Funk Software
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Paul Funk |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Fate | Acquired by Juniper Networks |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Sideways, Odyssey Access Client (OAC), Steel-Belted Radius (SBR) |
Funk Software was a software firm headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, operating from 1982 until 2005. Established by Paul Funk, the company was purchased by Juniper Networks in 2005 for US$122 million.
During the late 1980s, Funk Software gained recognition for Sideways, a solution that enabled wide-format spreadsheet printing on dot matrix printers. Over time, the company shifted focus to network access security technologies. Their product range served networks of varying scales—from enterprise environments to service providers, both wired and wireless—emphasizing security suites including RADIUS/AAA and WLAN offerings. These solutions empowered organizations to apply consistent security policies across diverse access methods such as WLAN, remote/VPN, dial-up, and identity-based (wired 802.1X) authentication. They were designed to provide dependable performance and scalability for any traffic volume while supporting extensive infrastructure compatibility.
Funk Software’s customer base encompassed large enterprises, academic institutions, telecom operators, and Internet service providers. Their technologies were licensed or distributed by prominent manufacturers of Internet hardware and software. Among their key products was the Odyssey Access Client (OAC), which has since been rebranded as Juniper Networks’ User Access Client (UAC).
In 2014, Juniper Networks divested the division responsible for Funk Software’s legacy enterprise solutions to New York’s Siris Capital. Subsequently, Siris Capital launched Pulse Secure, LLC, based in San Jose, California. The Steel-Belted Radius (SBR) Enterprise and Global Enterprise editions continued under Pulse Secure but were slated for end-of-life by December 31, 2020. Meanwhile, Juniper Networks still offers the Steel-Belted Radius Carrier Edition.
The Odyssey Access Client was formally discontinued as of December 31, 2017.
By 2020, numerous former Funk Software personnel remained employed at both Pulse Secure and Juniper Networks.
At the close of 2020, Ivanti completed its acquisition of Pulse Secure.