Strongarm

What Strongarm does

Strongarm (legally Percipient Networks) was a private cybersecurity company that operated for approximately three years before being acquired by WatchGuard Technologies. The company built a DNS-based security monitoring and phishing protection platform targeting small and medium businesses (SMBs) and distributed enterprises. Its core product combined DNS-layer monitoring with a human analysis team that reviewed security alerts and triaged suspicious phishing messages forwarded by customers, producing actionable recommendations rather than raw alerts. The platform was positioned around simplicity and ease of use, explicitly avoiding the complexity of traditional enterprise security stacks.

Following the acquisition, the Strongarm brand is being phased out in favor of DNSWatch, with the customer dashboard redesigned to align with WatchGuard's product portfolio. The company generated revenue through subscription-based recurring security services distributed almost exclusively through channel partners and Managed Service Providers (MSPs). WatchGuard has stated that its resources will be used to accelerate the development of new features for off-network user protection and expanded phishing mitigation, while expanding partner programs to support MSP growth. No public information on pricing, revenue, funding, headcount, or specific acquisition date is available in the source data.

Name

Strongarm

Website

https://strongarm.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Strongarm (now DNSWatch under WatchGuard Technologies) was a DNS-based cybersecurity company providing phishing protection and security alert triage for SMBs and distributed enterprises, distributed via MSP and channel partner networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wakefield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Security Subscription Services: Strongarm provides security services including phishing protection and alert analysis. The service appears to be subscription-based as customers are served through a dashboard and ongoing monitoring/analysis is provided.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Core offering

Strongarm provides a DNS-based security monitoring platform that delivers phishing attack protection, analyzes security alerts, and triages suspicious phishing messages forwarded by customers, with recommendations provided by an in-house analysis team. The platform is targeted at SMB and distributed enterprise customers and is delivered through a centralized dashboard, with the offering distributed via channel partners and Managed Service Providers.

Product overview

Strongarm offered a unified security platform designed for SMB and distributed enterprises. The core product, now rebranded as DNSWatch following WatchGuard's acquisition, provided phishing protection through real-time analysis of suspicious messages and alerts, with recommendations provided to customers. The platform included a dashboard (with a new look and feel matching WatchGuard products) for monitoring and managing security alerts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DNSWatch: DNSWatch is the new brand name replacing Strongarm following its acquisition by WatchGuard Technologies. It provides security solutions for protecting off-network users and defending against phishing attacks.

Products and services

• Strongarm (rebranded as DNSWatch) A DNS-based security monitoring platform for SMB and distributed enterprise customers that delivers phishing attack protection, analyzes security alerts, and triages suspicious phishing messages forwarded for analysis, with recommendations provided by an in-house analysis team. Delivered through a centralized dashboard and distributed via MSPs and channel partners.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• WatchGuard TechnologiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatchGuard Technologies acquired Strongarm (Percipient Networks) to combine security solutions. The alignment focuses on simple, easy-to-use security for SMB and distributed enterprises. WatchGuard's resources will accelerate development of new features for off-network user protection and expanded phishing attack mitigation. WatchGuard's commitment to channel partners and MSPs brings new programs to help partners grow their business. Strongarm branding is being replaced by DNSWatch.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Webroot (OpenText): Webroot provides endpoint and DNS-layer threat protection, historically delivered through MSP and SMB channels, making it a broad incumbent competitor in the same segment DNSWatch targets.
• WatchGuard Technologies: WatchGuard is the parent of DNSWatch and a broader network security vendor serving SMB and MSPs; relevant as a benchmark for the channel-led SMB security business model DNSWatch now operates inside.
• Zscaler: Zscaler is a leading cloud security platform with DNS filtering, phishing protection, and zero-trust capabilities that overlap with DNSWatch's offering, though Zscaler targets larger enterprises as part of a broader platform.
• Akamai: Akamai provides enterprise-grade DNS, edge, and security services including phishing and threat protection, competing with DNSWatch at the infrastructure layer for distributed workforce security.
• Palo Alto Networks: Palo Alto Networks offers DNS Security and Advanced URL Filtering subscriptions as part of its broader platform, representing a scaled incumbent alternative in the same DNS-layer and phishing protection category.
• Sophos: Sophos delivers endpoint, network, and DNS-layer security with a strong MSP/channel focus and SMB orientation, putting it in direct competition with DNSWatch's channel-led, SMB-friendly positioning.

Direct peers

• CleanBrowsing: CleanBrowsing offers DNS-based content filtering and threat protection with MSP and SMB-friendly plans, comparable to DNSWatch in technology approach and customer segment.
• Cloudflare Gateway: Cloudflare Gateway delivers DNS and HTTP-layer filtering, phishing protection, and off-network user coverage as part of its SASE platform, competing head-to-head with DNSWatch on the same core DNS-security use cases.
• Cisco Umbrella (OpenDNS): Cisco Umbrella is a leading DNS-layer security platform that blocks malicious domains, filters content, and provides phishing protection — directly comparable to DNSWatch's DNS-based security monitoring and phishing mitigation for distributed workforces.
• DNSFilter: DNSFilter provides cloud-based DNS filtering and threat protection, with a strong MSP and channel-first go-to-market — closely mirroring DNSWatch's positioning, technology, and target customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/strongarmio
• Facebookfacebook.com/strongarmio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/strongarm-by-percipient-networks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Strongarm