PSW group

What PSW group does

PSW GROUP GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held German IT security distributor founded in 2000 and headquartered in Fulda. The company operates as an independent, multi-brand authorized reseller of digital certificates and adjacent trust/compliance products, sourcing SSL/TLS, S/MIME, code signing, and document signing certificates from major certificate authorities including DigiCert, Sectigo, D-TRUST, GlobalSign, SwissSign, Certum, GeoTrust, Thawte, AlphaSSL, and RapidSSL. Beyond certificates, PSW GROUP distributes LEI numbers through a partnership with RapidLEI, Plesk server administration licenses, and bundled abmahn protection packages in cooperation with Protected Shops and Trusted Shops. The company serves SMB e-commerce operators, energy utilities requiring BDEW-compliant RSASSA-PSS certificates, software developers, financial market participants, and hosting providers, primarily in German-speaking markets (DACH) with multilingual support in German, English, and Polish.

The core technology is the PSW Konsole, a self-service management platform for certificate ordering, renewal, and lifecycle automation, complemented by ACME protocol support for automated provisioning and an API layer enabling reseller partners to integrate certificate ordering into their own infrastructure. The platform differentiates through ease-of-use tooling and automated renewal reminders, addressing the operational burden created by shortening certificate lifecycles. Recurring subscription revenue dominates the model, with annual pricing tiers ranging from entry-level personal S/MIME (€19) and Sectigo Lite SSL through organization-level S/MIME and DigiCert DocSign Organization certificates (€977), plus multi-year contracts and one-time compliance bundles (€69–€259). Go-to-market combines direct self-serve sales, phone sales (Vertriebshotline), free consulting, optional remote installation services, and an API-enabled reseller program targeting hosting providers and IT integrators. The legal entity is controlled by J.C. Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH; no external investors or funding rounds are disclosed.

Name

PSW group

Legal name

PSW GROUP GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://psw.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PSW GROUP is a privately held German IT security distributor founded in 2000, reselling SSL/TLS, S/MIME, code signing, and document signing certificates from multiple major certificate authorities, plus LEI numbers and software licenses, primarily serving SMBs and regulated enterprises in DACH markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Security Certificate Reseller

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Services, Nec (8900)

akta.pro primary industry

Single Sign-On (SSO) & Federation (SAML/OIDC, Identity Providers) (HDAEAJAB)

Keywords

• SSL/TLS certificates
• Email encryption certificates
• Code signing certificates
• Digital signature solutions
• IT security certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Fulda

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SSL/TLS Certificate Sales: Revenue from selling domain-validated (DV), organization-validated (OV), and extended validation (EV) SSL/TLS certificates for websites, servers, and multidomain/wildcard configurations.
2. Email Certificate Sales (S/MIME): Revenue from S/MIME certificates for email encryption and digital signatures, including individual, team, and organization-level certificates.
3. Code Signing Certificates: Revenue from software/code signing certificates that authenticate code origin and integrity for Windows, Mac, Java, and other platforms.
4. LEI Number Services: Revenue from issuing and managing Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) numbers required for financial market participants, sold in partnership with RapidLEI.
5. Software Licenses (Plesk): Resale of Plesk server administration and hosting management licenses, available in Web Admin, Web Pro, and Web Host editions with 1-3 year subscription terms.
6. RSASSA-PSS Certificates: Specialized S/MIME certificates using RSASSA-PSS signature hash algorithm for energy utilities meeting BDEW requirements for EDIFACT data transmission.
7. Professional Services: Installation services for certificate setup, offered as optional add-on during ordering process. Includes remote session installation support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PSW GROUP is an independent IT security certificate reseller and full-service provider, distributing SSL/TLS certificates, S/MIME email certificates, code signing certificates, document signing certificates, and LEI numbers from major Certificate Authorities (DigiCert, Sectigo, GlobalSign, D-TRUST, SwissSign, Certum, and others). The company operates the PSW Konsole self-service platform for ordering, managing, and renewing certificates, complemented by consulting, installation services, and a reseller API program.

