leading IoT/OT asset intelligence and security platform. It is comparable to PHYSEC as a competitor addressing connected-asset visibility and security across enterprise environments, though broader in scope and software-only without physical-layer tamper detection.
- Nozomi Networks: Nozomi Networks delivers OT and IoT visibility, threat detection and vulnerability management for critical infrastructure. It competes with PHYSEC in the same end-market of utilities and industrial operators, though primarily through software sensors rather than embedded hardware.
Regional players
- Actility: Actility is a European LoRaWAN network operator and IoT platform provider serving utilities and smart-city deployments. Comparable to PHYSEC's LoRaWAN services as a European specialist in the same connectivity ecosystem serving overlapping municipal utility customers.
- Everyware AG: Everyware is a Swiss-based IoT solutions provider focused on secure connected-asset monitoring and predictive maintenance for industrial customers. Comparable to PHYSEC's industrial-IoT orientation and European mid-market customer base, though more generalist in scope.
Emerging players
- Shield-IoT: Shield-IoT provides AI-based security and analytics for cellular IoT and connected devices at scale. Comparable to PHYSEC's IoTree platform in targeting mass IoT device management with security analytics, though with a software/SaaS model rather than hardware-coupled tamper detection.
Direct peers
- Cylera: Cylera focuses on healthcare IoT cybersecurity, securing connected medical devices and critical-care infrastructure. Comparable to PHYSEC as a niche IoT security vendor targeting regulated critical-asset verticals with a mix of asset intelligence and threat detection.
- Karamba Security: Karamba Security provides embedded IoT and endpoint security for device manufacturers. Directly comparable to PHYSEC's SIoT offering, both aiming to integrate security into OEM products and address regulatory compliance for connected devices.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PHYSEC social profiles
Digital presencePHYSEC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
PHYSEC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PHYSEC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
PHYSEC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PHYSEC 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 PHYSEC
What does PHYSEC do?
PHYSEC sells cyber-physical security products and solutions for IoT and OT ecosystems. Its core offerings include the IoTree IoT service platform for secure device management and infrastructure operation, the SEAL Anti-Tamper-Radio hardware for physical tamper detection, OEM security integration via SIoT, LoRaWAN network quality assurance services, and regulatory compliance consulting for CRA, RED, NIS-2, and KRITIS frameworks.
Is PHYSEC a public or private company?
PHYSEC is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PHYSEC founded?
PHYSEC was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PHYSEC based?
PHYSEC is headquartered in Bochum, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does PHYSEC make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. IoT Security Platform (IoTree) is the primary driver. The others are SEAL Hardware and Monitoring, consulting Services and loRaWAN Services.
Who are PHYSEC's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ForeScout Technologies, Claroty, Dragos, Armis and Nozomi Networks. Regional players are Actility and Everyware AG. Shield-IoT is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Cylera and Karamba Security.
Does PHYSEC have an API?
No public API is recorded for PHYSEC.
What industry is PHYSEC in?
PHYSEC's product category is IoT and OT Cyber-Physical Security. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADAJAN, Managed OT Security Services (MSSP/MDR for ICS/OT). Its NAICS code is 561621.