Penta Security

Penta Security is a South Korean cybersecurity company founded in 1997 by Seokwoo Lee. It is associated with the first generation of South Korean security firms and has developed a portfolio spanning data protection, web application security, and cloud-based security services. The company is headquartered in Seoul and serves organizations that need to protect sensitive information, online applications, application programming interfaces, and cloud workloads. Its best-known product families are D.AMO, a database encryption offering; WAPPLES, a web application firewall portfolio; and Cloudbric, a cloud-security brand. D.AMO was commercialized in South Korea in 2004 and is described as the country’s first commercially available database-encryption product. The product is intended to protect data stored in databases and to support organizations facing confidentiality, privacy, and compliance requirements. The brand was formerly styled D’Amo and was renamed D.AMO in 2024. Penta Security introduced its WAPPLES web application firewall appliance in April 2005. WAPPLES is positioned as a web-security platform available in appliance form, with capabilities covering web applications, application programming interfaces, Secure Sockets Layer traffic, and Layer 7 defenses. Its detection approach includes the company’s logic-based COCEP engine, which is presented as an artificial-intelligence-related security technology. The WAPPLES portfolio gives Penta Security a hardware and enterprise-security presence alongside its database-protection business. The company expanded into cloud-delivered security through Cloudbric. A pilot service for the cloud-based web application firewall was introduced in October 2014. Cloudbric subsequently became a cloud-security brand offering services such as Cloudbric WAF+ and Cloudbric Managed Rules for AWS. Cloudbric WAF+ is based on WAPPLES technology and combines logic-based detection with a deep-learning artificial-intelligence engine. Unlike Penta Security’s primarily business-to-business product lines, Cloudbric also offers a virtual private network service aimed at individual consumers. Penta Security began building an international operating footprint with the establishment of Penta Security Systems K.K. in Japan in January 2009. It later established Penta Security VIVA Co., Ltd. in Vietnam in August 2023 and opened a branch office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in October 2024. These moves indicate an effort to support customers and partnerships beyond South Korea, although publicly supplied material does not provide revenue, market-share, or customer-count figures. In corporate leadership, Taegyun Kim, previously the company’s vice president, became chief executive officer in 2022. Penta Security remains a privately held company. Its positioning is that of an enterprise cybersecurity provider combining data encryption with application-layer defense and cloud security. The company’s product architecture allows it to address several connected parts of the security stack: protecting stored database information, filtering attacks against applications and APIs, and delivering security controls through cloud services.

Penta Security was founded on July 21, 1997, by Seokwoo Lee in South Korea. The company belongs to the early generation of South Korean security firms and developed its business around protecting enterprise information and online services. Its initial long-term importance came from database security: in 2004, it commercialized D.AMO, then styled D’Amo, as a database-encryption product. The offering addressed the need to protect information held in databases and established data encryption as one of the company’s core areas. Penta Security broadened its scope in April 2005 with the release of WAPPLES, a web application firewall appliance. WAPPLES gave the company a dedicated application-security platform for inspecting and defending web traffic. Its feature scope includes web application, API, SSL, and Layer 7 security defenses. The product uses the company’s COCEP logic-based detection engine, allowing Penta Security to combine application-aware rules and detection with its broader security portfolio. International development began with the establishment of Penta Security Systems K.K. in Japan in January 2009. The Japanese subsidiary provided a local presence for the company’s overseas activities. Penta Security later moved into cloud-delivered security. In October 2014, it introduced a pilot service for Cloudbric, a cloud-based web application firewall. Cloudbric developed into a separate cloud-security brand associated with Cloudbric WAF+, Cloudbric Managed Rules for AWS, and a consumer-facing VPN service. Cloudbric WAF+ is based on WAPPLES technology and combines a logic-based detection method with a deep-learning artificial-intelligence engine. This extended the company’s application-security approach from an appliance model into a service model suitable for cloud environments. Cloudbric Managed Rules for AWS likewise connected the company’s security expertise with workloads operated on Amazon Web Services. The Cloudbric brand also differs from the rest of Penta Security’s portfolio because it includes a B2C VPN offering in addition to business-oriented security services. Leadership changed in 2022 when Taegyun Kim, previously a vice president, was appointed chief executive officer. The company continued its geographic expansion in Asia through the establishment of Penta Security VIVA Co., Ltd. in Vietnam in August 2023. In October 2024, it opened a branch office in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The Japan, Vietnam, and Abu Dhabi developments show a progression from a South Korean security specialist toward an internationally operated cybersecurity business. In 2024, the database-encryption product’s name was standardized from D’Amo to D.AMO. Across its history, Penta Security’s business has remained centered on three connected security problems: protecting stored data, defending web applications and APIs, and securing cloud-delivered services. It remains privately held, and the supplied reference material does not establish public financial information, ownership details, or a precise customer and revenue profile.

