ThreatLocker is a cybersecurity company known for its innovative approach to protecting businesses from potential threats. By emphasizing application control, allow-listing, and device control, ThreatLocker has made its mark in the security industry as an essential tool for businesses looking to bolster their defenses.

This article explores ThreatLocker’s journey from its founding to its current industry status. We’ll cover the company’s background, product suite, culture, challenges, client segments, and success stories, ending with a look at its future impact.

Founding Story

ThreatLocker was founded in 2017 by Danny Jenkins, a cybersecurity expert with decades of experience in IT security. Jenkins identified a growing gap in the cybersecurity market as businesses struggled to protect themselves from sophisticated attacks and untrusted applications. Recognizing that traditional security solutions were often reactive, he envisioned a proactive approach centered around “zero trust” principles and application allow-listing, which involves explicitly permitting only trusted software and applications to run. Jenkins believed this approach could greatly reduce risks for organizations without compromising productivity.

Starting with a small team and a big vision, Jenkins, and his co-founders were motivated to build a tool that could address the need for precise control over what applications are allowed to operate within an organization. This focus on providing robust, clear-cut controls formed the foundation of ThreatLocker’s mission to create a proactive and accessible cybersecurity solution for businesses of any size, setting it apart in a field often overwhelmed by complex and hard-to-implement tools. The company’s original mission—to create an accessible and powerful way to safeguard against digital threats—remains at the heart of ThreatLocker’s vision today.

Early Challenges and Milestones

In its early stages, ThreatLocker faced significant challenges, especially in introducing its unique cybersecurity approach to a competitive market dominated by well-established players. One of the biggest hurdles was educating potential customers on the concept of “allow-listing” and its benefits over traditional, reactive cybersecurity measures. Convincing organizations to shift to a zero-trust model required extensive outreach, as many companies were accustomed to legacy systems and skeptical of changing their approach to application security.

Despite these challenges, ThreatLocker achieved notable milestones that solidified its position in the industry. Early partnerships with IT service providers gave the company a foothold in the managed service provider (MSP) market, allowing ThreatLocker to build a reputation among companies needing proactive security measures.

The release of its first version gained significant traction, and by expanding its product capabilities and improving user accessibility, ThreatLocker was able to attract a growing client base. These initial achievements marked a turning point, establishing ThreatLocker as a credible and innovative player in cybersecurity.

Timeline of Growth

Since its founding in 2017, ThreatLocker has experienced steady growth, with key moments marking its rise in the cybersecurity landscape. In 2018, the company launched its first full-featured application control platform, which quickly garnered interest from managed service providers (MSPs) and small to medium businesses due to its simplicity and strong security features. By 2019, ThreatLocker had expanded its product suite to include device control, addressing a broader range of cybersecurity needs and appealing to industries with heightened data security requirements.

In 2020, ThreatLocker saw a surge in demand as companies increasingly adopted remote work due to the global pandemic. With remote systems more vulnerable to threats, ThreatLocker’s application and device control solutions became essential for organizations aiming to protect remote devices. This growth continued into 2021, when ThreatLocker introduced Ringfencing, a feature designed to restrict application behaviors, adding an extra layer of security against potential exploitation.

By 2022, the company had built a strong client base and expanded internationally, focusing on refining its products and scaling to meet global demands. Today, ThreatLocker is widely recognized for its proactive approach to cybersecurity, with a timeline of achievements that reflects its continuous evolution in the field.

Organizational Culture

ThreatLocker promotes a culture centered around innovation, accountability, and a strong customer-first focus. Employees are encouraged to challenge conventional approaches to cybersecurity, contributing to the company’s reputation for creating highly effective, proactive solutions. Collaboration is deeply embedded within the organization, where team members work closely to adapt and improve products based on direct feedback from clients, creating a loop that ensures continuous improvement and relevance in a rapidly changing industry.

This culture of accountability and innovation has been key to ThreatLocker’s success. By fostering a work environment that prioritizes learning and responsiveness, ThreatLocker has not only attracted top talent but has also strengthened relationships with its clients. The focus on problem-solving and transparency has allowed the company to build a loyal client base that trusts ThreatLocker to provide dependable and forward-thinking security solutions.

