Skkynet
Skkynet Cloud Systems provides real-time industrial data middleware (Cogent DataHub) enabling secure OT-to-IT connectivity for industrial enterprises across 86 countries via a global channel partner and OEM network.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersMississauga, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Skkynet does
Skkynet Cloud Systems Inc. is a Canadian-headquartered (Mississauga, Ontario) industrial data connectivity software company with a 25+ year operating history, listed on the US OTCQB exchange under ticker SKKY. The company's core platform, Cogent DataHub, is a real-time middleware that connects, integrates, and redistributes live industrial process data across more than 50 industrial protocols — including OPC UA, OPC DA, MQTT, Modbus, DDE, ODBC, and TCP — at throughputs of up to 50,000+ data changes per second. Its proprietary DHTP (DataHub Transfer Protocol) enables secure bidirectional data flow using outbound-only connections, eliminating inbound firewall ports and VPN requirements and supporting DMZ and data-diode deployments for high-security environments. The platform is extended by SkkyHub (a managed cloud relay service for supervisory control and remote monitoring), ETK (a free embedded toolkit enabling OEM device integration), and a dozen add-on modules covering MQTT brokering, OPC tunneling, logging, redundancy, scripting (Gamma language), and historian connectors.
The business operates primarily through a channel-driven go-to-market: resellers and system integrators (Software Toolbox in the US, BellChild in Japan, Novotek in Europe, Incentro in Latin America, TOSL in the Caribbean), OEM partners (Red Lion, B+B SmartWorx/Advantech, NetComm, SysLINK/Systech, Renesas), and strategic technology alliances (Microsoft Azure as a Managed Application, AVEVA ISV integration, Siemens DCU partnership). Revenue is generated through subscription licensing of DataHub and SkkyHub, Azure Marketplace consumption-based billing, professional services, and a freemium embedded toolkit. Customers span oil & gas (Heritage Petroleum, BP Pipelines, TANAP Pipeline, Gazprom), manufacturing (Air Liquide, Papeterie de Mandeure), energy (Equinor, Gamesa wind), aerospace (Boeing), pharmaceutical (TEVA), and financial services (Bank of Canada) — across 30,000+ installations in 86 countries.
In late 2025 the company executed a coordinated strategic refresh: Gary Tillery (ex-AVEVA/Schneider Electric Senior Director of M&A) was appointed CEO, Xavier Mesrobian was elected Chairman, Lee Tedstone (CEO of industrial AI firm Kobai) joined the Board, and Shaunna Balady (M&A specialist with $20B+ in transaction experience) joined the Advisory Board. In December 2025 the company secured C$1.04 million in non-dilutive funding from FedDev Ontario to support a C$2.6 million Industrial AI product initiative. FY2025 results showed a 268% surge in subscription revenue as the company pivots toward SaaS and AI-enabling infrastructure, though the firm remains small (11–50 employees) and does not publicly disclose absolute revenue figures.
Skkynet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skkynet
- Legal name
- Skkynet Cloud Systems, Inc.
- Website
- https://skkynet.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Skkynet Cloud Systems provides real-time industrial data middleware (Cogent DataHub) enabling secure OT-to-IT connectivity for industrial enterprises across 86 countries via a global channel partner and OEM network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skkynet industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Data Middleware
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed File Transfer (MFT) & B2B Integration (EDI) (HDAEAIAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Edge Compute Platforms (Serverless Edge, Edge Functions) (HDABAGAB), On-Device Inference Runtimes & SDKs (mobile/embedded) (HDAAAJAB)
Keywords
Where Skkynet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mississauga
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Skkynet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licenses (Cogent DataHub): Perpetual or subscription licensing of Cogent DataHub software for on-premise deployments. Includes various extensions and features billed at different tiers.
- SkkyHub Managed Cloud Service: Subscription-based managed cloud service for remote monitoring and data relay. Usage charges based on connections, data points, and updates. Extensions billed hourly.
- Azure Marketplace Service: DataHub available as Microsoft Azure Managed Application with usage-based and feature-based pricing.
- ETK (Embedded Toolkit): Free for qualified partners connecting to DataHub or SkkyHub with no runtime royalties or licensing fees.
- Professional Services: Training, support, and implementation services through channel partners and directly.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | SkkyHub Cloud Service - Subscription with usage-based components |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | DataHub for Azure - Azure Managed Application |
| Freemium | Monthly | ETK (Embedded Toolkit) - Free for qualified partners |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Skkynet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Skkynet develops and sells real-time industrial data connectivity middleware and cloud services. Its core product, Cogent DataHub, integrates data from over 50 industrial protocols (OPC UA, OPC DA, MQTT, Modbus, DDE, ODBC, TCP) and bridges operational technology (OT) systems to IT and cloud environments using a proprietary outbound-only DHTP protocol that requires no inbound firewall ports or VPNs. The SkkyHub managed cloud service and ETK embedded toolkit extend secure real-time data streaming and IoT-enablement to remote facilities and edge devices for industrial AI and supervisory control applications.
