Petar Vojinovic
Published on: November 7, 2025
In an era of rapidly evolving cyber threats, staying ahead requires innovation, expertise, and a global vision. SafetyDetectives sat down with Tae Gyun Kim, CEO of Penta Security, a pioneering South Korean cybersecurity company, to explore how the firm is redefining digital safety. From its groundbreaking encryption technologies and AI-powered web application firewalls to its expanding global footprint, Penta Security is setting new standards for secure IT environments worldwide.
Can you tell us about Penta Security’s mission and core focus in the cybersecurity industry?
As market uncertainty continues to rise and IT environments evolve daily, Penta Security remains committed to advancing cybersecurity globally. Founded in South Korea in 1997, Penta Security was one of the country’s first-generation cybersecurity companies and has led the development of Korea’s cybersecurity landscape.
Among the few global cybersecurity vendors capable of encrypting all types of data such as files, databases, and APIs, Penta Security is actively expanding beyond our local market, Korea, into the global arena. We have established offices in Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam, and currently serve clients in 171 countries.
Our mission is to become a top global cybersecurity company that goes beyond APAC regions, offering safety and trust to our customers worldwide.
How does Penta Security differentiate itself through its core technologies such as web application firewalls, database encryption, and authentication systems?
Since our foundation in 1997, Penta Security has led the information security industry through its proprietary encryption technologies. In 2004, we launched “D.AMO”, Korea’s first commercialized data encryption solution, which has since maintained the top market share in the Korean encryption sector.
What sets it apart is its comprehensive encryption support across all layers of the IT infrastructure, from legacy systems and business platforms to cloud environments. Additionally, our centralized key management solution, “D.AMO KMS (Key Management System)”, manages the full lifecycle of encryption keys, offering access control and audit logging capabilities for secure data tracking.
In the field of web application firewalls (WAFs), we emphasize Cloudbric, a SECaaS (Security-as-a-Service) solution built on our patented AI-based logic analysis engine, COCEP. Cloudbric WAF+ delivers robust protection and holds patents in five countries, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea. For customers requiring on-premise deployment, we offer WAPPLES, a high-performance appliance-based WAF.
Our authentication system, iSIGN, provides a wide range of features including SSO, MFA, PKI-based authentication, endpoint security, and IoT authentication, ensuring secure and seamless access control.
Can you describe the role of research and development in shaping Penta Security’s approach to cybersecurity solutions?
More than 60% of our workforce consists of technical personnel, highlighting our deep commitment to research and development as a core value. Our dedicated R&D labs are staffed with top-tier Korean engineers focused on advancing cybersecurity technologies.
However, our R&D efforts go beyond the lab. South Korea’s IT ecosystem is a hybrid of global and local vendors, creating a complex and dynamic environment. To meet the demands of this landscape, we have developed an R&D system that integrates customer feedback directly from the field. This user-driven development approach helps us create solutions that address real-world challenges, giving us a competitive edge in the global market.
How has Penta Security expanded its presence and influence in global markets beyond its original base?
Penta Security consistently holds the no.1 marketshare in both the web application firewall and data encryption segments in South Korea. Internationally, we’ve built a strong presence with over 1,100 customers across 171 countries. Our competitive edge lies in our
high-performance security features, robust technical support, and versatile solutions compatible with diverse IT environments.
Our Cloudbric service, in particular, has gained significant traction in Japan, North America, and Europe. Prestigious research institutions like Gartner and Frost & Sullivan have recognized its excellence. In Japan, Cloudbric WAF+ has ranked number one for seven consecutive years on “IT Trend,” the country’s most trusted online IT platform, solidifying its technological prowess and market appeal.
These achievements are the result of our localization strategy, which includes establishing international branches in Japan, Vietnam, and the UAE and partnering with local distribution partners. This approach has significantly strengthened Penta Security’s global competitiveness.
What are your hopes for Penta Security’s future direction, particularly in emerging areas like AI integration and cloud security services?
The foundation of cybersecurity lies in encryption, monitoring, and authentication.
These three core pillars are essential across all IT infrastructures, from legacy systems to AI and cloud-based environments. Penta Security possesses strong capabilities in all three areas, leveraging decades of accumulated data and expertise to respond flexibly and proactively to emerging threats.
Moreover, security is deeply tied to regulatory compliance. As such, we work closely with our global partners to provide optimized solutions tailored to the specific regulations and standards of each country. Through this collaborative and compliance-focused approach, we are committed to continuously expanding our presence in global cybersecurity markets.
