CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Semperis vs WatchGuard Technologies

Semperis is an identity-driven cyber resilience and crisis management company that protects critical identity systems from agentic and conventional cyberattacks. WatchGuard Technologies sells a Unified Security Platform that combines network, endpoint, identity and cloud protection, purpose-built for MSPs servicing midsize companies and SMBs. CISO Tribune files both under Identity threat detection and response. 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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  • Semperis
  • WatchGuard Technologies
Semperis vs WatchGuard Technologies: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
SemperisSemperis is an identity-driven cyber resilience and crisis management company that protects critical identity systems from agentic and conventional cyberattacks.semperis.comWatchGuard TechnologiesWatchGuard Technologies sells a Unified Security Platform that combines network, endpoint, identity and cloud protection, purpose-built for MSPs servicing midsize companies and SMBs.watchguard.com
What it sells
  • Directory Services Protector[4][6]Hybrid identity threat prevention, detection, and response.
  • Active Directory Forest Recovery[1]A backup and recovery solution purpose-built for recovering Active Directory from cyber disasters.
  • Disaster Recovery for Entra Tenant[1]Backup and recovery for Entra ID.
  • Delegation Manager for AD[4]Secure AD permissions delegation.
  • Migrator for AD[4]Security-first AD migration and consolidation.
  • Ready1[1][4]An enterprise cyber crisis readiness and crisis management platform.
  • Purple Knight[1][4]A free community tool for identity security assessment.
  • Identity Forensics & Incident Response[1]Identity forensics after an attack to assess damage, eradicate threat actors, and recover to a trusted environment.
  • Unified Security Platform[1][5]WatchGuard unifies network, endpoint, identity and cloud protection under one agent, one console and one AI intelligence layer.
  • Firebox M Series[9]Firebox M Series rackmount appliances provide NGFW features.
  • Endpoint Security 360[11]WatchGuard Endpoint Security 360 is an autonomous zero trust endpoint detection and response solution.
  • AuthPoint[7][12][13]WatchGuard AuthPoint provides cloud-based authentication and access to applications.
  • Total Identity Security[13]Total Identity Security combines AuthPoint MFA with Dark Web Credential Monitoring.
  • WatchGuard Cloud[1][5][7][9][13]WatchGuard Cloud is built for MSPs and gives one place to deploy, standardize, monitor and report across all customers.
  • Compliance Reporting[15]WatchGuard Compliance Reporting offers configurable compliance controls and reports for regulatory needs.
Categories
Headquarters
Hoboken, United States[2][4]Seattle, United States[4]
Founded
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesOwned by Vector Capital since 2022[6]
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • May 7, 2026Semperis announced the appointment of John Podboy as its Chief Information Security Officer.[9]
  • February 4, 2026Semperis announced the acquisition of MightyID, an identity resilience specialist for Okta and Ping cloud identity providers.[10]
  • July 7, 2026WatchGuard Technologies appointed Vincent Hwang as Chief Product Officer, reporting to CEO Joe Smolarski.[16]
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: listed, seen October 30, 2026[6]
Who it fits
Not written yetWatchGuard delivers its security to businesses exclusively through managed service provider and reseller partners. Businesses receive protection configured and managed for them by a local WatchGuard partner. WatchGuard describes its devices as suited to securing branch offices, distributed networks and large data centers. WatchGuard secure access points are described for small offices, retail locations, schools, warehouses and outdoor deployments. WatchGuard Endpoint Security 360 is described as suited to organizations and MSPs.
Last verified
November 5, 2026September 27, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Semperis and WatchGuard Technologies are both filed under Identity threat detection and response.
  • Both are headquartered in the United States.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Semperis's primary category is Identity threat detection and response; WatchGuard Technologies's is Firewalls and NGFW.
  • Semperis is also filed under Directory backup and recovery and Incident response and forensics. WatchGuard Technologies is also filed under EDR and XDR and Workforce IAM and SSO.
  • Semperis lists Directory Services Protector, Active Directory Forest Recovery, Disaster Recovery for Entra Tenant, Delegation Manager for AD, Migrator for AD and 3 more. WatchGuard Technologies lists Unified Security Platform, Firebox M Series, Endpoint Security 360, AuthPoint, Total Identity Security and 2 more.
  • Semperis is headquartered in Hoboken, United States. WatchGuard Technologies is headquartered in Seattle, United States.
  • WatchGuard Technologies is owned by Vector Capital, since 2022.

