Sectra's history

45 years of knowledge and passion

Sectra carried out its first consulting assignment in the late 1970s. A few years later, the company recruited additional joint owners with grand visions for Sectra’s future. This marked the start of the company’s expansion and development into a well-established brand in the area of information security and medical IT.

The road to world-leading products

Sectra has been a market leader in crypto equipment for the Swedish Defence Forces since the 1990s, and the company’s security products are currently used by government authorities and defense departments in most EU member states. These are some of the milestones throughout the 40 years we have been working for a more stable and secure society.

1978
The early days
1978
Security for the banking sector

Data security became Sectra’s first niche area in 1978, when a team of researchers from the Institute of Technology at Linköping University, Sweden, were presented with the task of creating a security solution for banks. To take on the assignment, they formed the company Sectra – SECure TRAnsmission. Sectra's ties with the research community remain strong and our history is marked by innovation and business development that create significant customer value.

1986
Sectra is credited with having invented a 'vaccine' for computer viruses

Sectra was early in the forefront of the fight against cybercrime. In 1986, optimistic journalists reported that Sectra had discovered a vaccine for computer viruses in the form of a new product able to detect access violations in file systems.

1987
Crypto for the defense

In the mid-1980s, Sectra landed its first big order for crypto hardware for the Swedish Defense Forces.

Already in 1987, we received a defense order for a new cryptoprocessor. This marked the beginning of our focus on security products for customers in defense departments and government authorities.
Jan-Olof Brüer, Chairman of the Board
Late 1990's
1998
Approved crypto phone

Sectra Tiger was approved for the classification level HEMLIG/SECRET and enabled the Swedish Defense Forces to become the first in the world with eavesdrop-protected mobile telephone communications for national secrets.

1999
Listing on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange

Our international journey included plans to become a listed company, and a listing on the Stockholm Stock Exchange was carried out in 1999. The listing enabled strategic acquisitions and financing of our continued expansion.

2006
Opening of Hague-based operations
The main reason for establishing this office was to deepen the relationships with customers in the Netherlands—however, an important strategic aspect was also that is brought us geographically closer to several key markets in the EU.
Jeroen de Muijnck, Managing Director of Sectra Communications BV
2010–2015
2011
Secure smartphone

Sectra started looking into the smartphone platform in 2007. Several platforms were evaluated and many lessons were learned. In 2011, the first eavesdrop-secure smartphone was released under the brand Panthon.

2015
Sectra Tiger Ecosystem for secure calls

With the addition of Sectra Tiger/R, the Sectra Tiger secure mobile telephony system was expanded to also include solutions and services for secure mobile telephony on the RESTRICTED security level, from the previously higher SECRET security level, allowing organizations to have users in various security classes, depending on the personal security requirement, in the same system, in which everyone will be able to communicate with everyone else. 

2015
Technical partnership with Samsung

In a strategic technical partnership with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sectra integrates the Samsung KNOX™ platform in Sectra’s solution for secure smartphone communication, resulting in the next-generation secure smartphone, Sectra Tiger/R and paving the way to Sectra's mobile workplace offering of tablets and smartphones.

Through close cooperation between the development teams behind Samsung KNOX and Sectra Tiger/R, we are making the technology available to users who were not previously able to benefit from it.
Björn Hansen, Sales Director Telecom at Samsung Electronics
2015
Acquisition of Finnish security consulting company and opening of Helsinki-based operations
Finland is an attractive market, with growth potential for our security solutions and services. The acquisition of EXP Analytics has provided us with local resources and expertise to deliver secure communications to Finnish customers.
Simo Pykälistö, President of Sectra Communications
2016
Simo Pykälistö appointed president for the business area
With his keen business sense, leadership qualities and understanding of the sector, Simo has the right prerequisites to drive the business area’s growth program, where our focus is on broadening the business area’s offering to new customer segments, primarily critical infrastructure, and expanding the existing crypto business.
Torbjörn Kronander, President and CEO of Sectra AB
Security in Critical Infrastructure

With the launch of Sectra's services for security and risk management in Critical Infrastructure, a strategic partnership with a Swedish energy company was also entered. The partnership encompasses the development and testing of a monitoring service for supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems in energy distribution.

