CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

IDEMIA vs SandboxAQ

IDEMIA sells IDEMIA Sphere, a cybersecurity suite designed to help organizations secure their digital assets. SandboxAQ is a science-first technology company that connects AI and Quantum techniques across pharma, energy, defense, and other markets. CISO Tribune files both under Post-quantum cryptography and Encryption, tokenization and key management. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

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  • IDEMIA
  • SandboxAQ
IDEMIA vs SandboxAQ: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
IDEMIAIDEMIA sells IDEMIA Sphere, a cybersecurity suite designed to help organizations secure their digital assets.idemia.comSandboxAQSandboxAQ is a science-first technology company that connects AI and Quantum techniques across pharma, energy, defense, and other markets.sandboxaq.com
What it sells
  • IDEMIA Sphere[1][7]A cybersecurity suite whose components can be deployed individually or combined.
  • Smart Connect[11]A subscription management platform within IDEMIA’s eSIM solutions.
  • Credential Authentication Technology (CAT)[15]A solution IDEMIA worked with the TSA to create and manufacture.
  • AQtive Guard[1][5]AQtive Guard gives security teams insight into cryptographic assets and NHIs, then automates remediation.
  • Sandwich[7]Sandwich is an open source, unified API for cryptographic libraries, built for developers.
  • Large Quantitative Models[4][5][11]SandboxAQ offers three ways to access and deploy its LQMs.
  • AQCat Adsorption Spin[8]AQCat Adsorption Spin predicts spin-polarized adsorption energies and converged geometries on catalytic surfaces.
  • AQPotency[10]AQPotency is a Large Quantitative Model for potency prediction and virtual screening.
  • AQBioSim[5]AQBioSim enables biopharma teams to model interactions, predict outcomes, and optimize drug candidates in silico.
  • CardiAQ[11]CardiAQ combines advanced magnetic sensing, AI-powered Large Quantitative Models (LQMs), and electromagnetic interference rejection.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesPalo Alto, United States[3]
Founded
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesPrivately held[2][5][6]
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • September 28, 2026IDEMIA Secure Transactions announced that it is opening agentic commerce to all payment schemes.[3]
  • September 22, 2026IDEMIA Secure Transactions and Monizze announced sovereign mobile payments for employee benefits in Belgium.[2]
  • April 29, 2026Amadeus is to buy IDEMIA Public Security, a French biometrics firm, in a deal valued at $1.4 billion.[6]
  • April 9, 2026IDEMIA Secure Transactions appointed two executives to advance its payments business across physical and digital.[5]
  • March 19, 2026IDEMIA Public Security and Indicio launched an interoperable identity verification solution aimed at financial services.[4]
Not stated on its pages
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
Not written yetFrom its own pages, SandboxAQ sells to organizations across pharma, energy, defense, and other markets. AQtive Guard is aimed at security teams working with cryptographic assets and NHIs. Sandwich is aimed at developers, as an open source API for cryptographic libraries. AQBioSim is aimed at biopharma teams that model interactions and optimize drug candidates. SandboxAQ provides pay-as-you-go access options for individuals and enterprises.
Last verified
October 14, 2026November 2, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Post-quantum cryptography is the primary category of both IDEMIA and SandboxAQ; both are also filed under Encryption, tokenization and key management.

Where they differ, field by field

  • IDEMIA is also filed under Security consulting and advisory. SandboxAQ is also filed under Machine identity and PKI.
  • IDEMIA lists IDEMIA Sphere, Smart Connect and Credential Authentication Technology (CAT). SandboxAQ lists AQtive Guard, Sandwich, Large Quantitative Models, AQCat Adsorption Spin, AQPotency and 2 more.
  • SandboxAQ is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States.
  • SandboxAQ is privately held.

How they differ

CISO Tribune files both IDEMIA and SandboxAQ under Post-quantum cryptography as the primary category, and both also appear under Encryption, tokenization and key management. IDEMIA sells IDEMIA Sphere, a cybersecurity suite whose components can be deployed individually or combined for encryption and data protection across cloud, hybrid, or on-premise environments. IDEMIA Sphere includes a cryptographic library and capabilities that support updates to cryptographic algorithms, and IDEMIA Sphere HSM uses a farm of tamper-resistant Secure Elements to protect cryptographic keys. SandboxAQ sells AQtive Guard, which gives security teams insight into cryptographic assets and NHIs and then automates remediation, including credential rotation and certificate renewal. SandboxAQ also sells Sandwich, an open source, unified API for cryptographic libraries built for developers.