Vision for the Future

ThreatLocker’s long-term vision is to become a foundational layer in cybersecurity for businesses of all sizes, with a focus on creating solutions that anticipate and neutralize evolving threats. The company aims to expand its product capabilities, incorporating advanced AI-driven analytics and more comprehensive endpoint protections to stay ahead of sophisticated cyberattacks. ThreatLocker’s goal is to empower businesses to operate securely without the constant worry of breaches or unauthorized application access.

As part of its strategic plan, ThreatLocker is exploring partnerships and integrations with other cybersecurity and IT management platforms to create a more unified defense ecosystem. Upcoming innovations focus on refining user control over applications, providing even greater visibility, and minimizing risks from unknown programs. With these advancements, ThreatLocker hopes to continue setting industry standards and solidify its role as a leader in proactive cybersecurity.

Initial Product Offering

ThreatLocker’s initial product focused on application control, allowing businesses to create a list of approved applications that could operate within their network, known as “allow-listing”. This product was designed to fill the gap in the market for more proactive cybersecurity solutions that could reduce the risk of unauthorized applications and malware. The allow-listing approach provided businesses with a powerful tool to prevent threats before they could access sensitive data, adding an essential layer of security beyond traditional antivirus programs.

This initial offering addressed a major need, especially for organizations seeking greater control and visibility over applications within their IT environment. ThreatLocker’s approach made it accessible for companies to implement strict controls without excessive technical overhead, making security manageable for both small businesses and large enterprises.

Evolution of Product Suite

Since its early days, ThreatLocker has continually expanded and refined its product suite to meet growing cybersecurity demands. Building on its original application control system, the company introduced device control, enabling organizations to manage and restrict access to peripheral devices like USB drives, external storage, and network printers. This addition tackled the risks associated with physical device access, which often poses a security challenge in environments with high employee mobility or remote work setups.

In 2021, ThreatLocker launched its Ringfencing feature, designed to limit interactions between applications, adding an extra defense layer against exploitative malware. Ringfencing restricts application behaviors, ensuring that if one program is compromised, it cannot easily spread to other applications or data. The suite has also integrated advanced threat analytics, helping organizations monitor and adjust their security measures in real time. This evolution reflects ThreatLocker’s commitment to providing versatile and adaptable cybersecurity tools to stay ahead of emerging threats.

Current Product Portfolio

Today, ThreatLocker’s product portfolio offers a comprehensive suite that includes Application Control, Device Control, Storage Control, and Network Access Control. Application Control remains a cornerstone, allowing businesses to define which applications are permitted within their networks, while Device Control extends this security by restricting access to external hardware, reducing potential data leaks and unauthorized data transfers. Storage Control adds another layer by managing access to file storage locations and network shares, protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access or exposure.

One of the standout features, Ringfencing, provides advanced control over application interactions, limiting applications from communicating or executing unauthorized actions across the system. This feature minimizes the risk of malware moving between applications, creating a robust containment strategy. Each of these tools is designed to work together seamlessly, giving organizations flexible, layered defenses against a wide range of threats. This cohesive suite solidifies ThreatLocker’s position as a leader in proactive cybersecurity.

Notable Issues and Solutions

ThreatLocker faced several challenges as it scaled, including skepticism around allow-listing as a primary security measure. Many businesses, accustomed to traditional antivirus and endpoint solutions, found ThreatLocker’s proactive approach a significant shift. Educating the market on the benefits of application control over conventional security models took time and considerable resources. Additionally, ThreatLocker encountered obstacles in refining its product to be highly secure yet easy to implement, as complexity in setup and management could deter potential clients, especially smaller businesses without dedicated IT teams.

The company also faced competition from more established cybersecurity providers, which pressured ThreatLocker to prove its value in a crowded market. Over time, ThreatLocker worked to address these issues, ensuring its solutions were both powerful and straightforward, ultimately helping it build trust and gain traction in the industry.

ThreatLocker addressed these challenges by investing heavily in client education and support. The company established comprehensive onboarding and training resources to help businesses understand and implement its allow-listing and control features with ease. By simplifying deployment and making its tools more user-friendly, ThreatLocker made it feasible for companies of all sizes to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures. Additionally, ThreatLocker developed a dedicated support team to assist clients, ensuring that any issues could be quickly resolved, which boosted customer confidence and satisfaction.

