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§ Private Profile · 19410 HWY 99, Lynnwood
Tempered is a technology company.
Tempered provides Airwall, a zero-trust cybersecurity platform engineered for critical infrastructure and operational technology. Airwall establishes encrypted, identity-based networks that render connected devices and systems invisible to unauthorized access, inherently minimizing the attack surface. This platform secures environments from on-premise to cloud, enabling secure remote access and streamlined policy management.
Tempered was co-founded in 2012 by Jeffrey S. Hussey and David Mattes. Hussey, a veteran who founded F5 Networks, recognized traditional perimeter security's inadequacies for interconnected critical systems. The company originated from the insight that unifying networking and security with an explicit trust framework makes vital assets resilient against cyber threats.
Organizations in critical infrastructure, smart buildings, and industrial IoT sectors deploy Tempered's Airwall to safeguard operational technology and sensitive data. The platform ensures only authorized devices and users communicate, protecting essential systems like building automation and factory machinery. Tempered envisions vital infrastructure operating securely, supported by an architecture that trusts nothing and verifies every interaction.
Tempered has raised $78.0M across 7 funding rounds.
Tempered has raised $78.0M in total across 7 funding rounds.
Tempered Networks (often referred to as Tempered) is a cybersecurity company that builds zero trust networking solutions, primarily the Airwall platform, to secure operational technology (OT), industrial control systems (ICS), and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructure.[1][2][3][4][5] It serves businesses reliant on critical infrastructure—such as manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and healthcare—solving the problem of cyber threats like remote and lateral attacks by enabling simple network segmentation, secure remote access, and identity-based connectivity without complex firewall upgrades or infrastructure overhauls.[1][3][4][5] Founded in 2012 and based in Lynnwood, Washington, the company raised $57.24M before being acquired by Johnson Controls in June 2022, demonstrating strong growth in the critical infrastructure security market.[1][2][4]
The Airwall solution uses an Identity Defined Networking (IDN) architecture with unidirectional gateways, end-to-end encryption, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to make assets "un-hackable" by rendering them invisible to unauthorized parties and enforcing policy based on cryptographic machine identities rather than spoofable network addresses.[3][4][5] This approach eliminates the "fatal flaw" in traditional firewalls, accelerating digital transformation while reducing operational costs.[3]
Tempered Networks was founded in 2012 in Lynnwood, Washington, initially as Asguard Networks, focusing on cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.[1][2] Key leadership includes Jeff Hussey, President and CEO, a serial entrepreneur who previously co-founded F5 Networks (an S&P 500 application delivery leader) and Lockdown Networks (acquired by McAfee in 2008); his background in networking and security shaped the company's pioneering Airwall technology.[3] The idea emerged from addressing IIoT vulnerabilities, where traditional networks failed against evolving threats like lateral movement post-breach, leading to a purpose-built zero trust overlay that fixes firewall limitations.[1][3]
Early traction came from proving the Airwall's simplicity in micro-segmentation and secure connectivity, attracting $57.24M in funding and culminating in its acquisition by Johnson Controls on June 23, 2022, integrating it into a major player's portfolio for global scaling.[1]
Tempered rides the zero trust and OT cybersecurity wave, driven by rising IIoT adoption, ransomware targeting critical infrastructure (e.g., utilities, manufacturing), and regulatory mandates for segmentation.[1][3][5] Timing is ideal post-2022 acquisition by Johnson Controls, aligning with market forces like supply chain attacks and hybrid work, where traditional perimeter security fails—projected OT cyber market growth amplifies this.[1] It influences the ecosystem by simplifying IDN for non-IT experts, enabling faster digital transformation and setting standards for "un-hackable" infrastructure, competing with firms like Nozomi Networks and Waterfall Security while integrating into enterprise giants.[1][4]
Post-acquisition, Tempered's Airwall will likely expand within Johnson Controls' portfolio, targeting global critical infrastructure with enhanced AI-driven threat insights and cloud-native features.[1][5] Trends like AI-enhanced OT threats, 5G/IIoT proliferation, and stricter regulations (e.g., NIST zero trust) will propel growth, evolving its influence toward embedded solutions in smart buildings and industrial edges. As cyber risks escalate, Tempered exemplifies how identity-first networking fortifies the "fatal flaw" in legacy systems, positioning it as a cornerstone for resilient digital infrastructure.[3][5]
Tempered has raised $78.0M across 7 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $17.0M Other Equity in May 2019.
Tempered has raised $78.0M in total across 7 funding rounds.
Tempered's investors include Fluid Capital, IDG Ventures, Ignition Partners, Rally Capital, Ridge Ventures, Altair Capital Management, Ballast Point Ventures, B Capital Group, Correlation Ventures, DNX Ventures, Alexander Rosen, Thayer Ventures.