Product overview

PSW GROUP is a certificate reseller and IT security solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of SSL/TLS, email, code signing, and document signing certificates from multiple certificate authorities (DigiCert, Sectigo, GlobalSign, D-TRUST, Certum, SwissSign, GeoTrust, Thawte, RapidSSL, AlphaSSL, and others). The core product categories include Web Certificates (Einzel-SSL, Multidomain, Wildcard, Multidomain-Wildcard, ACME automation, MPKI management), Email Certificates (S/MIME and RSASSA-PSS for energy utilities), Software Certificates (code signing), Document Signing, Trust Solutions (legal protection), Software Licenses (Plesk, PDFlib, CloudLinux, LiveConfig), and LEI numbers for financial market identity. The PSW Konsole serves as the internal management platform for ordering and managing certificates. The company operates primarily in German-speaking markets from its headquarters in Fulda, Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SSL/TLS Web Certificates SSL/TLS certificates from multiple Certificate Authorities (DigiCert, Sectigo, D-TRUST, GlobalSign, etc.) securing data transmission for websites, webshops, blogs, and servers. Available as single domain, multidomain, wildcard, and multidomain-wildcard certificates with DV, OV, and EV validation levels.
• S/MIME Email Certificates Certificates for email encryption and digital signatures protecting email communication from manipulation and unauthorized access. Includes individual, team, and organization-level certificates from GlobalSign, D-TRUST, SwissSign, Sectigo, DigiCert, and Certum.
• RSASSA-PSS Certificates Specialized S/MIME certificates using the RSASSA-PSS signature hash algorithm for BDEW-compliant EDIFACT data transmission, required for energy utilities and market communication participants.
• Code Signing Certificates Software/code signing certificates from GlobalSign, DigiCert, and Sectigo for authenticating code origin and verifying software integrity for Windows, Mac, Java, and other platforms. Available in OV and EV validation tiers.
• Document Signing Certificates Digital signature certificates from D-TRUST, Certum, Sectigo, GlobalSign, and DigiCert for signing PDF documents, verifying author identity and document integrity. Includes AATL-enabled certificates for universal document acceptance.
• LEI Numbers Legal Entity Identifier numbers for unique identification of legal entities trading in financial markets, offered in partnership with RapidLEI (worldwide market leader). Required for securities trading and regulatory compliance.
• Plesk Software Licenses Reseller of Plesk server administration and hosting management software licenses in Web Admin, Web Pro, and Web Host editions with 1-3 year subscription terms.
• Abmahnschutz (Legal Protection Packages) Bundled website protection packages (eBUSINESS BASIC and eCOMMERCE PRO) combining SSL/TLS certificates with legally compliant legal texts including privacy policies, imprint, and terms, provided in partnership with Protected Shops.
• Trusted Shops Solutions Reseller of Trusted Shops trust seals, buyer protection, and merchant certification solutions that strengthen customer trust in e-commerce websites.
• PSW Konsole Self-service management platform enabling customers to order, manage, and renew certificates. Includes automated reminder services for expiring certificates, favorites feature for repeat orders, ACME protocol integration, and API access for resellers.
• ACME Certificate Automation Automated certificate management service using the ACME standard, enabling direct certificate ordering via client, automatic setup, and reliable renewal without manual intervention for modern certificate lifecycle management.
• MPKI/EPKI Managed PKI Managed PKI solution from SwissSign allowing flexible certificate applications and management through a personal MPKI account for organizations that need to issue many certificates with high automation and cost savings.
• Certificate Installation Service Professional remote installation service for certificate setup, offered as an optional add-on during the ordering process. Conducted via remote session with technical experts from PSW GROUP.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of online customers have abandoned purchases due to security concerns
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DigiCertcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller partnership. DigiCert is one of the leading Certificate Authorities providing OV and EV SSL/TLS certificates, code signing certificates, and S/MIME certificates through PSW GROUP's distribution channel.
• SectigocoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller partnership. Sectigo (formerly COMODO) provides a wide range of SSL/TLS, code signing, and S/MIME certificates, including the popular Sectigo Lite entry-level SSL. Sectigo is recognized as a price-performance leader.
• D-TRUSTcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller partnership. D-TRUST, a Bundesdruckerei company headquartered in Germany, provides trusted SSL/TLS, document signing, and S/MIME certificates with particularly high trust levels in German-speaking markets.
• GlobalSigncoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller partnership. GlobalSign provides SSL/TLS, code signing, and S/MIME certificates from their European CA infrastructure, offering products including Personal Sign and AATL Document Signing.
• SwissSigncoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller partnership. SwissSign provides S/MIME certificates including Personal Silver ID, leveraging Swiss data protection standards.
• AlphaSSLcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller partnership. AlphaSSL provides entry-level wildcard SSL certificates that are popular for their competitive pricing and flexibility.
• CertumcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller partnership. Certum (from Poland) provides SSL/TLS, document signing, and S/MIME certificates including the budget-friendly Certum Commercial SSL SAN and Document Signing Certificate with biometric validation.
• RapidLEIcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partnership for LEI number issuance. RapidLEI is described as the worldwide number 1 provider of Legal Entity Identifiers, enabling automated, fast, and simple LEI number management. The partnership allows PSW GROUP to offer LEI services for securities trading compliance.
• Eviden (formerly Atos)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Atos business (now Eviden) for RSASSA-PSS certificates. The Eviden EDIFACT Basic certificate meets BDEW requirements for energy sector EDIFACT data transmission with 2-4 hour issuance.
• procilon GROUPcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for RSASSA-PSS certificates and EDIFACT solutions. Procilon Group EDIFACT Standard and Gateway products enable BDEW-compliant communication for energy sector clients.
• PleskcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized reseller for Plesk server administration software. Plesk provides hosting management solutions with features including central dashboard, website security, over 100 extensions, WordPress Toolkit, and flexible server management capabilities.
• Protected Shops GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic cooperation for abmahn protection solutions. Protected Shops provides cease-and-desist protected legal texts (imprint, privacy policy, GTC) while PSW GROUP provides SSL certificates for complete website compliance. Both partners hold 5-star Trusted Shops ratings. The joint packages (eBUSINESS BASIC at 69€ and eCOMMERCE PRO at 259€) combine SSL certificates with legally compliant texts.
• Trusted ShopscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for trust solutions and customer review management. Trusted Shops provides trust seals, buyer protection, and reviews merchant criteria including customer service, creditworthiness, and data protection. PSW GROUP resells Trusted Shops solutions to strengthen customer trust.
• ADDVALUE GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnical implementation partner based in Fulda (Ernst-Barlach-Straße 20, 36041 Fulda). Responsible for technical execution of PSW GROUP websites and digital platforms.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Let's Encrypt: Emerging disruptor: free, automated CA driving broad commoditisation of basic DV SSL/TLS and pressuring reseller economics. PSW's ACME automation offerings and higher-tier OV/EV products partly hedge against this trend.
• SwissSign: Emerging/niche player: Swiss CA whose S/MIME and MPKI/EPKI products are resold by PSW, while SwissSign also sells its own MPKI platform and trust services directly in the DACH region, partially overlapping with PSW's automation pitch.

