What Private Protocol does

Private Protocol is a Johannesburg-based IT services and cybersecurity consulting firm founded in 2007, employing between 11 and 50 people. The company specializes in zero trust security architecture, operating as a systems integrator and value-added reseller for three partner technologies: AppGate (Zero Trust Network Access), Illumio (workload micro-segmentation), and FireMon (security policy orchestration). These three layers are bundled under what Private Protocol brands the 'Triad of Trust' — an integrated zero trust architecture aimed at large enterprises operating hybrid and multicloud environments and facing threats such as automated phishing, polymorphic malware, and lateral network movement.

The integrated offering combines AppGate's direct-routed ZTNA (claimed to deliver 8–10x faster performance than cloud-routed alternatives), Illumio's micro-segmentation for breach containment, and FireMon's real-time policy orchestration designed to prevent policy bloat and misconfigurations. Revenue is generated through the sale and integration of subscription-based zero trust security solutions, though pricing is not publicly disclosed. Private Protocol goes to market through enterprise field sales and event-driven channels, notably the ITWeb Security Summit 2026, targeting enterprise CISOs and security architects directly.

As an integrator rather than an original product developer, the company's economic model is closer to a regional cybersecurity consulting and channel business than a software vendor. Its value proposition rests on its ability to combine complementary vendor technologies into a coherent architecture and to operationalize them within enterprise environments. Headcount has remained in the 11–50 range for an extended period, and no funding rounds, acquisitions, or major leadership changes have been disclosed in the available data, indicating a stable but small-scale operating profile.

Name

Private Protocol

Website

https://privateprotocol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Private Protocol is a Johannesburg-based IT cybersecurity firm founded in 2007 that integrates and resells AppGate, Illumio, and FireMon technologies as a unified zero trust security offering for enterprise customers in hybrid and multicloud environments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Consulting & Zero Trust Integration

NAICS

Computer Facilities Management Services (541513)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Network Security Services (Firewall/VPN/ZTNA/SASE Integration) (BPAEAEAG)

Keywords

• Zero trust security
• Cybersecurity consulting
• ZTNA integration
• Workload segmentation
• IT risk assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Zero Trust Security Solutions: Private Protocol generates revenue through the sale and integration of zero trust security solutions, combining ZTNA, workload segmentation, and policy governance technologies. The company acts as a promoter and integrator of the integrated triad approach with AppGate, Illumio, and FireMon products.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Private Protocol is an IT services firm that delivers cybersecurity consulting, risk assessments, project management, and technical services, with a core focus on integrating zero trust security solutions. The company promotes an integrated "Triad of Trust" architecture that combines direct-routed ZTNA (AppGate), workload micro-segmentation (Illumio), and real-time policy orchestration (FireMon) into a unified ecosystem for enterprise customers operating in hybrid and multicloud environments.

Product overview

No product information available. The source materials indicate Private Protocol Group is a cybersecurity company promoting zero trust security solutions in partnership with AppGate, Illumio, and FireMon, but no specific product portfolio details were provided in the accessible content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Triad of Trust Zero Trust Security Integration Integrated zero trust security solution combining direct-routed ZTNA (AppGate), workload micro-segmentation (Illumio), and real-time policy orchestration (FireMon) into a unified, automated self-defending ecosystem. Designed for enterprise organizations operating in hybrid and multicloud environments to counter AI-driven threats including automated phishing, polymorphic malware, and lateral network movement.
• IT Consulting Services Consulting engagements for enterprise organizations covering cybersecurity strategy, technology selection, and architecture design for zero trust deployments in complex network environments.
• Cybersecurity Risk Assessments Risk assessment engagements evaluating enterprise network environments for visibility gaps, policy bloat, misconfigurations, and exposure to AI-driven threats in hybrid and multicloud setups.
• Technical Project Management & Implementation Services Project management and technical implementation services supporting deployment of zero trust security solutions, including integration of AppGate, Illumio, and FireMon components into enterprise environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eight to 10 times faster performance than cloud-routed alternatives

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AppGatecoreTechnology or Integration · 5 June 2026AppGate provides direct-routed Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) technology that cloaks network infrastructure and verifies identity. This forms the first pillar of the triad of trust approach promoted by Private Protocol at the ITWeb Security Summit 2026.
• IllumiocoreTechnology or Integration · 5 June 2026Illumio provides workload segmentation technology that micro-segments workloads to contain breaches and prevent lateral network movement. This forms the second pillar of the integrated zero trust solution.
• FireMoncoreTechnology or Integration · 5 June 2026FireMon provides real-time policy orchestration capabilities that keep pace with AI-speed attacks and prevent policy bloat and misconfigurations in complex network environments. This forms the third pillar of the triad of trust architecture.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• AppGate: Core technology partner providing direct-routed ZTNA that cloaks network infrastructure and verifies identity — the first pillar of Private Protocol's Triad of Trust. Comparable as both supply and operate in the same ZTNA category Private Protocol integrates.
• Illumio: Workload micro-segmentation vendor supplying the second pillar of Private Protocol's Triad of Trust. Operates in the same zero trust ecosystem, focused on breach containment and lateral movement prevention that Private Protocol bundles for enterprises.
• FireMon: Network security policy management and orchestration vendor supplying the third pillar of Private Protocol's Triad of Trust. Direct overlap in policy governance and firewall management that Private Protocol integrates into enterprise deployments.

Broad incumbents

• Palo Alto Networks: Global cybersecurity incumbent offering its own converged zero trust platform (Prisma). Competes with Private Protocol for enterprise zero trust budgets, but at far greater scale and with broader portfolio than Private Protocol's ZTNA + segmentation + policy bundle.
• Zscaler: Leading cloud-delivered zero trust platform competing directly against the AppGate-driven ZTNA component of Private Protocol's stack. Represents the cloud-routed alternative to Private Protocol's marketed 8–10x performance claim.
• Cisco Secure Access (Duo): Broad networking and security incumbent with zero trust offerings (Duo, Secure Access). Competes for the same enterprise hybrid/multicloud zero trust mandates as Private Protocol, with substantially greater scale.
• Cloudflare Zero Trust: Cloud-native zero trust platform (Access, Gateway, CASB) competing for the same hybrid workforce use cases that drive Private Protocol's enterprise deals. Directly overlaps on ZTNA delivered from the cloud edge.

Emerging players

• Cato Networks: SASE-focused pure-play offering converged ZTNA + segmentation in a single platform. An alternative single-vendor architecture to the multi-vendor Triad of Trust Private Protocol assembles, with comparable zero trust positioning.
• Netskope: SSE/SASE platform with strong ZTNA capabilities, competing for hybrid cloud and multicloud security budgets that drive Private Protocol's pipeline. Comparable use cases around policy governance and cloud-native security.

Regional players

• Dimension Data / NTT Data Africa: Africa-headquartered systems integrator with deep enterprise security practices. Direct regional competitor for enterprise zero trust integration mandates across South African and broader African enterprises.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/privateprotocol
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/private-protocol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Private Protocol