Symark Software

BeyondTrust
Company type	Private
Industry	Enterprise Security; Identity Management and Access Control, Vulnerability Management, Compliance Reporting
Founded	1985
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Key people	Matt Dircks, Executive Chairman; Janine Seebeck, CEO; Chris Jones, Chief Revenue Officer; Morey Haber, Chief Technology Officer; Dan Derosa, Chief Product Officer; Dave Giles, Chief Customer Success Officer; Liz Shulof, Chief Marketing Officer
Products	Privilege and Identity Management; Vulnerability Management; Secure Remote Access
Owner	Privately held
Number of employees	~1500
Website	https://www.beyondtrust.com/

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Symark Software, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 25 July 2025

BeyondTrust—previously known as Symark—is a US-based software firm that delivers solutions in privileged identity management (PIM/PAM), privileged remote access, and vulnerability management across UNIX, Linux, Windows, and macOS environments.

Established in 2006, BeyondTrust originally concentrated on Least Privilege Management software tailored for Microsoft Windows. In 2009, Symark, a UNIX-focused company, acquired BeyondTrust and adopted its name. Subsequently, Bomgar—a provider of remote support and PAM solutions—purchased BeyondTrust in 2018 and retained the BeyondTrust branding. These acquisitions significantly broadened BeyondTrust’s product range and enhanced its position within the enterprise security sector.

Symark

Founded in 1985 in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, Symark initially developed utility software for VAX/VMS systems. The company’s name derived from its founders Bob Sommers and Doug Yarrow. Over time, Symark transitioned into a client-server software provider and licensed the UNIX security tool UPM (now under Quest Software), rebranding it as PowerBroker. The company moved its headquarters first to Westlake Village and later to Agoura Hills, California.

Symark specialized in managing identity, access, and passwords for privileged UNIX accounts. From 2003 through 2008, it expanded its footprint into markets including Spain, Portugal, Japan, and Latin America—achieving nearly 300% growth—and ranked among Los Angeles’ fastest-growing private enterprises.

Early BeyondTrust

In 2003, AutoProf introduced AutoProf Policy Maker—the first commercial solution that enhanced Microsoft Group Policy Objects to streamline network drive mapping and printer sharing. By 2005, AutoProf experienced a 90% increase in revenue and rebranded as DesktopStandard. Its software supported four million desktops across 3,500 clients while expanding offerings to include role-based access control (RBAC), password management, and identity access management solutions for Windows.

After Microsoft acquired most of DesktopStandard’s product line in 2006, the CEO established BeyondTrust to focus on the remaining Policy Maker Application Security product—signaling a strategic shift in company direction.

Acquisitions

2009: Symark acquired BeyondTrust's Windows-based operations for approximately $20 million and adopted the BeyondTrust name to enhance its product suite and market reach.

2011: BeyondTrust expanded its access management capabilities by acquiring assets from Likewise Software.

May 2012: The company broadened its vulnerability management portfolio through the acquisition of eEye Digital Security.

December 2012: BeyondTrust further bolstered its enterprise security offerings by purchasing Blackbird Group.

September 2014: Veritas Capital acquired BeyondTrust for $310 million to support its strategic expansion and global development.

October 2018: Bomgar purchased BeyondTrust from Veritas and subsequently rebranded itself as BeyondTrust to capitalize on the established brand recognition while diversifying its products and services portfolio.

Bomgar

Bomgar specialized in remote support solutions, enabling technicians to securely connect to end-user devices across firewalls using computers or mobile gadgets. Its Representative Console facilitated remote management of a wide range of equipment, including PCs, smartphones, tablets, servers, network switches, and point-of-sale terminals.

The company was established in 2003 by entrepreneur Joel Bomgaars, who initially developed a remote access tool named ExpertVNC to minimize travel during technical support tasks. Shortly after its inception, Nathan McNeill and Patrick Norman joined as co-founders. In 2004, the product was renamed NetworkStreaming and transitioned from a cloud-based offering to an appliance-centric model, setting it apart in the remote support industry.

By 2007, the firm rebranded itself as Bomgar, a name inspired by founder Joel Bomgaars’ surname, symbolizing his leadership role. The company secured private equity funding from TA Associates in 2014, marking a pivotal point in its financial expansion.

In June 2016, Bomgar was acquired by Thoma Bravo, and later in April 2018, Francisco Partners took ownership; the details of these transactions were not publicly disclosed. Following these changes, Bomgar was incorporated into the BeyondTrust brand, broadening its offerings and strengthening its presence in privileged access management and cybersecurity markets.

Bomgar’s core business strategy focused on providing secure remote support appliances to organizations around the globe, utilizing strategic leadership and acquisitions to bolster its position within the IT support sector.

Treasury Department hacking incident

In December 2024, BeyondTrust became associated with a cybersecurity breach targeting the U.S. Department of the Treasury, attributed to state-sponsored hackers from China. The perpetrators leveraged an API key linked to BeyondTrust’s remote support SaaS platform to infiltrate Treasury workstations and access unclassified documentation. This incident underscored critical vulnerabilities in remote access technologies and emphasized the necessity for stringent cybersecurity protocols for firms operating within sensitive governmental environments.

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