narrowin
Narrowin GmbH is a Swiss university spin-off that provides lightweight, passive network discovery, segmentation, and consulting services for IT and OT environments of critical infrastructure operators in the DACH region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLiestal, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What narrowin does
Narrowin GmbH is a Swiss university spin-off headquartered in Liestal that builds lightweight network discovery, segmentation, and cybersecurity products and services for IT and OT environments in critical infrastructure. Its flagship is the Lightweight Network Explorer — a passive, non-invasive discovery and topology platform with an IPAM module purpose-built for industrial networks (PLCs, HMIs, SCADA), complemented by Endpoint Segmentation, OT WAN Design, MikroTik Lightweight SDN automation, and a Network & Security Lab used in training. The company explicitly positions itself around pragmatic, not comprehensive, solutions for environments where active scanning is operationally unsafe.
The firm monetizes through a mix of recurring software licensing for its platform components and professional services — network and cybersecurity consulting, segmentation, digital transformation program management, and custom software development — alongside two-day OT security training courses run at FHNW in Olten at CHF 1,200 per participant. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales into critical infrastructure operators with channel partnerships (Axians, Actemium, Garderos), a self-serve demo portal, and academic co-delivery with FHNW and ZHAW.
Named customers include Swissgas, Kantonsspital Baselland, sciCORE and the University of Basel, Zweckverband Breitbandversorgung Landkreis Lörrach, Eniwa, and EnBW, spanning gas, district heating, hospitals, HPC research, and utilities. In 2024 the company received strategic investment from Enpulse (EnBW subsidiary) following a successful pilot, and continues to run Innosuisse-funded applied research with ZHAW (Expedition Node) and FHNW (Cyber Regulatory Co-Pilot on secure LLM use).
narrowin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- narrowin
- Legal name
- Narrowin GmbH
- Website
- https://narrowin.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Narrowin GmbH is a Swiss university spin-off that provides lightweight, passive network discovery, segmentation, and consulting services for IT and OT environments of critical infrastructure operators in the DACH region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
narrowin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- OT Network Security Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Training (61142), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Edge Networking & SD-WAN Integration (SASE/SD-WAN Edge On-ramps) (HDABAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Application Security & Secure Software (DevSecOps) (EDAOAIAK), Enterprise Application UX, Portals & Low-Code Extensions (BPAEAGAM), Business Rules & Decision Management Platforms (BRMS/DMN) (HDAEAKAG)
Keywords
Where narrowin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Liestal
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
narrowin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Network & Security Consulting Services: Professional services including network & security consulting, network segmentation, project management for digital transformation, and software development.
- Product Licenses (Network Explorer, Endpoint Segmentation, IPAM, OT WAN): Licensing of proprietary software platforms for network discovery, visualization, segmentation, and IP address management in IT and OT environments.
- Industrial Networks & Security Training Courses: Two-day practice-oriented courses at FHNW covering OT security and network architectures. Courses include 'Designing Secure and Reliable OT Networks' and 'OT Attack Mapping & Risk-Based Defense'. Next courses September/October 2026 in Olten at FHNW.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Two-day OT Network & Security courses at FHNW |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
narrowin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Narrowin develops and licenses a platform of lightweight software products for IT and OT network discovery, visualization, segmentation, and IP address management, anchored by the Lightweight Network Explorer. The company supplements its software with professional services (network and cybersecurity consulting, segmentation, digital transformation project management, custom software development) and fee-based OT security training courses delivered at FHNW.
Product overview
Narrowin is a Swiss university spin-off that develops a platform of lightweight network and security solutions for IT and OT environments, with a focus on pragmatic, effective approaches rather than comprehensive enterprise platforms. The core platform includes Network Explorer (lightweight network discovery and IPAM), Endpoint Segmentation (network isolation), Network & Security Lab (training environment), OT WAN Design (industrial connectivity), and MikroTik Lightweight SDN (automation for MikroTik devices). These are complemented by professional services (network & cybersecurity, segmentation, project management, software development) and industrial network training courses at FHNW. The company also conducts research projects including on-premises AI for sovereign network analysis, segmentation tools, and healthcare micro-segmentation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Network Explorer Lightweight software for passive, non-invasive network discovery and topology visualization across IT and OT environments, enabling automated device onboarding and digital twin creation without disruptive active scanning.
