Software House

What Software House does

Software House, founded in 1973 and headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, is a Johnson Controls brand that provides enterprise physical access control and security event management software. Its flagship C•CURE 9000 platform centralizes access control, event handling, and video surveillance integration across single-server deployments (up to 5,000 readers and 1,000,000 credentials) and enterprise distributed architectures (master server with up to 60 satellite application servers), with options for on-premises, hybrid, and single-tenant cloud (C•CURE Cloud) deployments. The portfolio is anchored by the iSTAR controller family (iSTAR Ultra G2, iSTAR Edge G2, IP-ACM v2) and integrates with 300+ third-party technology partners spanning video management, biometrics, wireless locks, and credential reading.

The company monetizes through a mix of hardware (iSTAR controllers, readers, credentials, electronic locks), software licensing (C•CURE 9000, C•CURE IQ browser client, and add-on modules for visitor management, high assurance, and access management workflow), recurring Software Support Agreements (SSA) with three annual releases, and professional services delivered by the Johnson Controls Professional Services Group. Go-to-market is 100% indirect via a global network of certified channel partners and integrators, supported by regional presales, application engineering, and 24/7 technical support across North America, EMEA, Latin America, and Asia Pacific.

Software House serves enterprises and government organizations in verticals where security complexity, regulatory compliance, and scale are decision drivers: data centers, financial and banking, government and federal, education, healthcare, retail, transportation, industrial, and sports/entertainment. The company's differentiators are its FICAM/FIPS 201/HSPD-12 compliance posture for federal deployments, cyber-hardened hardware (FIPS 140-3, TLS 1.3, OSDP Secure Channel, Trusted Execution Environment), decade-spanning installed base of 30,000+ organizations, and an exclusive certified partner channel that carries the delivery and support burden for enterprise customers.

Name

Software House

Legal name

Software House (brand of Johnson Controls International plc)

Website

https://swhouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Software House, a Johnson Controls brand founded in 1973, provides enterprise physical access control and security event management via the C•CURE 9000 platform, iSTAR controllers, and a 300+ partner ecosystem, serving 30,000+ organizations across government, data centers, finance, retail, healthcare, and education through certified channel partners globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Physical Access Control and Security Event Management

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Access Control Management & Credentialing (Badging/Visitor Management Ops) (BPABAMAG)

Keywords

• Enterprise access control
• Security event management
• Physical access control
• Door controller hardware
• Video surveillance integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Access Control Hardware: Sale of door controllers (iSTAR family), readers, credentials, electronic locks, exit devices, and controller accessories. Hardware products are sold through certified channel partners with varying price points based on capacity and security features.
2. Software Licensing (C•CURE 9000): C•CURE 9000 security and event management software licensing with options for standalone, enterprise distributed architecture, and cloud deployments. Includes browser-based C•CURE IQ client as part of standard licensing.
3. Software Support Agreement (SSA): Comprehensive maintenance program providing 24/7 technical support, regular updates, and three annual software releases. Available to certified integrators and end customers.
4. Professional Services: Johnson Controls Professional Services Group provides deployment, integration, and system monitoring services. Includes training services for end-users and technical staff.
5. Warranty and Repair Services: Warranty coverage included with products, plus flat-rate repair services for out-of-warranty products. Advance replacement services available with associated fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Software House sells enterprise physical access control and security event management solutions centered on the C•CURE 9000 software platform. The portfolio includes cyber-hardened iSTAR door controllers, electronic locks, readers, credentials, visitor management, and cloud-managed access control services, sold through certified channel partners to enterprise and government customers worldwide.

Product overview

Software House, a Johnson Controls company, provides a comprehensive integrated access control and security event management platform built around C•CURE 9000 as the core software. The portfolio includes C•CURE IQ (browser-based client), C•CURE Cloud (cloud deployment), and C•CURE 9000 Enterprise (distributed architecture) as primary software variants. Hardware offerings include iSTAR Ultra G2 and iSTAR Edge G2 door controllers, RM/OSDP boards, IP-ACM v2 Ethernet door modules, I/O modules, and PSX power supplies. The ecosystem integrates with third-party solutions including HID readers/credentials, ASSA ABLOY Aperio and IP-enabled locks, Allegion Schlage products, Idemia and BioConnect biometric readers, Alcatraz AI facial authentication, video management from American Dynamics and Exacq, and Illustra cameras with analytics. Additional modules include C•CURE Visitor Management, C•CURE Access Management Workflow, C•CURE High Assurance for government compliance, C•CURE IQ Security Intelligence, and C•CURE ID badging. The platform supports on-premises, hybrid, and cloud deployments serving industries including data centers, finance, education, government, healthcare, retail, and transportation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C•CURE 9000: Security and event management software platform, the cornerstone of Software House's software portfolio.
• C•CURE IQ
• C•CURE Cloud
• C•CURE High Assurance
• C•CURE Portal
• iSTAR Controllers
• iSTAR Ultra G2
• iSTAR Edge G2
• C•CURE Go Reader

Products and services

• C•CURE 9000 Security and Event Management Software Cornerstone security and event management software platform providing centralized access control management, event handling, and monitoring for enterprise and government customers. Supports on-premises, hybrid, and cloud deployments.
• C•CURE IQ Browser-Based Security Client Browser-based unified security event management client included with standard C•CURE 9000 licensing, providing access control and video surveillance management from any web browser with intuitive dashboards.
• C•CURE Cloud Access Control as a Service Dedicated single-tenant cloud deployment of C•CURE 9000 functionality with managed infrastructure, 24/7 monitoring by Johnson Controls Professional Services Group, and customer-controlled upgrade timing.
• C•CURE 9000 Enterprise Distributed Architecture