Beyond cryptography, IDEMIA sells Smart Connect, a subscription management platform within its eSIM solutions, and the Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) it worked with the TSA to create and manufacture. IDEMIA also creates contact and contactless payment cards. SandboxAQ describes itself as a science-first technology company that connects AI and Quantum techniques across pharma, energy, defense, and other markets, and it sells Large Quantitative Models, AQBioSim, and CardiAQ. SandboxAQ is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, is privately held, and was spun out of Alphabet in 2022.

SandboxAQ names NOVONIX, DIC, AWS, Intel, and Accenture among its collaborators, and its AQMed work has partnerships with Mount Sinai and Mayo Clinic. IDEMIA is the supplier of the TSA's CAT readers and Mobile ID partner of several US States. On September 28, 2026, IDEMIA Secure Transactions announced that it is opening agentic commerce to all payment schemes. On April 29, 2026, Amadeus was reported to be buying IDEMIA Public Security, a French biometrics firm, in a deal valued at $1.4 billion.

What it sells: IDEMIA

What IDEMIA Sphere does[1][7]
IDEMIA Sphere is a cybersecurity suite designed to help organizations secure their digital assets. IDEMIA Sphere components can be deployed individually or combined for end-to-end encryption and data protection across cloud, hybrid, or on-premise environments. IDEMIA Sphere includes a cryptographic library and capabilities that support updates to cryptographic algorithms.
What Smart Connect does[11]
IDEMIA’s eSIM solutions range from the eUICC (eSIM) to a subscription management platform called Smart Connect. IDEMIA states that its eSIM solutions are Cloud native and certified by the GSMA.
What Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) does[15]
IDEMIA has worked with the TSA on creating and manufacturing the Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) solution. IDEMIA is the supplier of the TSA’s CAT readers and Mobile ID partner of several US States.

What it sells: SandboxAQ

What AQtive Guard does[1][5]
AQtive Guard gives security teams insight into cryptographic assets and NHIs, then automates remediation. AQtive Guard discovers and monitors cryptographic assets and NHIs across hybrid environments. AQtive Guard automates lifecycle management including credential rotation and certificate renewal.
What Sandwich does[7]
Sandwich is an open source, unified API for cryptographic libraries, built for developers. Sandwich supports the languages C++, Rust, Python, and Go and the cryptographic libraries OpenSSL, BoringSSL, and libOQS, to enable post-quantum as well as classical cryptography. Sandwich composes the chosen protocol and implementation into a Sandwich object, such as a secure tunnel. Sandwich gives developers the ability to change configurations without having to re-compile their code.
What Large Quantitative Models does[4][5][11]
SandboxAQ offers three ways to access and deploy its LQMs. One way connects SandboxAQ's LQMs to an existing chat LLM or cloud environment via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Customers can deploy SandboxAQ LQMs within their own operational environment and fine-tune models on their proprietary data. SandboxAQ provides pay-as-you-go access options for individuals and enterprises.
What AQCat Adsorption Spin does[8]
AQCat Adsorption Spin predicts spin-polarized adsorption energies and converged geometries on catalytic surfaces. AQCat Adsorption Spin is available via LLM integration and can be accessed via any MCP client.
What CardiAQ does[11]
CardiAQ combines advanced magnetic sensing, AI-powered Large Quantitative Models (LQMs), and electromagnetic interference rejection. CardiAQ is an investigational device.

Questions about IDEMIA and SandboxAQ

What do IDEMIA and SandboxAQ sell?
IDEMIA sells IDEMIA Sphere, Smart Connect and Credential Authentication Technology (CAT). SandboxAQ sells AQtive Guard, Sandwich, Large Quantitative Models, AQCat Adsorption Spin, AQPotency and 2 more.
Are IDEMIA and SandboxAQ in the same category?
Yes. Post-quantum cryptography is the primary category of both on CISO Tribune.
Where are IDEMIA and SandboxAQ headquartered?
SandboxAQ is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States.
Who owns IDEMIA and SandboxAQ?
SandboxAQ is privately held.
Who are IDEMIA and SandboxAQ sold to?
From its own pages, SandboxAQ sells to organizations across pharma, energy, defense, and other markets.
What have IDEMIA and SandboxAQ announced recently?
September 28, 2026: IDEMIA Secure Transactions announced that it is opening agentic commerce to all payment schemes.

About IDEMIA

IDEMIA sells IDEMIA Sphere, a cybersecurity suite designed to help organizations secure their digital assets. IDEMIA describes the pressure on organizations to secure data, ensure sovereignty, and prepare for the post-quantum era. IDEMIA Sphere components can be deployed individually or combined for end-to-end encryption and data protection across cloud, hybrid, or on-premise environments. IDEMIA Sphere includes a cryptographic library and capabilities that support updates to cryptographic algorithms.