- Endpoint Segmentation Micro-segmentation solution for industrial and enterprise networks that isolates endpoints and controls lateral movement between network zones in critical infrastructure.
- Network & Security Lab Hands-on OT network lab environment for practical training, security testing, and proof-of-concept work in IT and OT environments.
- OT WAN Design Wide area network design solution specifically for operational technology environments, providing template-based architecture and zero-touch provisioning for scalable industrial network connectivity.
- MikroTik Lightweight SDN Automation platform for MikroTik network devices enabling template-based configuration, zero-touch provisioning, and scalable management and deployment networks.
- IPAM (IP Address Management) IP address management module integrated with Network Explorer, supporting Excel/CSV import, network discovery validation, subnet calculation with VLSM, and OT-specific static IP management for PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA systems.
- Network & Cybersecurity Services Professional services for network and cybersecurity consulting, implementation, and ongoing support targeted at IT and OT operators in critical infrastructure sectors.
- Network Segmentation Services Consulting and implementation services for network segmentation and zoning strategies, helping organizations design and deploy effective network isolation for IT and OT environments.
- Project Management (Digital Transformation) Project management services to guide organizations through digital transformation initiatives, particularly technology and infrastructure modernization across IT and OT.
- Software Development Services Custom software development services for tailored network automation, integration, and security solutions to complement Narrowin's product portfolio.
- Industrial Networks & Security Courses Two-day practice-oriented training courses at FHNW covering OT security and network architectures, including 'Designing Secure and Reliable OT Networks' and 'OT Attack Mapping & Risk-Based Defense', delivered with FHNW lecturers and Switch CERT engineers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Cost savings factor of 1 to 7 achieved with MikroTik hardware vs. conventional vendors in sciCORE management and deployment network replacement
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use narrowin
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
narrowin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
narrowin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.
- AxianscoreAxians is a leading service provider in Industrial Security. They combine their expertise with Narrowin's Network Explorer to offer packaged network infrastructure assessments for IT & OT environments. The partnership enables rapid initial analysis as a basis for SOC implementation or network architecture projects.
- ActemiumcoreActemium provides OT specialization within the Axians partnership, advising and supporting customers comprehensively on cyber security for IT & OT infrastructures. Together with Axians, they leverage Narrowin's Network Explorer for non-invasive network assessments.
- GarderosminorPartnership with Garderos for industrial routers in critical infrastructure in Switzerland. Garderos distributes Narrowin's solutions as part of their industrial connectivity offering.
- ZHAW (Zurcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)coreInnosuisse-funded applied research project with ZHAW's Institute of Applied Information Technology (InIT) developed the 'Expedition Node' — a tool demonstrating how attackers act after penetrating a network (e.g., through Log4Shell). Joint research outputs include whitepapers on attack paths and secure network architecture development.
- FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz)coreFHNW is a co-development partner for training courses (Industrial Networks & Security) and research projects including 'Cyber Regulatory Co-Pilot' on secure LLM use. FHNW professor Christopher Scherb co-lectures OT security courses. The OT Network Lab is hosted at FHNW campus in Olten.
- MikroTikmoderateNarrowin offers 'Lightweight SDN Automation for MikroTik' as a product/platform component. Specifically configured MikroTik hardware is deployed in customer projects (e.g., sciCORE University of Basel) with significant cost savings vs. conventional vendors. The partnership involves deep configuration and integration of MikroTik equipment.
- InfobloxmoderateIntegration with Infoblox for DNS and DHCP management at University of Basel. Infoblox synchronizes host-specific information (VLAN, MAC, certificates) with Extreme Management Center for network access control, and generates individual PSKs for IoT wireless devices via Cisco WLC integration.
- Extreme NetworksmoderateIntegration with Extreme Management Center (XMC) for network access control and automated device onboarding. Used in University of Basel project for simplified onboarding and device identification within the network landscape.
- Cisco (Wireless Controller)moderateIntegration with Cisco Wireless Controller (WLC) for individual PSK generation for IoT devices. Combined with Infoblox integration, enables devices to be automatically assigned their own VLAN and security profile within the same SSID.