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports up to 5,000 readers per single server and 60 satellite application servers for enterprise scalability
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration25 records

AI capability8 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American DynamicscoreTechnology or IntegrationVideo management platform integration with C•CURE 9000. Native integration available by default with C•CURE 9000. Provides holistic video approach to managing access control and video surveillance.
• ExacqcoreTechnology or IntegrationVideo management solutions integrated with C•CURE 9000. Native integration available by default. Part of comprehensive video surveillance approach.
• IllustracoreTechnology or IntegrationCamera technology partner providing video analytics including motion detection, abandoned/removed objects, crowd formation, dwell, linger, direction, enter/exit area, color detection. Native line of cameras integrated with C•CURE.
• ASSA ABLOY (Aperio)coreTechnology or IntegrationWireless lock technology integration including mortise, cylindrical, exit devices, cabinet locks, and data center locks. KS210 OSDP Cabinet Locks provide up to 32 locks per 2U rack with 128-bit AES encryption. Integrates with C•CURE 9000 via iSTAR family controllers.
• ASSA ABLOY IP-Enabled LockscoreTechnology or IntegrationWireless IP-enabled Wi-Fi and PoE locks integrating with C•CURE 9000. Utilizes Door Service Router (DSR) for efficient communication without additional door controllers.
• HID GlobalcoreTechnology or IntegrationiCLASS smart card readers and HID Signo multi-technology readers providing secure access control. HID Mobile Access enables mobile credentials on smartphones. Supports OSDP bidirectional communication.
• Idemia (Morpho)coreTechnology or IntegrationBiometric readers including fingerprint (MorphoWave Compact) and facial recognition. Touchless 3D fingerprint technology integrated via Morpho BioBridge. Ideal for high-traffic environments requiring convenience and security.
• BioConnect (Suprema)coreTechnology or IntegrationBiometric identity platform integrating Suprema readers with C•CURE 9000. Enables fingerprint or face enrollment with simple data synchronization for centralized identity management.
• Alcatraz AIcoreTechnology or IntegrationAI-powered facial authentication technology (Alcatraz AI Rock) for frictionless access control. Real-time secure facial authentication at the door with machine learning capabilities.
• IrisIDcoreTechnology or IntegrationIris biometric readers (iCAM 7S Series) integrated with C•CURE 9000. Non-contact, hygienic dual iris capture for high-security environments.
• NedapcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong range TRANSIT Ultimate readers for vehicle identification. AVI system with lithium-powered tags programmed in 26-bit Wiegand format. Integrates with Software House access control systems.
• Salto SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationOffline locks ideal for interior doors requiring moderate security. Integrates with C•CURE 9000 for cardholder access permission management. Cost-effective for installations where fully wired door is not justified.
• Allegion (Schlage)coreTechnology or IntegrationElectronic and wireless locks providing cost-effective scalable access solutions. Readers with scramble keypad and multi-technology platform supporting various credential form factors. FIPS 201-approved Hirsch TouchSecure readers available.
• Dormakaba (Best Wi-Q)coreTechnology or IntegrationBest Wi-Q wireless locks integrating with C•CURE 9000. Bi-directional communication between wireless readers and system for controlling parking gates, turnstiles, electromagnetic locks, and other devices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Building Technologies: Honeywell's Pro-Watch and WIN-PAK access control platforms compete in the same enterprise/government segment as Software House, while Honeywell's broader building management portfolio provides cross-sell and competitive bundling that a pure-play access vendor cannot match.
• Bosch Security and Safety Systems: Bosch offers the Access Management System (AMS) and integrated video portfolio that competes with Software House in enterprise, transportation, and government verticals, with strong international presence in EMEA markets where Software House also competes.
• Avigilon (Motorola Solutions): Avigilon, combined with the Openpath acquisition, gives Motorola Solutions a unified VMS and cloud-capable access control portfolio competing with the American Dynamics + C•CURE 9000 integration story across enterprise and public safety segments.

Direct peers

• Siemens Smart Infrastructure: SiPass Integrated is Siemens' enterprise access control platform competing directly with C•CURE 9000 in large campus and critical infrastructure deployments, often bundled with Siemens' Desigo building automation.
• AMAG Technology (ASSA ABLOY): AMAG's Symmetry access control platform directly competes with Software House in enterprise, government, and healthcare verticals, now backed by ASSA ABLOY's wireless lock and credential portfolio that overlaps with C•CURE's integration partners.
• LenelS2: LenelS2 (a Carrier company) offers the OnGuard access control platform, the most direct on-premises enterprise competitor to C•CURE 9000, targeting the same data center, government, healthcare, and education verticals with comparable reader-scale architecture and channel-driven sales.
• Brivo: Brivo is a cloud-native access control platform that competes with C•CURE Cloud for SMB and mid-market deals, offering self-serve subscription pricing and a direct sales motion that contrasts with Software House's channel-only enterprise model.
• Identiv: Identiv (with Hirsch branded controllers and high-assurance FICAM readers) competes in the same federal, government, and high-security enterprise segment where Software House's C•CURE High Assurance and iSTAR G2 controllers operate.
• Kantech: Kantech is a Johnson Controls sibling brand offering the EntraPass access control platform targeted at SMB and small enterprise customers. While positioned at a different price point, it competes for the same Johnson Controls security go-to-market resources and overlaps with Software House in mid-market pursuits.
• Genetec: Genetec Security Center and Synergis access control platform compete head-to-head with C•CURE 9000 in enterprise and government deployments, with a unified VMS/ACS architecture and strong growth momentum through its channel program.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SWHouseSecurity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SoftwareHouse1
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swhouse

Compliance11 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 Software House