To differentiate itself from competitors, ThreatLocker continuously expanded its product capabilities based on client feedback and cybersecurity trends. Through regular updates and the addition of features like Ringfencing and device control, ThreatLocker positioned itself as a flexible, forward-thinking solution. These strategic moves allowed ThreatLocker to overcome early market resistance and solidify its reputation as a leader in cybersecurity innovation.

Client Segments

ThreatLocker’s solutions cater to a wide range of industries, from small businesses to large enterprises, all of which benefit from its proactive security approach. Small to medium businesses (SMBs) appreciate ThreatLocker’s manageable and cost-effective approach to controlling applications and devices, as it helps them achieve enterprise-level security without requiring a large IT team. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) are another significant client segment, as ThreatLocker’s tools help them efficiently secure multiple clients’ environments while streamlining their cybersecurity services.

Industries with high security and regulatory demands, such as healthcare, finance, and education, also find value in ThreatLocker’s comprehensive application control and data protection. For these sectors, ThreatLocker’s layered security solutions align with their need for strict data handling and privacy controls. With its flexible offerings, ThreatLocker supports a variety of organizational sizes and needs, making it a versatile choice in cybersecurity.

Competitive Comparison

ThreatLocker stands out in the crowded cybersecurity space with its unique focus on absolute application control, an approach few competitors fully embrace. While CrowdStrike, Carbon Black, and Sophos center on detecting and responding to threats after they’ve entered the network, ThreatLocker’s solutions aim to block unauthorized software from running altogether. Unlike many competitors, ThreatLocker employs allow-listing at the core of its system, ensuring only pre-approved applications can operate, drastically reducing the risk of malware or rogue software accessing critical systems.

One of ThreatLocker’s unique features, Ringfencing, takes application control a step further by restricting interactions between applications, even those on the allow-list. This function prevents programs from being exploited to access other parts of the system—a rare level of containment that competitors generally don’t provide. 

Additionally, ThreatLocker’s device control feature restricts usage of USBs and other external devices, helping businesses maintain strict oversight on data flow and physical device access in a way that complements its software controls. These specialized tools, built around proactive and tightly managed control, offer organizations a highly secure environment with minimal reliance on reactive threat detection, setting ThreatLocker apart in the cybersecurity market.

Success Stories

Several organizations have successfully integrated ThreatLocker’s solutions, highlighting its impact across different industries. For example, Apex Computing Services, an IT service provider supporting sectors like education and hospitality, faced ongoing issues with unverified software downloads, which compromised clients’ security. After adopting ThreatLocker in 2022, Apex significantly reduced these security issues by allowing only approved software to run on their clients’ networks. The centralized management and user-friendly platform have allowed Apex to better protect client environments without increasing operational costs

Similarly, Lake Forrest Preparatory School, a private school in Orlando, chose ThreatLocker to gain tight application control and reduce cybersecurity risks in an educational setting. Previously, the school dealt with challenges from unauthorized software and malware. ThreatLocker’s allow-listing setup allowed the school’s IT team to deploy controls across devices, including laptops and remote desktops, with minimal management effort. Since implementing ThreatLocker, Lake Forrest has reported zero malware incidents and noted a significant drop in IT support tickets related to unauthorized software, illustrating the effectiveness of ThreatLocker’s proactive approach to endpoint security​

Awards and Recognition

ThreatLocker has received several prestigious awards, highlighting its rapid growth and innovative approach in cybersecurity. In 2024, ThreatLocker was selected as a finalist for the SC Awards in the “Best Endpoint Security Solution” category. This recognition, awarded by SC Media, places ThreatLocker among the top providers in endpoint protection, recognizing its proactive approach to application and device control in the zero-trust model. The SC Awards are well-regarded in cybersecurity, with winners chosen by an expert panel that reviews companies based on innovation, effectiveness, and impact on the industry.

Additionally, in 2023, ThreatLocker was awarded the Rising Star Award in the Endpoint Protection Platform category by PeerSpot, a user-driven platform that recognizes solutions with the fastest-growing user interest. This award reflects ThreatLocker’s rising popularity in the cybersecurity sector as more organizations seek preventative security measures. Another notable recognition came from G2’s 2023 Best Software Awards, where ThreatLocker ranked as one of the Fastest Growing Products, placing it among the top software solutions based on authentic user reviews and satisfaction scores.