Energy and water distribution are areas in which we see an opportunity to contribute to a stable and secure society by leveraging Sectra’s unique expertise in data security and threat analyses. These are services that allow customers to make use of the opportunities presented by new technology without increasing their exposure to risks.
Torbjörn Kronander, President and CEO of Sectra AB
2018
EU approval for Sectra's secure smartphone

Sectra Tiger/R was approved by the European Union for the communication of information at the RESTRICTED security level (RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED). The device provides EU agency officials with a modern mobile platform that gives them easy and secure access to highly confidential information when needed.

The RESTRICTED approval from the EU is confirmation that our solution stands up to eavesdropping and hacking attempts from the most resourceful parties in the world. 
Simo Pykälistö, President of Sectra Communications
2020
2020
EU and Sectra sign framework agreement for secure communications

The European External Action Service, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission signed a new framework agreement for the approved mobile encryption system, Sectra Tiger. The framework agreement supports EU organizations to communicate securely and efficiently among themselves and with EU member states, without risking the confidentiality of their information.

It is vital for us to be able to communicate securely. The Tiger system offered by Sectra is a proven and reliable solution in use by our organization for several years. It supports us in sharing information in a secure and efficient manner.
A senior representative from the European External Action Service
2020
Swedish military and civil defense strengthens ability to communicate securely by expanding their solution

Sectra received several orders from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV). The orders covered the further development of existing systems and solutions for secure communication. Sectra has been working together with the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration since 1987, and during this partnership has developed and delivered products for secure communication. The continued collaboration will strengthen communications protection capacity of the Swedish military and civil defense agencies.

2020
Sectra’s mobile VPN obtains clearance from the Dutch national security authority

The Dutch national communication security authority, NLNCSA, approved Sectra's mobile VPN for use up to and including the RESTRICTED security level. The solution grants civil authorities, government officials and critical infrastructure operators remote access to internal networks without risking information leaks. The users can thus access the same information and applications as they would from their regular workplace, regardless of where they are working from.

2021
2021
Quantum-proof crypto from Sectra receives SECRET approval from EU

The EU council approved the latest version of the eavesdrop-proof mobile phone Sectra Tiger/S 7401 LTE. The latest version includes features such as improved file transfer and chat as well as support for all fixed and mobile 4G networks within Europe. These new features provide the user with improved availability, while also enhancing the user experience and areas of application.

A quantum-safe solution is crucial for our customers to keep them secure from any possible attack today or in the future. Given the extensive time horizon of 30-40 years for keeping highly sensitive information and national secrets secure, protection against quantum threats is highly relevant for security solutions that are developed today.
Simo Pykälistö, President of Sectra Communications
2021
The Dutch Ministry of Defense and Sectra sign framework agreement for secure communications

The Dutch Ministry of Defense has been using Sectra’s solutions for secure communications since 2004. The 5-year contract contains the approved mobile encryption system Sectra Tiger/S and its infrastructure. The solution enables users to exchange classified information up to the classification level SECRET.

We have worked closely together with the Dutch Ministry of Defense for many years and are very proud of this continued confidence we receive. Earlier this year, we also extended our contract, referred to as VECOM, with the Dutch ministries and we are honored to serve both civil and military users to support the exchange of classified information in the Netherlands.
Jeroen de Muijnck, Managing Director of Sectra Communications BV
2022
Magnus Skogberg takes office as the new President of the operating area
2023
An energy company orders Sectra’s service for monitoring operational systems

A swedish energy company selects Sectra’s service to protect critical systems against unauthorized access. The service helps customers detect risks and vulnerabilities before they affect daily operations.

2023
Recent version of Sectra Tiger/S approved by NATO

NATO approves the most recent version of Sectra Tiger/S. The product includes new functions that help officials exchange information even more securely and efficiently.

On a mission for a more stable and secure society