OpenSSL Corporation
OpenSSL Corporation maintains the world's most widely used open-source cryptographic library (OpenSSL Library), generating revenue entirely from enterprise commercial support contracts and FIPS 140-3 validation services for large enterprises and regulated industries undergoing post-quantum cryptography migration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersNewark, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What OpenSSL Corporation does
OpenSSL Corporation is the commercial entity that maintains the OpenSSL Library, the world's most widely deployed open-source cryptographic library, providing TLS/SSL protocol implementation and general-purpose cryptographic primitives across billions of secure communications. The company operates the core engineering, security, and release functions for the library, producing feature releases every six months and long-term-support releases every two years, with current versions (3.x and 4.0) implementing NIST-standardized post-quantum algorithms (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA), Encrypted Client Hello, and FIPS 140-3 validated modules. More than two-thirds of all project-funded contributions to the library are authored by the Corporation's engineering team, which is anchored in a new European headquarters in Brno, Czech Republic and an existing U.S. presence in Newark/Arlington.
The company derives 100% of revenue from commercial support contracts — premium subscriptions that grant enterprise customers direct access to core maintainers, priority security advisories, extended LTS windows, and custom SLAs — supplemented by a FIPS 140-3 Rebranding program that licenses the validated module to downstream vendors under their own product identity. The customer base is concentrated in large enterprises and regulated industries (government, defense, healthcare, financial services) with an 86% renewal rate and a growing mix of multi-year agreements. Distribution is amplified by native inclusion across major Linux distributions (Red Hat, Fedora, Ubuntu, CentOS, SUSE, Canonical, Microsoft) and by deep contributor engagement from major technology firms (Oracle, IBM, Intel, Cisco, Siemens, Google, Arm, Microsoft, Red Hat, Qualcomm).
Strategically, the Corporation is positioned at the inflection of post-quantum cryptography migration, holding the first FIPS 140-3 validated open-source module (Certificate #4985, valid through March 2030) and a pending FIPS 3.5.4 submission targeting the first validated post-quantum-ready module. The company is governed under a Co-Equal model established March 2024 alongside the non-commercial OpenSSL Foundation, and operates with a 21-person staff that nearly doubled in 2025. The organization finances operations entirely from commercial revenue with no donations, sponsorships, or outside capital, and closed 2025 close to break-even.
OpenSSL Corporation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OpenSSL Corporation
- Legal name
- OpenSSL Corporation
- Website
- https://openssl-corporation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- OpenSSL Corporation maintains the world's most widely used open-source cryptographic library (OpenSSL Library), generating revenue entirely from enterprise commercial support contracts and FIPS 140-3 validation services for large enterprises and regulated industries undergoing post-quantum cryptography migration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OpenSSL Corporation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cryptographic Software Libraries
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Secrets Management (Passwords, API Keys, Tokens) (HDADAFAD)
Keywords
Where OpenSSL Corporation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newark
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
OpenSSL Corporation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commercial Support Contracts: All revenue derived from commercial support contracts with organizations requiring direct access to OpenSSL experts, premium support, and extended LTS options. No reliance on donations, sponsorships, or one-time income. Strong customer renewal rate of 86% with increased adoption of multi-year agreements.
- FIPS Rebranding Services: Organizations can acquire FIPS 140-3 module validation under their own product or corporate identity. Customer can add additional operational environments and perform testing/revalidation through accredited FIPS testing labs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Premium support plans providing direct access to OpenSSL experts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
OpenSSL Corporation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OpenSSL Corporation maintains the OpenSSL Library, the world's most widely used open-source cryptographic library providing SSL/TLS protocol implementation, general-purpose cryptographic functions, and FIPS 140-3 validated modules. The Corporation sells commercial support contracts and FIPS rebranding services that give enterprises direct access to core maintainers, premium SLAs, and validated cryptographic modules for regulated environments.
Product overview
OpenSSL Corporation maintains the OpenSSL Library as its core product, the world's most trusted open-source cryptographic library. The product portfolio includes the OpenSSL Library with post-quantum cryptography support (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA) across versions 3.x and 4.0, supplemented by commercial support plans offering direct maintainer access and extended LTS options. The company provides FIPS 140-3 validation services including validated modules (Certificate #4985 for 3.1.2) and a rebranding program enabling vendors to deploy validated modules under their own identity. The OpenSSL Conference serves as the annual gathering for the global security and cryptography community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OpenSSL Library
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.8 months average FIPS validation turnaround (vs industry standard of 12-18 months)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use OpenSSL Corporation
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
OpenSSL Corporation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
OpenSSL Corporation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University (FI MU)coreCooperation agreement with Centre for Research on Cryptography and Security (CRoCS) for joint activities on post-quantum cryptography, constant-time algorithms measurement, performance benchmarking, and code quality improvement. OpenSSL Corporation joined Association of Industrial Partners as SME member.
- Lightship Security (Applus+ Laboratories)coreLightship Security, an Applus+ Laboratories company and accredited cryptographic security test laboratory, partnered with OpenSSL Corporation to submit OpenSSL 3.5.4 for FIPS 140-3 validation to the Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP). The collaboration enables organizations to deploy FIPS-compliant cryptographic solutions.
- EntrustcoreEntrust nShield 5c network-attached Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) selected to provide secure root of trust for OpenSSL Library code signing keys. HSMs include support for all NIST-standardized post-quantum algorithms (ML-KEM, SLH-DSA, ML-DSA) for quantum-safe digital signing.
- ZOO BrnominorOpenSSL Corporation became official general partner of ZOO Brno's Beringia enclosure, sponsoring the reconstruction of polar bear habitat. General sponsorship donation supports endangered species protection aligned with company's mission of security and privacy for everyone.
- Bouncy CastleminorStrengthened collaboration with Bouncy Castle cryptographic library project. Face-to-face meeting held in Australia (Feb 2026) with Bouncy Castle leadership to align roadmaps and explore shared challenges in the cryptographic ecosystem.
- cryptlibminorStrengthened collaboration with cryptlib cryptographic library project. Peter Gutmann from cryptlib participated in face-to-face meeting in Australia (Feb 2026) to discuss cross-project alignment and prepare content for OpenSSL Conference.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
OpenSSL Corporation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OpenSSL Corporation social profiles
Digital presenceOpenSSL Corporation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
OpenSSL Corporation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OpenSSL Corporation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
OpenSSL Corporation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OpenSSL Corporation 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 OpenSSL Corporation
What does OpenSSL Corporation do?
OpenSSL Corporation maintains the OpenSSL Library, the world's most widely used open-source cryptographic library providing SSL/TLS protocol implementation, general-purpose cryptographic functions, and FIPS 140-3 validated modules. The Corporation sells commercial support contracts and FIPS rebranding services that give enterprises direct access to core maintainers, premium SLAs, and validated cryptographic modules for regulated environments.
Is OpenSSL Corporation a public or private company?
OpenSSL Corporation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was OpenSSL Corporation founded?
OpenSSL Corporation was founded in 1998. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is OpenSSL Corporation based?
OpenSSL Corporation is headquartered in Newark, United States, in the North America region.
How does OpenSSL Corporation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Commercial Support Contracts are the primary driver. The others are FIPS Rebranding Services.
Does OpenSSL Corporation have an API?
No public API is recorded for OpenSSL Corporation.
What industry is OpenSSL Corporation in?
OpenSSL Corporation's product category is Cryptographic Software Libraries. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADAFAD, Secrets Management (Passwords, API Keys, Tokens). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7370.