What it sells: Semperis

What Directory Services Protector does[4][6]
Semperis delivers identity threat detection and response that combines tamperproof tracking of every directory change with automatic rollback of malicious activity. DSP includes hundreds of built-in, constantly updated security indicators to monitor hybrid AD and Entra ID environments for legacy vulnerabilities and emerging threats. DSP includes automated rollback to undo unwanted or malicious changes in both AD and Entra ID.
What Purple Knight does[1][4]
Purple Knight is one of the free community tools from Semperis. Purple Knight is used for identity security assessment.
What Identity Forensics & Incident Response does[1]
Semperis Identity Forensics & Incident Response (IFIR) addresses the entire lifecycle of an identity-layer attack. Semperis states that its specialized team provides rapid containment, forensic investigation, and secure recovery.

What it sells: WatchGuard Technologies

What Firebox M Series does[9]
Firebox M Series rackmount appliances provide NGFW features. Firebox rackmount appliances integrate with WatchGuard Cloud and ThreatSync and offer centralized management and AI-powered XDR correlation.
What Endpoint Security 360 does[11]
WatchGuard Endpoint Security 360 is an autonomous zero trust endpoint detection and response solution that blocks unknown applications automatically and continuously monitors trusted applications for signs of compromise. WatchGuard Endpoint Security 360 provides visibility into blocked executions, compromised trusted applications and the progression of attacks across endpoints.
What AuthPoint does[7][12][13]
WatchGuard AuthPoint provides cloud-based authentication and access to applications. AuthPoint MFA supports push, passkeys, TOTP, QR codes, hardware tokens and zero trust policies. AuthPoint is managed in WatchGuard Cloud, which configures policies, synchronizes users and enforces controls from one interface.
What Total Identity Security does[13]
Total Identity Security combines AuthPoint MFA with Dark Web Credential Monitoring. WatchGuard continuously monitors workforce user credentials across dark web, deep web and breach databases using AI-driven intelligence, and can alert affected end users directly. WatchGuard Cloud lets MSPs manage MFA and credential monitoring across customer accounts.
What WatchGuard Cloud does[1][5][7][9][13]
WatchGuard Cloud is built for MSPs and gives one place to deploy, standardize, monitor and report across all customers. ThreatSync XDR is part of WatchGuard Cloud and correlates activity across WatchGuard security layers. WatchGuard Cloud provides visibility, configuration control and real-time threat monitoring so MSPs can manage network security from anywhere with an Internet connection.
What Compliance Reporting does[15]
WatchGuard Compliance Reporting offers configurable compliance controls and reports for regulatory needs. WatchGuard Compliance Reporting is integrated with WatchGuard NDR and WatchGuard SaaS, delivering over 100 AI-refined network cybersecurity controls. WatchGuard Compliance Reporting includes configurable compliance report templates for ISO-27001, NIST 800-53, NIST 171/CMMC, UK Cyber Essentials, FFIEC, CISA Ransomware Defense, Cyber Insurance Compliance and Supply Chain Compliance.

