What Cipher10 does

ID-ware is a Netherlands-based, privately-held software vendor founded in 2005 that specializes exclusively in Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM). The company's core offering is the PIAM Suite (OCMS), a modular platform that centralizes credential management, access management, visitor management, and contractor management, and integrates with physical access control systems (PACS), HR systems, and directory services to manage cross-site physical access for organizations. The platform is available both as on-premise software and as a SaaS deployment, and is supplemented by a Card Personalisation SDK (IDES), a self-service photo capture tool (Photon), and complementary hardware such as card readers and badge printers.

The company serves enterprise customers across six verticals — Education/Universities, Manufacturing, Public Sector/Critical Infrastructure, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Aerospace/Defence — using a direct enterprise field-sales motion supported by multilingual delivery (German, English, Dutch), industry trade-show participation, and a content/email nurture program. Revenue is generated through seven streams: software licenses, SaaS subscriptions, secure credential consultancy, managed 'Credentials as a Service' card personalisation, support and maintenance, training services, and hardware sales. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, which is consistent with enterprise B2B software sales.

Operationally, ID-ware carries ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 27001 (information security) certifications across all departments, is a registered TISAX participant (enabling automotive-sector procurement), and actively positions its PIAM Suite around NIS2 and DORA compliance frameworks for European operators of essential services. The company describes an international team and operates with a European geographic footprint, as evidenced by a trilingual website (English, German, Dutch) and event presence at SicherheitsExpo Munich. No revenue, headcount, funding, or management team details are publicly disclosed, and the company does not publish a developer API or public SDK documentation.

Name

Cipher10

Legal name

ID-ware

Website

https://cipher10.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ID-ware is a Netherlands-based, privately-held vendor of Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software serving enterprise customers across education, manufacturing, public sector, financial services, healthcare, and aerospace/defence verticals via on-premise and SaaS deployment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Physical Identity and Access Management Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Identity & Access Management (IAM) Administration Services (BPAEABAJ)

Keywords

• Physical identity access management
• Credential management software
• Visitor management software
• Physical access control
• Security compliance software

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses (PIAM Suite): Sale of Physical Identity and Access Management software licenses including modules for credential management, access management, visitor management, and contractor management. Available as on-premise or SaaS deployment.
2. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): Cloud-based access to PIAM Suite with subscription model. Offers cost savings and scalable solution with highest security and encryption standards maintained.
3. Secure Credential Consultancy: Consultancy services from design to deployment based on long-term industry experience.
4. Credentials as a Service: Outsourced card personalisation, encoding, printing and distribution services.
5. Support & Maintenance: Software maintenance including updates and bug fixing, plus support services for licensed products.
6. Training Services: Training courses offered in German, English or Dutch, via video, remote or on site.
7. Hardware Sales: Sale of hardware products related to identification and authentication.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ID-ware provides a Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) software platform — the PIAM Suite (OCMS) — that unifies credential management, access management, visitor management, and contractor management into a centralized system for organizations. The platform is available as on-premise software or as a SaaS subscription, with complementary offerings including a Card Personalisation SDK (IDES), a user self-service photo capture tool (Photon), related hardware, and services (consultancy, credentials-as-a-service, integration, support, training).

Product overview

ID-ware offers a unified PIAM (Physical Identity & Access Management) platform called PIAM Suite (OCMS), which comprises multiple integrated modules including Credential Management, Access Management, Visitor Management, Contractor Management, and User Self-Service (Photon photo capture tool). The solution is available both as on-premises software and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Additionally, the company provides a Card Personalisation SDK (IDES) for programmatic credential production, complementary Hardware products, and services including Secure Credential Consultancy, Credentials as a Service, Integration/Project Management, Support & Maintenance, and Training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PIAM Suite (OCMS): Physical Identity and Access Management Suite - core software platform for credential management, access management, visitor management, and contractor management.
• Card Personalisation SDK (IDES)
• Photon

Products and services

• PIAM Suite (OCMS) The central Physical Identity & Access Management platform that integrates credential management, access management, visitor management, and contractor management into a unified solution for managing physical access across organisations. Available as on-premise software or SaaS subscription.
• Card Personalisation SDK (IDES) Software development kit enabling programmatic card personalisation and encoding for secure credentials. Sold as a standalone SDK for developers and integrators building credential issuance workflows.
• Hardware Physical hardware offerings including card readers, badge printers, and other identification devices that complement the PIAM software solutions.
• Software as a Service (SaaS) Cloud-based deployment of the PIAM Suite delivered as a subscription with high security and encryption standards, offering a flexible and scalable alternative to on-premise deployment.
• Secure Credential Consultancy Consultancy services from secure credential design to deployment, drawing on long-term industry experience.
• Credentials as a Service Outsourced card personalisation, encoding, printing and distribution services delivered as a managed service.
• Integration / Project Management Integration and project management services to deploy and connect the PIAM Suite with customer environments and third-party systems.
• Support & Maintenance Software maintenance including updates and bug fixing, plus support services for licensed PIAM products.
• Training Training courses offered in German, English, or Dutch, delivered via video, remote, or on-site.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased security and compliance for organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HID Global: World's largest PIAM and credential management software and hardware vendor (part of ASSA ABLOY). Sells directly comparable physical identity, credential, and access management solutions to the same enterprise verticals as ID-ware, making it the dominant direct competitor in the European PIAM market.
• AMAG Technology: Symmetry access control and PIAM vendor that integrates credential management, visitor management, and identity workflows with PACS. Highly comparable to ID-ware on product scope and enterprise target market.
• Genea: Cloud-native PIAM platform focused on enterprise credentialing, visitor, and contractor management. Offers a SaaS alternative to ID-ware's on-premise legacy install base, competing head-to-head in healthcare, financial services, and corporate real estate.
• LenelS2: Carrier-owned access control and PIAM platform (OnGuard / NetBox) sold into enterprise and education customers. Competes with ID-ware in physical access and identity integration with PACS, particularly in larger multi-site deployments.
• TDS Visitor (TDS Global Solutions): Visitor and contractor management software vendor with deep roots in UK and European enterprise. Comparable competitor in the visitor and contractor management modules that ID-ware sells as part of PIAM Suite.
• Splan (formerly Proxyclick): Visitor management and workplace experience platform competing with ID-ware's Visitor Management module. Targets enterprise and corporate real estate, often as a SaaS overlay on top of enterprise PACS — a comparable buyer and use case.

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Building Technologies: Global building security and access control portfolio (Pro-Watch, NetAXS). Competes with ID-ware in large enterprise and critical infrastructure deployments as part of broader security offerings, with much greater scale and adjacent product breadth.
• Siemens Smart Infrastructure: Building security and access management portfolio (SiPass Integrated, Aliro) targeting enterprise and critical infrastructure customers. Competitor in European enterprise market but embedded in broader building management solutions rather than standalone PIAM.
• Genetec: Unified security platform offering access control, video, and PIAM capabilities (Security Center Synergis). Larger, broader incumbent that competes with ID-ware in enterprise security and critical infrastructure, but its primary focus is on integrated security rather than specialised PIAM.

Emerging players

• Envoy: Visitor, employee, and workplace management platform. Overlaps with ID-ware's visitor management capabilities, though lighter on deep credentialing and compliance controls that ID-ware emphasises for regulated buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Cipher10