Guard

Name

Guard

Legal name

Guard Automation AS

Website

https://guard.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation and System Integration

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

SCADA, Instrumentation & Controls Integration for Water/Wastewater Projects (IMAFAGAK), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

Keywords

• Industrial automation systems
• SCADA system integration
• Industrial IoT platform
• OT cybersecurity services
• PLC automation engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandefjord

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automation Engineering & System Integration: Core revenue stream from designing, programming, and deploying industrial automation systems (SCADA, PLC, control panels) for municipalities and industrial clients. Projects range from small control tasks to large complex automation projects. Delivered as project-based professional services with typical multi-year delivery timelines for major municipal contracts.
2. Software Subscriptions (Guard Cloud, Guard Treat Smart, Guard Field Smart, Guard Street Smart): Guard Cloud and specialized smart solutions are sold as recurring subscription services, typically billed annually. Guard Treat Smart, Guard Field Smart, and Guard Street Smart are cloud-based services generating recurring subscription revenue. Oslo VAV contract valued at over 31 million NOK over 10 years includes both hardware and software components.
3. Hardware Sales (PLCs, operator panels, frequency converters, control panels): Sale of automation hardware including PLCs, operator panels, frequency converters, and custom-built control panels as part of project deliveries and framework agreements. The Asker municipality framework agreement specifies delivery of PLCs, operator panels, frequency converters, and programming services over up to 8 years.
4. Managed Services & 24/7 Support: Guard offers 24/7 service and support through skilled engineers, billed on an ad-hoc or contractual basis. The company is expanding its service offerings, particularly in Sweden, with service agreements enabling 24/7 support including on-site and remote digital service.
5. IoT & Data Analytics: Revenue generated from IoT infrastructure including sensors, communication systems, analytics, and visualization. Data collection and monitoring services (e.g., Oslobygg 10-year agreement worth up to 35 million NOK for solar monitoring) are delivered as ongoing managed services.
6. Industrial Cyber Security Services: OT security consulting, continuous monitoring, incident handling from Guard's SOC, and vulnerability assessments. Sold as standalone services or bundled with automation projects for critical infrastructure clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Guard supplies industrial automation and system integration solutions combining operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) on open, scalable, and secure platforms. Core deliverables include SCADA/PLC control systems (Guard Control), cloud-based IoT and AI data platforms (Guard Cloud), OT cybersecurity services (Guard Cyber Security), and specialized smart modules for wastewater treatment optimization, snowmelt control, and artificial turf heating. The company serves municipalities, energy, manufacturing, real estate, aquaculture, and sports facility operators across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Product overview

Guard offers a platform-plus-modules architecture combining Guard Cloud (cloud IoT platform), Guard Control (SCADA/PLC system), and Guard Cyber Security (OT security) as core offerings, supplemented by specialized smart modules including Guard Treat Smart (wastewater AI optimization), Guard Street Smart (snowmelt prediction), Guard Field Smart (turf heating optimization), and Guard Mobile HMI (mobile PLC access). The company also provides comprehensive industrial services including automation engineering, IoT & data analytics, IT engineering, consulting, electrical engineering, and control panel assembly for water, environment, energy, and manufacturing industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Guard Cloud: Industrial IoT platform for data collection, analyses, insights, and cloud-based monitoring and control
• Guard Control
• Guard Cyber Security
• Guard Energy
• Guard Treat Smart
• Guard Street Smart
• Guard Field Smart
• Guard Mobile HMI