Product overview
Skkynet offers a platform-plus-modules product architecture centered on the Cogent DataHub middleware as the core product. DataHub connects to virtually any industrial system via OPC UA, OPC Classic, MQTT, Modbus, DDE, ODBC, and TCP protocols, pooling all data into a unified real-time data set at up to 50,000+ changes per second. The platform is complemented by the SkkyHub managed cloud service for remote access and supervisory control, and the free ETK (Embedded Toolkit) for IoT-enabling edge devices. All products share the proprietary DHTP (DataHub Transfer Protocol) as the underlying secure communications protocol, which provides closed-firewall, zero-attack-surface connectivity without requiring VPNs or open inbound ports. The product family includes numerous add-on modules including MQTT Smart Broker, OPC/Modbus/DDE Tunnellers, OPC Gateway, IoT Gateway, WebView (HMI), Logger, Historian connectors, OPC Bridge, Redundancy, Scripting (Gamma), Remote Config, Camera, System Monitor, Excel/DDE Support, Email/SMS, QuickTrend, and Modbus support. A specialized variant (Cogent DataHub for Microsoft Azure) delivers the same capabilities as an Azure Managed Application. The Siemens DCU integration extends the portfolio with hardware-based one-way data diode connectivity for the highest-security environments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cogent DataHub: A proven application for securely acquiring, monitoring, controlling, visualizing, networking and consolidating live and historical process data on premise or in the cloud. Integrates data from multiple sources using protocols like OPC, Modbus, MQTT, and ODBC.
- SkkyHub
- ETK (Embedded Toolkit)
Products and services
- Cogent DataHub Real-time industrial middleware software that connects, concentrates, integrates, and redistributes live data among industrial sources and users. Pools data from multiple protocols (OPC UA, OPC DA, MQTT, Modbus, DDE, ODBC, TCP) into a unified data set and streams at up to 50,000+ data changes per second. Supports DMZ deployment, bidirectional data flow, and cloud connectivity without requiring open firewall ports. For industrial organizations needing to securely move OT data to IT and cloud environments for monitoring, control, and AI applications.
- SkkyHub Fully managed cloud service for real-time data access, remote monitoring, and supervisory control. Acts as a secure relay connecting DataHub or ETK-enabled devices to cloud applications, with a full-featured web-based HMI (WebView). Subscription-based with usage charges based on connections, data points, and updates. For industrial enterprises needing remote visibility and control across distributed facilities without opening inbound firewall ports.
- ETK (Embedded Toolkit) Free embedded software toolkit that enables IoT devices to stream real-time data via DHTP protocol to DataHub or SkkyHub. Pre-installed with OPC UA, Modbus, and DHTP protocols. Processes up to 50,000 data changes per second with microsecond-over-network latency. Supports outbound-only connections with no open firewall ports. For OEM device manufacturers embedding secure connectivity in industrial routers, gateways, and edge devices.
- Cogent DataHub for Microsoft Azure DataHub available as a Microsoft Azure Managed Application for secure, real-time industrial data communications in the Azure cloud. Includes MQTT Smart Broker, alarm/event collection, historian connections, Grafana dashboard support, and cloud SCADA integration. Usage-based pricing with connections, data points, and updates billed accordingly. For Azure customers requiring cloud-deployed industrial data connectivity.
Quantifiable outcome
- Air Liquide increased production by 500 tons per year using DataHub bridging
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Skkynet
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Skkynet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
AI capability3 records
Feature9 records
Skkynet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft Azure partnership with DataHub available as Azure Managed Application. Pre-configured support for Azure IoT Hub and Event Streams. Enables secure OT-to-cloud connectivity for Azure customers.
- AVEVAcoreCertified AVEVA Independent Software Vendor. DataHub integrates with AVEVA PI, Historian, Insight, and System Platform. Enables secure connection of live process data to AVEVA systems.
- SiemenscorePartnership for Siemens Data Capture Unit (DCU) and DataHub combination providing secure OT-IT bridge. DataHub extensively tested by Siemens Mobility as One-Way Gateway (OWG) for DCU data diode technology.
- Red LioncoreRed Lion cellular RTUs and routers available with pre-installed ETK for connecting to DataHub or SkkyHub. No software compilation required - simple setup and configuration.
- B+B SmartWorx (Advantech)coreB+B Spectre 4G LTE cellular/wifi router aggregates raw data from disparate devices and connects to SkkyHub for secured bidirectional connectivity.
- NetComm WirelesscoreNetComm NTC-6200 series gateways support ETK installation for wireless M2M connectivity enabling secure real-time connections between remote devices and control systems.
- SysLINK (Systech)coreSysLINK M2M Gateway runs ETK for collecting, processing, and distributing real-time information over networks. Supports multiple wireless interfaces including Wi-Fi, 2G/3G/4G LTE, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Bluetooth.
- RenesascoreETK installed and tested on Renesas Synergy and RZ/N1 platforms. Enables embedded connectivity for Renesas-based devices.