Questions about Semperis and WatchGuard Technologies

What do Semperis and WatchGuard Technologies sell?
Semperis sells Directory Services Protector, Active Directory Forest Recovery, Disaster Recovery for Entra Tenant, Delegation Manager for AD, Migrator for AD and 3 more. WatchGuard Technologies sells Unified Security Platform, Firebox M Series, Endpoint Security 360, AuthPoint, Total Identity Security and 2 more.
Are Semperis and WatchGuard Technologies in the same category?
They share Identity threat detection and response. Semperis's primary category is Identity threat detection and response and WatchGuard Technologies's is Firewalls and NGFW.
Where are Semperis and WatchGuard Technologies headquartered?
Semperis is headquartered in Hoboken, United States. WatchGuard Technologies is headquartered in Seattle, United States.
Who owns Semperis and WatchGuard Technologies?
WatchGuard Technologies is owned by Vector Capital, since 2022.
Who are Semperis and WatchGuard Technologies sold to?
WatchGuard delivers its security to businesses exclusively through managed service provider and reseller partners.
What have Semperis and WatchGuard Technologies announced recently?
May 7, 2026: Semperis announced the appointment of John Podboy as its Chief Information Security Officer. July 7, 2026: WatchGuard Technologies appointed Vincent Hwang as Chief Product Officer, reporting to CEO Joe Smolarski.

About Semperis

Semperis is an identity-driven cyber resilience and crisis management company that protects critical identity systems from agentic and conventional cyberattacks. Semperis is a private company and B2B cybersecurity provider specializing in Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR), cyber crisis management, and hybrid identity protection solutions and services. Semperis focuses on comprehensive identity resilience across the full attack lifecycle of prevention, detection, response, and recovery. Semperis states that its proprietary AI-powered technology is purpose-built for securing hybrid identity environments, including Active Directory, Entra ID, and Okta. Semperis helps organizations prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from agentic and conventional identity attacks.[1][3]

Semperis states that every user, workload, and agent depends on identity providers like Active Directory, Entra ID, and Okta. Semperis states that Active Directory remains the identity source of truth in most organizations. Semperis states that attackers commonly go after highly privileged identities and embed backdoors to maintain access. Semperis states that misconfigurations and unpatched vulnerabilities pile up over years, while attackers pivot between on-prem and cloud identity systems in search of elevated privileges. Semperis states that recovery historically required a full AD rebuild, a costly, months-long effort with serious operational impact.[3][5][6]

Directory Services Protector (DSP) is a Semperis product for hybrid identity threat prevention, detection, and response. Semperis delivers identity threat detection and response that combines tamperproof tracking of every directory change with automatic rollback of malicious activity. Directory Services Protector provides a single view of security vulnerabilities across the hybrid AD and Entra ID environment, including non-human identities, or service accounts. DSP includes hundreds of built-in, constantly updated security indicators to monitor hybrid AD and Entra ID environments for legacy vulnerabilities and emerging threats. DSP includes automated rollback to undo unwanted or malicious changes in both AD and Entra ID. DSP can identify service accounts, build an inventory, and monitor them with specialized indicators developed by the Semperis threat research team. Semperis offers attack detection powered by AI models developed by identity security experts to detect password spray, credential stuffing, other brute force attacks, and risky anomalies. Semperis offers out-of-the-box integrations for Splunk and Microsoft Sentinel that forward AD and Entra ID change data, DSP security indicator results, and notification rule events.[5][6]

Semperis describes Active Directory Forest Recovery (ADFR) as an automated AD disaster recovery approach. Semperis ADFR is a backup and recovery solution purpose-built for recovering Active Directory from cyber disasters. Disaster Recovery for Entra Tenant (DRET) provides backup and recovery for Entra ID. Delegation Manager for AD is a Semperis offering for secure AD permissions delegation. Migrator for AD is a Semperis offering for security-first AD migration and consolidation. Ready1 is an enterprise cyber crisis readiness and crisis management platform.[1][7]