Products and services

• Guard Cloud Cloud-based industrial IoT platform that collects, analyzes, and visualizes data from virtually any source, combining IoT, OT, and IT systems for real-time operational insights, monitoring, and control. Used by municipalities and industrial clients.
• Guard Control Robust, flexible, feature-packed SCADA and PLC concept for centralized, user-friendly, and agile control systems, integrating multiple vendor platforms (Rockwell, AVEVA) for municipalities and industrial operators.
• Guard Cyber Security Collection of products and services for OT network and information security, including continuous monitoring, incident response from Guard's SOC, segmentation consulting, access management, and vulnerability assessment for critical infrastructure operators.
• Guard Treat Smart Machine learning model for wastewater treatment plants providing continuous monitoring of infiltration and inflow plus optimized dosage of precipitant chemicals; achieved 20-30% reduction in chemical consumption across 7 Norwegian municipalities.
• Guard Street Smart Completely sensorless and predictive control system for snowmelt applications with market-leading energy efficiency and minimal cost of installation and maintenance, using weather forecasts and thermodynamic modeling.
• Guard Field Smart Energy-saving and cloud-based service that continuously calculates optimal power output for underground heating of artificial turf fields, ensuring ideal pitch conditions while minimizing energy consumption.
• Guard Mobile HMI Mobile-based solution for local PLC operation as an alternative to traditional operator panels, with autogenerated code and secure access via smartphone or tablet. Reduces per-station cost from ~10,000 NOK to a fraction of traditional HMI installations and setup time from weeks to approximately one hour per station.
• Guard Energy Automation solutions and full-range supplies for the energy sector including district heating and cooling plants, food and pharmaceutical industry, machine builders, and other processing and manufacturing facilities.
• Automation Engineering Services Design, programming, and deployment of industrial automation systems (SCADA, PLC, control panels) for municipalities and industrial clients, ranging from small control tasks to large complex automation projects delivered as multi-year project-based professional services.
• IoT & Data Analytics Services Provision of IoT infrastructure including sensors, communication systems, analytics, and visualization, delivered as ongoing managed services (e.g., Oslobygg 10-year solar monitoring contract up to 35M NOK).
• Control Panel Assembly In-house custom build of control panels and supply of automation hardware including PLCs, operator panels, and frequency converters, delivered as part of project engagements and framework agreements (e.g., Asker kommune 8-year framework).
• 24/7 Service & Support 24/7 service and support delivered by skilled engineers on ad-hoc or contractual basis, including on-site and remote digital service for critical infrastructure clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-30% reduction in chemical consumption at wastewater treatment plants (Guard Treat Smart)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability10 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EnnycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2024Digitalization partnership connecting all Enny (OBOS/Hafslund joint venture) solar installations to Guard Cloud for real-time monitoring, maintenance optimization, and energy reporting. Enny serves housing cooperatives and commercial buildings with ~20 solar installations planned for 2024. Norwegian data residency and joint product development were key partnership drivers.
• BlueTeccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 January 2024Partnership for digitalization, monitoring, and automation of BlueTec's solar, battery, and EV charging installations using Guard Cloud. BlueTec is among Norway's five largest installers of solar, battery, and EV charging systems, with 40 employees and ~800 solar panels at Sandefjord Rådhus as a flagship project. The partnership connects all solar installations to Guard Cloud for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.
• UnisportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2022Nordic distribution and technology partnership for Guard Field Smart. Unisport is the Nordic leading supplier of sports equipment and idrettsfasiliteter. The partnership enables Guard Field Smart to reach sports clubs and municipalities across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark through Unisport's established distribution network. Odd Ballklubb (NOK 600K savings/year), Hammarby Fotboll, and Stabæk Fotball are reference customers from this partnership.
• BravidacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2022Technology partnership for digitalization and automation of Bravida's service and maintenance operations across 2,500 buildings in Greater Oslo. Guard provides IoT data collection infrastructure and analytics platform for Bravida's Green Hub initiative. The partnership aims to shift from calendar-based maintenance to condition-based maintenance where buildings automatically alert technicians to faults. Pilot at Stortingsgata 10 in Oslo.
• OvumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Guard has been Ovum's key automation partner since 2019, providing SCADA, PLC programming, Guard Cloud monitoring, camera integration, and electrical coordination for Ovum's Egget closed aquaculture facility. Ovum's Egget system uses 300+ monitored signals for automated water quality control, oxygen dosing, and fish welfare monitoring. Ovum aims to build 10x larger versions of Egget.
• AVEVAcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified AVEVA Plant SCADA (formerly Citect) system integrator partner. Guard has been an AVEVA partner since 1994, delivering Windows-based SCADA solutions. Guard holds AVEVA System Integrator Certified status for 2024. The partnership enables Guard to deliver AVEVA-based solutions as part of its integrated automation offerings to municipal and industrial clients.
• Rockwell AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology integration partner for Rockwell FactoryTalk and related automation platforms. Guard has delivered Rockwell-based automation systems (e.g., Greve Biogass factory system) and develops custom SCADA and PLC integrations using Rockwell technology alongside Guard's proprietary Guard Control platform.
• Ringsaker kommuneminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGuard developed Guard Mobile HMI specifically in response to Ringsaker municipality's requirements for mobile-based control of pump stations. The municipality challenged Guard to replace traditional HMI screens, resulting in a new Guard product now available to other municipalities.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric: Global energy management and automation OEM (EcoStruxure, Modicon PLCs). Direct overlap with Guard in water/wastewater, district energy, and building automation; competes on integrated platform plays vs. Guard's independent multi-vendor positioning.
• Rockwell Automation: Leading PLC and SCADA platform vendor (ControlLogix, FactoryTalk). Guard is a Rockwell integration partner and references Greve Biogass as a Rockwell-based delivery, putting Rockwell in a partner/competitor role depending on the customer's platform preference.
• ABB: Global industrial automation and electrification OEM with deep presence in water/wastewater and process industries. Overlaps with Guard in PLC/SCADA integration for municipal and industrial customers, but at vastly greater scale and with proprietary platforms rather than multi-vendor independence.
• Siemens: Major automation and digital industries OEM (SIMATIC PLCs, WinCC SCADA, MindSphere IoT). Competes with Guard in municipal water and energy projects where Siemens delivers both the platform and integration; Guard differentiates by being vendor-independent across Siemens, Rockwell, and AVEVA.
• AFRY (formerly ÅF): Nordic-headquartered engineering, design, and automation consultancy with strong water, energy, and industrial digitalization practices. Directly comparable to Guard as a multi-discipline European SI pursuing industrial automation and digitalization in water and process industries.
• Kongsberg Gruppen: Large Norwegian technology conglomerate with automation, digital, and process-industry exposure. Nordic geographic and customer overlap with Guard in industrial automation and critical infrastructure, though with a much broader portfolio across defense, maritime, and energy.
• Ramboll: Nordic engineering and consulting firm with significant water, environment, and energy automation practices. Competes with Guard on large municipal and infrastructure contracts where Ramboll bundles design, advisory, and OT/automation work.

Emerging players

• HMS Networks: Industrial communication and IIoT gateway specialist (Anybus, Ewon). Adjacent to Guard's Industrial Gateway and Guard Cloud stack — both sell secure remote access and data infrastructure into industrial OEMs and system integrators across Europe.

Direct peers

• AVEVA: SCADA and industrial software vendor (AVEVA Plant SCADA, formerly Citect) that Guard has been a certified system integrator partner for since 1994. Closest direct technology peer — Guard builds integration and OT/IT/IoT services on top of AVEVA's stack and competes against AVEVA's own direct SI channel for municipal deals.
• COPA-DATA: Independent SCADA software vendor (zenon) used widely in European water, energy, and industrial automation. Direct technology peer to Guard Control on the software platform layer, often paired with a local system integrator like Guard on municipal deployments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@guardautomation
• LinkedInno.linkedin.com/company/guard-automation

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Guard