- Software Toolbox (USA)corePrimary US channel partner for DataHub software distribution and support. Contact: [email protected]
- BellChild (Japan)coreExclusive Japanese channel partner for DataHub technology. Based in Osaka with nationwide coverage.
- Novotek (Europe)coreEuropean channel partner with coverage in Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein.
- Incentro S.A. (Latin America)coreLatin America and Caribbean channel partner and AVEVA Partner. Based in Costa Rica with regional coverage.
- TOSL Automation (Caribbean)coreSystem integrator partner for Caribbean region. Executed Heritage Petroleum SCADA upgrade project in Trinidad and Tobago.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Skkynet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AVEVA (Schneider Electric): AVEVA is a global industrial software incumbent offering historians, SCADA, PI, and Industrial AI; DataHub plugs into AVEVA but AVEVA's own offerings compete for adjacent integration budgets. Skkynet's new CEO (Gary Tillery) is ex-AVEVA.
- Siemens Industrial Edge / MindSphere: Siemens offers Industrial Edge and MindSphere for OT-IT bridging and industrial IoT; Skkynet has a Siemens DCU/data-diode partnership but competes with broader Siemens native offerings in OT connectivity.
- Rockwell Automation (FactoryTalk): Rockwell's FactoryTalk suite provides industrial connectivity, historians, and analytics, broadly comparable to Skkynet's DataHub/WebView for OT-IT integration in discrete and process manufacturing.
- PTC (ThingWorx / Kepware): PTC's ThingWorx and Kepware provide industrial IoT platform and connectivity, competing with Skkynet at the integration-and-application layer for industrial AI and IIoT deployments.
Emerging players
- HiveMQ: HiveMQ provides enterprise MQTT broker and IoT data streaming infrastructure used in industrial and connected-vehicle applications, overlapping with Skkynet's MQTT Smart Broker module.
Direct peers
- Cirrus Link Solutions: Cirrus Link provides MQTT-based industrial connectivity solutions integrating OT data with cloud platforms (AWS IoT, Ignition), competing with Skkynet's MQTT Smart Broker and IoT Gateway offerings.
- Software Toolbox: Software Toolbox is Skkynet's primary US channel partner and a long-standing reseller/integrator of OPC, MQTT, and industrial connectivity tools, serving the same integrators and end customers.
- Opto 22: Opto 22 produces industrial edge I/O and IoT hardware/software for connecting legacy equipment to cloud and enterprise applications, comparable in customer base and integration focus to Skkynet's ETK and DataHub.
- Inductive Automation (Ignition): Inductive Automation's Ignition platform is a SCADA/MES/historian integration layer with unlimited licensing, competing directly with Skkynet DataHub for industrial integration and HMI deployments.
- Kepware (PTC): Kepware (owned by PTC) provides industrial connectivity and OPC/multi-protocol server software for connecting plant-floor devices to applications, directly competing with Cogent DataHub's protocol integration capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Skkynet social profiles
Digital presenceSkkynet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skkynet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Skkynet subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Skkynet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skkynet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skkynet
What does Skkynet do?
Skkynet develops and sells real-time industrial data connectivity middleware and cloud services. Its core product, Cogent DataHub, integrates data from over 50 industrial protocols (OPC UA, OPC DA, MQTT, Modbus, DDE, ODBC, TCP) and bridges operational technology (OT) systems to IT and cloud environments using a proprietary outbound-only DHTP protocol that requires no inbound firewall ports or VPNs. The SkkyHub managed cloud service and ETK embedded toolkit extend secure real-time data streaming and IoT-enablement to remote facilities and edge devices for industrial AI and supervisory control applications.
Is Skkynet a public or private company?
Skkynet is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Skkynet founded?
Skkynet was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Skkynet based?
Skkynet is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Skkynet make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses (Cogent DataHub) is the primary driver. The others are skkyHub Managed Cloud Service, azure Marketplace Service, ETK (Embedded Toolkit) and professional Services.
Who are Skkynet's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AVEVA (Schneider Electric), Siemens Industrial Edge / MindSphere, Rockwell Automation (FactoryTalk) and PTC (ThingWorx / Kepware). HiveMQ is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Cirrus Link Solutions, Software Toolbox, Opto 22, Inductive Automation (Ignition) and Kepware (PTC).
Does Skkynet have an API?
Yes. The DataHub offers open APIs documented in the DataHub APIs and DataHub Command Set for integrating custom programs. DataHub also has built-in .Net and C++ APIs allowing custom applications to connect to the DataHub, feed process data from it, and pass results back. The Gamma scripting language is included free of charge in the ETK and all DataHub licenses. Developer documentation is at cogentdatahub.com/docs.
What industry is Skkynet in?
Skkynet's product category is Industrial Data Middleware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAIAE, Managed File Transfer (MFT) & B2B Integration (EDI), with a secondary code of HDABAGAB, Edge Compute Platforms (Serverless Edge, Edge Functions). Its NAICS code is 5415 and its SIC code is 7373.