Semperis Identity Forensics & Incident Response (IFIR) addresses the entire lifecycle of an identity-layer attack. Semperis states that its specialized team provides rapid containment, forensic investigation, and secure recovery. Semperis offers identity forensics following an attack to assess the damage, eradicate threat actors, and recover to a trusted environment. Semperis offers a service that gives a clear picture of AD security posture and a roadmap to address exposures at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Semperis offers a service to align recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO) metrics and identify implicit dependencies that might hinder recovery plan execution. Semperis offers a review of identity and access management configuration from Entra ID security experts. Semperis offers expert guidance and purpose-built technology for AD migration and consolidation.[1][5]

Semperis offers free community tools: Purple Knight for identity security assessment and Forest Druid for Tier 0 attack path discovery. Semperis publishes original research into emerging threats, threat mitigation, and industry trends.[1]

Semperis was founded by Mickey Bresman (CEO), Guy Teverovsky (CTO), and Matan Liberman (EVP Business Development). Semperis has its headquarters in Hoboken, New Jersey, and operates internationally. Semperis raised a $40M Series B led by Insight Partners, bringing total funding at that point to $54M. Semperis raised over $200M in a Series C led by KKR, with Ten Eleven Ventures, Paladin Capital Group, Atrium Health Strategic Fund, Tech Pioneers Fund, and Insight Partners. Semperis secured $125M in growth financing to accelerate R&D and global expansion and bolster executive leadership. General David Petraeus (U.S. Army, Ret.), a Partner at KKR and former Director of the CIA, joined Semperis as a strategic advisor to help bolster identity threat detection and response in the public sector. Prime Healthcare needed to modernize and accelerate AD forest recovery after an internal change caused outages across multiple domain controllers. Temple Health, a healthcare system, sought an ITDR approach that met healthcare security and compliance requirements while simplifying recovery. Foulston Siefkin LLP moved to a hybrid AD and Entra ID environment and reviewed business continuity.[1][3][5][7][8]

Semperis on the record

Sources

Semperis full record

  1. [1]semperis.comSemperis · semperis.com · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Press releasesSemperis · semperis.com · published November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Semperis - Active Directory - AD Security and Recovery SolutionsSemperis · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Official Information About Semperis for AISemperis · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Services Identity Security and Recovery Incident Response - SemperisSemperis · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Directory Services Protector - SemperisSemperis · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]AD Security Glossary - SemperisSemperis · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]About us - SemperisSemperis · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Semperis Names John Podboy Chief Information Security Officer - SemperisSemperis · published May 7, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Semperis Acquires Identity Resilience Provider MightyID to Extend Identity Protection for Okta and Ping Multi-Cloud Environments - SemperisSemperis · published February 4, 2026 · Tier A

WatchGuard Technologies full record

  1. [1]watchguard.comWatchGuard Technologies · watchguard.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Watchguard launches new high performance firebox appliances secure modernWatchGuard Technologies · watchguard.com · published June 2, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]vectorcapital.comVector Capital · vectorcapital.com · published July 5, 2022 · Tier A
  4. [4]Dex991WatchGuard Technologies via SEC EDGAR · sec.gov · published July 25, 2006 · Tier A
  5. [5]WatchGuard | Comprehensive Cybersecurity SolutionsWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed October 30, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]WatchGuard Reviews, Ratings & Features 2026 | Gartner Peer InsightsGartner Peer Insights · undated page, accessed October 30, 2026 · Tier C
  7. [7]Centralized Management & Visibility | WatchGuard CloudWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Managed Security Services for MSPs | WatchGuardWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Rackmount Firewall Appliances | WatchGuardWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]WatchGuard Endpoint Security | AI-Powered ProtectionWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]WatchGuard Endpoint Security 360 - Zero Trust EDRWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]AuthPoint 30-Day Free Trial | WatchGuard Free AuthPointWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]AuthPoint Total Identity Security | WatchGuardWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Secure Wireless APs for Your Business | WatchGuardWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Compliance Reporting | WatchGuardWatchGuard Technologies · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]WatchGuard Appoints Vincent Hwang as Chief Product OfficerWatchGuard Technologies · published July 7, 2026 · Tier A

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