IDEMIA Sphere HSM deploys a scalable farm of SEs, each one a tamper-resistant microcontroller that protects cryptographic keys and executes cryptographic operations. IDEMIA Sphere HSM uses a pay-as-you-grow model in which security capacity scales by adding Secure Elements as needed. IDEMIA Sphere HSM is engineered, designed, and pre-configured in France. IDEMIA names the financial, telecom, healthcare and public sectors as places where critical digital services are expanding.

IDEMIA’s payment and banking technologies enable banks, FinTechs, payment networks, retailers and transport operators to modernize their services. IDEMIA offers encryption technologies and secret key management solutions. IDEMIA creates contact and contactless payment cards and other payment means. IDEMIA payment card technologies are used to secure EMV transactions worldwide.[8][9]

IDEMIA enables MNOs, MVNOs and their partners in the IoT space and automotive industries to ensure the continuity of connectivity services and the end-to-end security of all data exchanged. IDEMIA supports mobile operators in the deployment of SIM/eSIM technologies. IDEMIA offers a range of SIM and eSIM technologies. IDEMIA’s eSIM solutions range from the eUICC (eSIM) to a subscription management platform called Smart Connect. IDEMIA states that its eSIM solutions are Cloud native and certified by the GSMA. IDEMIA’s OTA platform has a QoS monitoring feature that lets MNOs monitor the quality of service on their network in real-time.[11]

IDEMIA provides MNOs and OEMs with products, solutions and services tailored to IoT ecosystem needs for credential distribution, physically or digitally. IDEMIA’s ruggedized connectivity solutions for IoT include SIM, eSIM, and integrated SIMs. IDEMIA offers car access solutions for privately-owned vehicle use cases and the Mobility-as-a-Service market. IDEMIA is involved in the GSMA Working Group 7, which is defining new architecture for IoT connectivity.[12]

IDEMIA Public Security brings physical and digital identity capabilities together. IDEMIA Public Security connects identity capabilities across an existing environment with a modular approach across physical and digital interactions. IDEMIA Smart Biometrics delivers identity and access solutions, from critical infrastructure to digital platforms. BORDERGUARD is an AI-driven border control suite that supports every layer of border operations. Since 2013, IDEMIA has been an official and authorized enrollment services provider to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the TSA PreCheck® traveler pre-screening program. IDEMIA has worked with the TSA on creating and manufacturing the Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) solution. IDEMIA is the supplier of the TSA’s CAT readers and Mobile ID partner of several US States.[14]

IDEMIA on the record

Sources

IDEMIA full record

  1. [1]Cybersecurity – Data protection solutions | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed October 14, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Monizze and IDEMIA Secure Transactions Bring Sovereign Mobile Payments for Employee Benefits in BelgiumIDEMIA · published September 22, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]IDEMIA Secure Transactions Opens Agentic Commerce to All Payment SchemesIDEMIA · published September 28, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]IDEMIA Public Security and Indicio Launch Interoperable Identity Verification Solution Targeted to Advance Trust in Financial ServicesIDEMIA North America · published March 19, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]IDEMIA Secure Transactions Appoints Two Executives to Advance Payments Across Physical and DigitalIDEMIA · published April 9, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Amadeus to buy French biometrics firm Idemia Public Security for $1.4 billionReuters · published April 29, 2026 · Tier B
  7. [7]Hardware Security Module (HSM) | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Payment | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Payment cards and innovative payment means | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Connectivity | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]SIM connectivity technologies for consumer devices | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]IoT connectivity and security | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Trusted Identity Access, Physical and Digital | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Leader in biometrics and cryptography | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]TSA PreCheck enrollment - checkpoint security | IDEMIAIDEMIA · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

SandboxAQ full record

  1. [1]Aqtive guardSandboxAQ · sandboxaq.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Sandboxaq closes 450m series e round with expanded investor baseSandboxAQ · sandboxaq.com · published April 4, 2025 · Tier A
  3. [3]What is sandboxaqSandboxAQ · sandboxaq.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Transforming the World with AI and Advanced Computing | SandboxAQSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Large Quantitative Models | SandboxAQSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Pricing | SandboxAQSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Sandwich - Agile Cryptography for Developers | SandboxAQSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Material Discovery | Turn complex materials discovery into faster decisions | SandboxAQSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]AQNav | Positional intelligence in GPS-denied environments | SandboxAQSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]LQM Models | SandboxAQSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]AQMed | CardiAQ Magnetocardiography for Cardiac DiagnosticsSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]AI Drug Discovery Platform | Computational Chemistry LQMs | SandboxAQSandboxAQ · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

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