What Cirrus Link does

Cirrus Link Solutions, LLC is a privately held US industrial IoT software company founded in 2012 by Arlen Nipper (co-inventor of the MQTT protocol) and Chris Houghton, with Wesley Johnson as CTO and co-creator of the Sparkplug specification. The company provides industrial data infrastructure built on the MQTT publish/subscribe protocol and the open-source Sparkplug specification (stewarded by the Eclipse Foundation), enabling secure, real-time, contextualized movement of operational technology (OT) data from SCADA systems, PLCs, and sensors into enterprise IT and cloud platforms. Its product portfolio comprises four Ignition add-on modules by Inductive Automation (MQTT Engine, Transmission, Distributor, and Recorder), a family of IoT Bridge modules that deliver structured OT data to Snowflake, AWS SiteWise, and Azure Digital Twins without coding, and Chariot MQTT Server, a standalone enterprise-grade broker purpose-built for industrial environments.

The company monetizes primarily through software licensing: subscription pricing for the Ignition modules and IoT Bridges (distributed via AWS, Azure, and Snowflake Marketplaces), a perpetual one-time license for Chariot MQTT Server covering unlimited clients, and implementation services delivered through a certified integrator network (including partners such as Streamline Control). Named enterprise customers span oil & gas (Devon Energy, Phillips 66, XTO Energy, Plains Midstream, NGL Energy Partners), manufacturing (Georgia-Pacific, Cooper Standard, Denso, Tyson Foods, Owens Corning, Stolle), energy (TECO), water management (WaterBridge Resources), and pharmaceuticals (Johnson & Johnson), with documented deployments scaling from dozens to several hundred sites per customer. Cirrus Link positions itself not as an AI builder but as the data substrate enabling downstream predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and machine learning across industrial operations, with current verticals extending to food & beverage, logistics, data centers, and healthcare.

Despite a headcount of 1-10 employees, the company leverages cloud marketplace distribution, integrator-led implementation, and protocol-level authority (inventorship of MQTT and Sparkplug) to serve a global enterprise customer base from its US headquarters.

Name

Cirrus Link

Legal name

Cirrus Link Solutions, LLC

Website

https://cirrus-link.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cirrus Link provides industrial data infrastructure built on MQTT and Sparkplug, delivering secure real-time OT-to-IT and OT-to-cloud data integration for enterprise industrial customers via Ignition modules, IoT Bridges to Snowflake/AWS/Azure, and the Chariot MQTT broker.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial IoT Data Infrastructure Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (51321), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Edge Control & IIoT Gateways (Edge PLCs, Data Acquisition, MQTT/OPC UA) (IMAGABAI), Connector/Adapter Frameworks & Integration Runtimes (HDAEACAJ), Data Engineering, Integration & ETL/ELT Services (BPAEAHAB)

Keywords

• Industrial IoT software
• MQTT infrastructure
• Sparkplug industrial automation
• OT-IT integration
• SCADA modernization

Headquarters

HQ city

Bucyrus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing - MQTT Modules: Cirrus Link MQTT modules for Ignition are sold as add-on modules through Inductive Automation's pricing platform. Modules include Engine, Transmission, Distributor, and Recorder with different licensing tiers (e.g., Distributor supports up to 50 clients, Distributor Plus supports up to 250 clients).
2. Software Licensing - Chariot MQTT Server: Chariot MQTT Server is sold as a standalone product with a perpetual one-time license covering unlimited MQTT clients and users. Includes a two-hour resettable trial for evaluation.
3. IoT Bridges: IoT Bridge products (for Snowflake, AWS SiteWise, Azure Digital Twins) provide OT-to-cloud data integration. Revenue generated through software licensing of bridge modules.
4. Certified Integrator Program: Partnership model where certified integrators (like Streamline Control) implement Cirrus Link solutions for end customers. Integrators are trained and certified on MQTT/Sparkplug and Ignition deployments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cirrus Link develops and licenses industrial data infrastructure software built on the MQTT and Sparkplug protocols that bridges operational technology (OT) systems to enterprise IT and cloud platforms. Its portfolio includes MQTT add-on modules for the Ignition SCADA platform (Engine, Transmission, Distributor, Recorder), an enterprise-grade standalone MQTT broker (Chariot MQTT Server), and IoT Bridges that stream contextualized OT data to Snowflake, AWS IoT SiteWise, and Azure Digital Twins. The technology is sold as licensed software to industrial enterprises via direct sales, the Inductive Automation platform, cloud marketplaces, and certified integrators.