Broad incumbents

• DigiCert: Broad incumbent: leading global CA supplying OV/EV SSL, code signing, and document signing to PSW, but also selling direct to enterprises. A direct CA that competes with PSW's resale-and-advisory value-add.
• Sectigo: Broad incumbent: one of the world's largest public Certificate Authorities and an upstream supplier to PSW. Competes at the same end-customer level via direct sales (e.g., Sectigo Lite), partially disintermediating resellers like PSW.
• D-TRUST (Bundesdruckerei Group): Broad incumbent: German CA owned by Bundesdruckerei supplying the SSL, S/MIME, and document signing certificates PSW resells. Particularly strong trust profile in the German market where PSW also competes.
• GlobalSign: Broad incumbent: European-headquartered CA providing SSL, S/MIME, and code signing certificates both directly and via reseller channels. PSW resells its products but GlobalSign also serves as a direct competitor in the same buyer market.

Direct peers

• Trustico: Direct peer: SSL/TLS and S/MIME certificate reseller serving the same SMB/mid-market buyer and operating through an online portal with multi-CA inventory. Comparable product range and sales-led go-to-market.
• CertCenter (CertCenter AG): Direct competitor: German-headquartered value-added reseller of SSL/TLS, S/MIME, and code signing certificates from DigiCert, Sectigo and others. Operates the same multi-CA authorised-reseller model serving DACH SMBs.
• SSLpoint (InterSSL): Direct peer: a long-standing European SSL/TLS and digital certificate reseller with comparable product breadth (DV/OV/EV, S/MIME, code signing) and similar authorised-reseller structure.
• The SSL Store: Direct peer: large international SSL/TLS and code-signing certificate reseller (part of DigiCert/Sectigo distribution). Matches PSW's catalog breadth across CAs and serves comparable customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pswgroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/pswgroup

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 PSW group