ThreatLocker’s success is also evidenced by its inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list in 2024, ranking No. 120 among the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. This milestone places ThreatLocker in the top 2.4% of the list, a testament to its impressive growth and continued innovation in endpoint security. These awards underscore ThreatLocker’s commitment to delivering reliable, proactive cybersecurity solutions and solidifying its role as a trusted leader in zero-trust security.

Feature Breakdown

ThreatLocker’s approach to cybersecurity stands out due to its unique features, specifically designed to provide a zero-trust environment with high control and security. Here’s a breakdown of key features that set ThreatLocker apart in endpoint security:

• Application Allowlisting This feature is the foundation of ThreatLocker’s proactive defense. Application Allowlisting restricts network activity to pre-approved software, blocking unauthorized programs from running. This deny-by-default setup drastically reduces the risk of malware and ransomware, providing a robust alternative to traditional antivirus measures.
• Ringfencing Ringfencing limits how applications interact with each other, adding a layer of containment that is rare in endpoint protection. Even if a threat enters an allow-listed program, Ringfencing restricts it from accessing sensitive data or other applications, preventing lateral movement and minimizing impact from potential breaches.
• Device and Storage Control ThreatLocker’s Device and Storage Control features give organizations the power to manage access to external hardware, such as USBs and external drives. This function is critical in industries with stringent data protection requirements, allowing administrators to restrict data transfers and minimize risks from physical devices.
• Elevation Control Elevation Control allows businesses to limit application permissions, ensuring that applications can run only with the required privileges. This feature reduces the attack surface by preventing unauthorized privilege escalation, thereby controlling access to sensitive parts of the system.

ThreatLocker Protect

ThreatLocker Protect is designed for organizations seeking robust security controls through application whitelisting and granular policy management. Compared to other endpoint security tools that focus on traditional antivirus or behavior-based monitoring, ThreatLocker Protect emphasizes proactive threat prevention by strictly controlling application and device access. This solution is well-suited for companies needing a high level of security, especially in regulated industries where application control and detailed audit logs are essential for compliance.

Key Features:

• Application Whitelisting: Allows only approved applications to run, providing a strong layer of protection against unauthorized software.
• Ringfencing Technology: Controls how applications interact with each other, limiting potential lateral movement of threats within the network.
• Device Control: Manages and restricts access to USB drives and other external devices, reducing the risk of malware introduction via external hardware.
• Real-Time Audit Logging: Tracks and records application and device activity in real time, aiding in compliance and incident investigations.
• Granular Policy Control: Enables detailed policy creation, allowing organizations to tailor security settings to specific departments, users, or devices.

ThreatLocker Enhancements

ThreatLocker Enhancements builds on ThreatLocker Protect by adding more advanced controls and fine-grained management options for storage, network, and user permissions. 

Key Features:

• Storage Control: Provides detailed control over data access by regulating file permissions and managing access to network shares, USB drives, and other storage devices.
• Elevation Control: Allows users to request temporary administrative privileges for specific applications, helping to reduce the risk associated with full-time admin access.
• Network Access Control: Monitors and restricts network communication between applications, blocking unauthorized or risky connections.
• Application Access Lockdown: Enables organizations to enforce strict access rules on application permissions, minimizing the risk of unauthorized use.
• Audit and Reporting Enhancements: Expands on ThreatLocker’s standard audit tools with more advanced tracking, logging, and reporting for compliance and forensic analysis.

While ThreatLocker Protect focuses on application whitelisting and core endpoint security, Enhancements extends functionality to control file access, network restrictions, and administrative privileges, making it particularly suited for organizations with stringent data security and compliance requirements. 

This plan is ideal for businesses requiring comprehensive control over network, storage, and permission management to protect sensitive data and manage user access effectively.

Insights Wrap-Up

Through a strong focus on application allowlisting, advanced Ringfencing capabilities, and strict device and elevation control, ThreatLocker has built a suite that provides an effective security framework for industries ranging from healthcare to education and finance. These tools give organizations powerful control over their applications, devices, and permissions, allowing them to stay protected against evolving cyber threats.

As ThreatLocker continues to expand its zero-trust offerings, the platform is positioned to further impact the cybersecurity landscape, providing organizations of all sizes with proactive tools to safeguard critical infrastructure.