1. 2024D.AMO naming update

   The former D’Amo database-encryption brand was renamed D.AMO.

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2. 2024Abu Dhabi branch opened

   Penta Security opened a branch office in Abu Dhabi in October.

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3. 2023Vietnamese entity established

   Penta Security VIVA Co., Ltd. was established in Vietnam in August.

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4. 2022New chief executive appointed

   Taegyun Kim, formerly a vice president, became chief executive officer.

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5. 2014Cloudbric pilot introduced

   Penta Security introduced a pilot for its cloud-based web application firewall service Cloudbric in October.

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6. 2009Japanese subsidiary established

   Penta Security Systems K.K. was established in Japan in January.

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7. 2005WAPPLES released

   The company released its WAPPLES web application firewall appliance in April.

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8. 2004D.AMO commercialized

   Penta Security commercialized its database-encryption product, then known as D’Amo.

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9. 1997Company founded

   Seokwoo Lee founded Penta Security on July 21 in South Korea.

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Enterprise cybersecurity provider focused on database protection, web application and API defense, and cloud-delivered security.

• D.AMODatabase encryption2004

  D.AMO is Penta Security’s database-encryption product family. Formerly styled D’Amo, it was commercialized in South Korea in 2004 and is described as the country’s first commercially available database-encryption product. The product is designed to protect sensitive information stored in databases and forms the data-security foundation of Penta Security’s portfolio. Its naming was updated to D.AMO in 2024.

• WAPPLESWeb application firewall2005

  WAPPLES is Penta Security’s web application firewall offered in appliance form. Released in April 2005, it provides defenses for web applications, APIs, SSL traffic, and Layer 7 activity. The platform uses Penta Security’s COCEP logic-based detection engine. WAPPLES represents the company’s appliance-oriented approach to application security and also serves as the technology base for the Cloudbric WAF+ cloud service.

• Cloudbric WAF+Cloud web application firewall

  Cloudbric WAF+ is a cloud-delivered web application firewall under Penta Security’s Cloudbric brand. It is based on WAPPLES and combines logic-based detection with a deep-learning artificial-intelligence engine. The service extends Penta Security’s application-security capabilities beyond on-premises appliances and is aimed at organizations seeking managed protection for cloud-hosted web applications.

• Cloudbric Managed Rules for AWSCloud security

  Cloudbric Managed Rules for AWS is a cloud-security offering associated with the Cloudbric brand. It provides managed web-application security rules for workloads using Amazon Web Services. The product reflects Penta Security’s move from hardware-based security appliances toward cloud-native and service-based protection.

• Cloudbric VPNVirtual private network

  Cloudbric also offers a virtual private network service. This service broadens the brand beyond Penta Security’s predominantly business-to-business security products and gives it a consumer-facing offering. The supplied reference material does not specify its launch date, pricing, geographic availability, or technical specifications.

• 2024Rename D’Amo as D.AMOOther

  Penta Security’s database-encryption product had previously been presented under the name D’Amo.

  What changed. The company changed the product styling to D.AMO.

  Aftermath. D.AMO remains part of Penta Security’s data-security portfolio. No financial effects were provided in the reference material.

  Source
• 2014Pilot Cloudbric cloud WAF serviceProduct launch

  Penta Security had established an application-security position through its WAPPLES appliance and began extending that capability into cloud delivery.

  What changed. The company introduced a pilot service for the cloud-based Cloudbric web application firewall.

  Aftermath. Cloudbric became the company’s cloud-security brand, including Cloudbric WAF+ and managed rules for AWS.

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• 2024D’Amo brand renamed D.AMO

  Penta Security changed the styling of its database-encryption product from D’Amo to D.AMO.

  Other
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• 2024Penta Security opens Abu Dhabi branch

  The company opened a branch office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in October.

  Other
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• 2023Penta Security establishes Vietnamese subsidiary

  Penta Security VIVA Co., Ltd. was established in Vietnam in August as part of the company’s international expansion.

  Other
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• 2022Taegyun Kim appointed chief executive officer

  Taegyun Kim, formerly a vice president at Penta Security, became the company’s chief executive officer.

  Leadership change
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• 2014Cloudbric cloud WAF pilot service introduced

  Penta Security introduced a pilot service for Cloudbric, its cloud-based web application firewall offering.

  Product launch
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• 2009Penta Security establishes Japanese subsidiary

  Penta Security Systems K.K. was established in Japan, creating a local operating presence outside South Korea.

  Other
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• 2005Penta Security releases WAPPLES web application firewall appliance

  The company introduced its WAPPLES web application firewall appliance in April, expanding its offering from data protection into application-layer security.

  Product launch
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• 2004Penta Security launches D.AMO database encryption product

  Penta Security commercialized D.AMO, described as the first database-encryption product commercialized in South Korea.

  Product launch
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1. Penta Security
2. Penta Security official website