Product overview

Cirrus Link provides an industrial data infrastructure portfolio built on MQTT and Sparkplug, delivered as purpose-built modules for the Ignition SCADA platform (by Inductive Automation) alongside a standalone MQTT server product. The offering spans MQTT modules for Ignition — MQTT Engine (subscribe), MQTT Transmission (publish), MQTT Distributor (embedded broker), and MQTT Recorder (structured record capture) — plus a family of IoT Bridge modules that push contextualized OT data to cloud platforms (Snowflake, AWS SiteWise, Azure Digital Twins). At the core sits Chariot MQTT Server, a standalone enterprise-grade broker purpose-built for industrial environments, and the Sparkplug open specification (co-created by Cirrus Link and maintained by the Eclipse Foundation) that provides the data modeling, topic standardization, and auto-discovery framework the entire portfolio relies on.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chariot MQTT Server: An enterprise-grade MQTT broker with Sparkplug support, built for industrial environments. Chariot is a standalone MQTT server for larger, more distributed environments.
• Ignition MQTT Modules
• IoT Bridges

Products and services

• MQTT Engine Ignition module that subscribes to Sparkplug data natively in Ignition, enabling Ignition to consume MQTT/Sparkplug-enabled data from edge gateways, sensors, PLCs, RTUs, and OEM edge node devices. Automatically discovers and creates Ignition tags from incoming Sparkplug payloads without manual configuration. For Ignition-using industrial enterprises needing to consume OT data.
• MQTT Transmission Ignition module that publishes real-time SCADA tag data from Ignition over MQTT using the Sparkplug protocol, bridging OT to IT. Transforms any Ignition tag into a Sparkplug-compliant payload and securely transmits to MQTT brokers, edge gateways, other Ignition gateways, or cloud services like AWS Greengrass without custom scripting. For industrial enterprises needing to push OT data to IT/cloud consumers.
• MQTT Distributor Ignition module that embeds a lightweight, OASIS MQTT 3.1.1-compliant MQTT broker inside Ignition. Available in two tiers: MQTT Distributor (up to 50 simultaneous MQTT clients) and MQTT Distributor Plus (up to 250 clients). Supports TLS encryption and client certificate authentication. For Ignition deployments needing local MQTT broker functionality.
• MQTT Recorder Ignition module that automatically captures structured records (Quantitative Transaction Records, alarms, batch events) from edge devices published via MQTT and Sparkplug. Records are time-stamped, optionally SHA-256 hashed for audit integrity, and automatically inserted into SQL databases supported by Ignition. For regulated and transactional industrial use cases.
• IoT Bridge for Snowflake Cloud connectivity module that streams Sparkplug data directly into Snowflake for real-time analytics. V2 release includes Snowflake Native Application for automated setup, cross-plant template views, nested UDT support, multithreaded ingest, and raw MQTT ingestion. Available via Azure and AWS Marketplace. For enterprises needing real-time OT data analytics in Snowflake.
• IoT Bridge for AWS SiteWise Cloud connectivity module that delivers OT data from industrial applications to AWS IoT SiteWise with minimal configuration and zero coding. Asset models, properties, and hierarchy are 100% self-discovered by SiteWise. For enterprises running AWS as their cloud analytics platform.
• IoT Bridge for Azure Digital Twins IoT Bridge that automatically structures and delivers OT data to Azure Digital Twins platforms with no code required. For enterprises standardized on Microsoft Azure for digital twin and IoT workloads.
• Chariot MQTT Server Standalone, enterprise-grade MQTT broker with Sparkplug support, purpose-built for industrial environments. Supports unlimited MQTT clients, LDAP Security Service for authentication, high availability, and clustered topologies. Version 3.0 features improved web interface, integrated MQTT Client, and advanced Sparkplug management tools. Sold via perpetual one-time license. For industrial enterprises running distributed or larger-scale MQTT broker deployments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Created a smart field with 114 sites in just eight months (NGL Energy Partners)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Inductive AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationInductive Automation is the creator of Ignition SCADA platform. Cirrus Link's MQTT modules (Engine, Transmission, Distributor, Recorder) are sold as add-on modules integrated with Ignition. This partnership enables Cirrus Link to reach Ignition's customer base and provide OT-to-MQTT connectivity within the Ignition ecosystem.
• Eclipse FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSparkplug specification is stewarded by the Eclipse Foundation. Cirrus Link's Wes Johnson is project lead for Eclipse Sparkplug and co-project lead for Eclipse Tahu. The Eclipse Foundation provides open-source governance for the Sparkplug specification.
• AWScoreTechnology or IntegrationIoT Bridge for AWS IoT SiteWise delivers OT data to AWS SiteWise with minimal configuration. Also supports AWS Greengrass integration. Cirrus Link solutions are available on AWS Marketplace for easy deployment.
• Microsoft AzurecoreTechnology or IntegrationIoT Bridge for Azure Digital Twins enables OT data delivery to Microsoft Azure IoT services. Cirrus Link solutions available on Azure Marketplace.
• SnowflakecoreTechnology or IntegrationIoT Bridge for Snowflake streams Sparkplug data directly into Snowflake for real-time analytics. V2 release includes native Snowflake App for automated setup, available on Snowflake Marketplace.
• Streamline ControlminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStreamline Control is a Calgary-based certified integrator specializing in real-time OT/IT solutions for oil & gas, renewables, and data center projects. They are Cirrus Link certified and have delivered multiple MQTT/Sparkplug implementations.
• Certified Integrator NetworkcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCirrus Link's Certified Integrator Program recognizes integrators with proven MQTT/Sparkplug and Ignition experience. Integrators receive training, certification, and access to Cirrus Link's technical support for implementing solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• HiveMQ: HiveMQ is the closest direct peer — an enterprise MQTT broker with Sparkplug support, focused on industrial IoT and OT-to-IT data movement. Competes directly with Cirrus Link's Chariot MQTT Server and MQTT modules across overlapping verticals.
• EMQ Technologies (EMQX): EMQX is an open-source MQTT broker widely used in industrial IoT deployments with strong Sparkplug support. Competes head-to-head with Chariot MQTT Server in OT-to-IT data infrastructure, especially among cloud-native and IIoT customers.