- SwissgasminorSwissgas is both a customer and strategic reference partner. The Lightweight Network Explorer is used as an important foundation for Swissgas to implement the ICT minimum standard for critical gas infrastructure. Provides testimonial endorsement.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
narrowin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dragos: Dragos specializes in OT cybersecurity with passive network monitoring, asset identification, and threat intelligence for industrial control systems. It targets the same energy, water, and manufacturing verticals as Narrowin with a comparable technology approach.
- Nozomi Networks: Nozomi Networks provides OT and IoT network visibility, asset discovery, and threat detection, directly competing with Narrowin's Network Explorer in critical-infrastructure accounts. Their passive monitoring and asset-management product overlaps functionally with Narrowin's core offering.
- Claroty: Claroty is the closest direct peer: an OT/ICS network discovery, visibility, and segmentation platform serving critical infrastructure operators. Both companies target IT/OT convergence visibility in energy, healthcare, and industrial verticals with comparable passive-monitoring approaches.
Broad incumbents
- Fortinet (OT Security / FortiGate): Fortinet offers OT-aware network segmentation, firewalling, and visibility via FortiGate and the OT Security Service, targeting the same critical-infrastructure buyers as Narrowin's Endpoint Segmentation and IPAM modules but from a much larger networking-security installed base.
- Microsoft Defender for IoT (formerly CyberX): Microsoft Defender for IoT provides agentless OT/IoT network monitoring and asset discovery, integrated with the broader Azure/Defender security stack. It competes with Narrowin's Network Explorer for enterprise customers that prefer a hyperscaler-backed, integrated platform.
- Tenable OT Security (formerly Tenable.ot / Indegy): Tenable offers IT/OT asset discovery and vulnerability management as part of a broader exposure-management platform. It overlaps with Narrowin's Network Explorer on network discovery but competes from a much larger IT-security installed base.
- ABB Ability Cyber Security: ABB offers industrial-cybersecurity solutions for OT environments, including network discovery and segmentation, anchored to its large installed base of industrial automation customers — overlapping with Narrowin's OT WAN Design and Endpoint Segmentation in process-industry accounts.
- Cisco Cyber Vision: Cisco's Cyber Vision delivers OT visibility by leveraging existing industrial network infrastructure (switches/routers) — directly competing with Narrowin's Network Explorer in industrial accounts that already run Cisco networking gear.
- Forescout (SilentDefense): Forescout's SilentDefense (now part of Forescout Platform) provides passive OT/IoT network monitoring and asset visibility. It overlaps directly with Narrowin's Network Explorer while bringing a much broader device-compliance portfolio to enterprise buyers.
Regional players
- Rhebo (Landis+Gyr): Rhebo, a German OT network monitoring vendor now owned by Landis+Gyr, offers passive OT anomaly detection for industrial and critical-infrastructure networks. It is a strong DACH-focused comparable for Narrowin's Network Explorer in energy and water utilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
narrowin social profiles
Digital presencenarrowin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
narrowin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
narrowin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
narrowin M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about narrowin
What does narrowin do?
Narrowin develops and licenses a platform of lightweight software products for IT and OT network discovery, visualization, segmentation, and IP address management, anchored by the Lightweight Network Explorer. The company supplements its software with professional services (network and cybersecurity consulting, segmentation, digital transformation project management, custom software development) and fee-based OT security training courses delivered at FHNW.
Is narrowin a public or private company?
narrowin is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was narrowin founded?
narrowin was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is narrowin based?
narrowin is headquartered in Liestal, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does narrowin make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Network & Security Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are product Licenses (Network Explorer, Endpoint Segmentation, IPAM, OT WAN) and industrial Networks & Security Training Courses.
Who are narrowin's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dragos, Nozomi Networks and Claroty. Broad incumbents are Fortinet (OT Security / FortiGate), Microsoft Defender for IoT (formerly CyberX), Tenable OT Security (formerly Tenable.ot / Indegy), ABB Ability Cyber Security, Cisco Cyber Vision and Forescout (SilentDefense). Rhebo (Landis+Gyr) is listed as a regional player.
Does narrowin have an API?
No public API is recorded for narrowin.
What industry is narrowin in?
narrowin's product category is OT Network Security Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAGAJ, Edge Networking & SD-WAN Integration (SASE/SD-WAN Edge On-ramps), with a secondary code of EDAOAIAK, Application Security & Secure Software (DevSecOps). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7370.