Quest Software
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1987 in Newport Beach, California, United States |
| Headquarters | Aliso Viejo , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (53 offices in 24 countries) |
Key people | Vinny Smith (CEO and chairman), Doug Garn (vice chairman) |
| Products | Cloud management, SaaS, security, workforce mobility, backup and recovery services |
| Owner | Clearlake Capital |
Quest Software, Inc., commonly referred to as Quest, is a privately owned software enterprise headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, United States. Established in 1987, the company delivers solutions spanning cloud management, software as a service (SaaS), security, workforce mobility, along with backup and recovery services. Quest maintains a global presence with 53 offices distributed across 24 countries.
History
Quest was founded in 1987 in Newport Beach, California, initially focusing on developing software for HP Multi-Programming Executive (MPE). The company welcomed entrepreneur Vinny Smith in 1995. The following year, Quest broadened its scope into database management by releasing an Oracle SQL tuning tool and established its first UK office in 1997.
In 1998, Doug Garn joined as Vice President of Sales. That same year marked Quest’s expansion into Germany and Australia, alongside Vinny Smith’s appointment as CEO. In October 1998, Quest enhanced its database management offerings by acquiring TOAD software.
Quest held its initial public offering on August 13, 1999. The early 2000s saw further international growth with new offices launched in Japan (2002), followed by Singapore, Korea, and China (2003), supporting the company’s worldwide operations.
By 2008, Doug Garn had assumed the roles of CEO and president while Vinny Smith transitioned to executive chairman. Alan Fudge was named vice president of sales in 2009. In 2011, Smith returned to the CEO and chairman positions as Garn became vice chairman.
Dell completed its acquisition of Quest Software on September 28, 2012, integrating it into the Dell Software Group. Subsequent expansions included acquiring ScriptLogic and Czech Republic-based Charonware s.r.o., which improved the TOAD Data Modeler product suite.
In November 2016, private equity firms Francisco Partners and Elliott Management purchased Dell Software; this transaction re-established Quest as an independent entity under new ownership. In 2017, One Identity was introduced as a distinct brand within the Quest portfolio.
Quest pursued further acquisitions to consolidate its market position: Binary Tree was acquired in September 2020 and erwin, Inc., including erwin Data Modeler, was added in January 2021.
On November 29, 2021, Clearlake Capital acquired Quest from Francisco Partners for $5.4 billion including debt. This significant investment underscored Quest’s robust financial health and influential status within the industry.