Broad incumbents

• Inductive Automation: Creator of the Ignition SCADA platform, which hosts Cirrus Link's modules as add-ons. Inductive Automation is both a core distribution partner and a broader incumbent in the industrial automation space — they could in theory extend native MQTT/Sparkplug capabilities that compete with Cirrus Link modules.
• PTC (ThingWorx): PTC's ThingWorx is a broad industrial IoT platform offering connectivity, analytics, and device management for OT environments. Competes indirectly with Cirrus Link's IoT Bridges for OT-to-cloud data infrastructure at larger enterprise accounts.
• Siemens (MindSphere / Industrial Edge): Siemens offers industrial data infrastructure including MindSphere cloud platform and Industrial Edge for OT data ingestion. As a broad incumbent with deep installed base, it competes with Cirrus Link's UNS/MQTT approach in large manufacturing customers.
• AWS IoT Core / AWS IoT SiteWise: AWS IoT Core and SiteWise provide managed MQTT broker infrastructure and industrial asset data ingestion respectively. Cirrus Link integrates with SiteWise via IoT Bridge but AWS could expand native capabilities to compete more directly with Cirrus Link's bridging layer.
• Microsoft Azure IoT Hub / Digital Twins: Azure IoT Hub and Azure Digital Twins provide managed MQTT ingestion and OT data modeling. Azure is a current Cirrus Link distribution channel via IoT Bridge, but native Azure capabilities could narrow the value-add of Cirrus Link's bridging layer.

Emerging players

• HighByte: HighByte provides an industrial dataops / Unified Namespace layer for OT-to-cloud data pipelines with native Ignition integration. Closely comparable to Cirrus Link's IoT Bridge family and competing for the same UNS / data infrastructure budget at industrial customers.
• Litmus Automation: Litmus Edge provides an edge-to-cloud industrial data platform with MQTT support and integrations into Snowflake, AWS, and Azure. Competes with Cirrus Link's IoT Bridges in OT data unification for AI/ML analytics workloads.

Others

• Eclipse Foundation (Sparkplug/Tahu): The Eclipse Foundation stewards the Sparkplug specification co-created by Cirrus Link. While not a competitor, it shapes the open-standard ecosystem in which Cirrus Link operates and includes reference implementations (Tahu) that could be adopted directly by customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cirruslink
• Facebookfacebook.com/cirruslinksolutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Cirrus Link