Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Company History
Check Point Software History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1993 in Ramat Gan, Israel
When was Check Point Software founded?
Check Point Software was founded in 1993 in Ramat Gan, Israel by Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht and Shlomo Kramer, making it 33 years old.
- Founded
- 1993
- Founding place
- Ramat Gan, Israel
- Founders
- Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht and Shlomo Kramer
- Headquarters today
- Ramat Gan / Tel Aviv, Israel
- Milestones documented
- 12 (1993–2025)
- Current CEO
- Nadav Zafrir
- Acquisitions
- 4
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Company Founded in Ramat Gan, Israel |
| 1994 | Launch of FireWall-1 & Stateful Inspection |
| 1996 | Blockbuster NASDAQ IPO |
| 2000 | Reaches $500M in Revenue & Global Market Leadership |
| 2006 | Acquisition of Nokia Security Appliance Business |
| 2009 | Introduction of Software Blade Architecture |
| 2018 | Unveiling of Check Point Infinity Architecture |
| 2019 | Acquisition of Dome9 for Cloud Security |
| 2021 | Acquisition of Avanan for Cloud Email Security |
| 2023 | Acquisition of Perimeter 81 for SASE |
| 2024 | Nadav Zafrir Appointed CEO; Cyberint Acquisition |
| 2025 | Infinity Platform AI & ThreatCloud Integration |
- Where was Check Point Software founded?
- Check Point Software was founded in Ramat Gan, Israel in 1993. checkpoint.com
- Who founded Check Point Software?
- Check Point Software was founded by Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht and Shlomo Kramer.
- When did Check Point Software start?
- Check Point Software was founded in 1993.
- How old is Check Point Software?
- Check Point Software is 33 years old as of 2026.
- How did Check Point Software start?
- Founded in 1993 in Ramat Gan, Israel, by Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht, and Shlomo Kramer, Check Point invented stateful inspection in 1994, grew into a NASDAQ-listed giant, and scaled to $2.57B in revenue under CEO Gil Shwed before Nadav Zafrir took the helm in December 2024.
Founding Story
In 1993, Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht, and Shlomo Kramer founded Check Point Software in Ramat Gan, Israel. Drawing on their experience in Israeli intelligence Unit 8200, they recognized that static packet filtering was inadequate for complex corporate networks. In 1994, Shwed invented stateful inspection (US Patent 5,606,668), creating the modern firewall industry.
Founders
Gil Shwed
Gil Shwed co-founded Check Point Software in 1993 in Ramat Gan, Israel, after serving in the Unit 8200 intelligence corps. He invented stateful inspection firewall technology (US Patent 5,606,668), revolutionized network security, and served as CEO for 31 years before transitioning to Executive Chairman in December 2024.
Marius Nacht
Marius Nacht co-founded Check Point in 1993, driving early commercialization, business development, and strategic partnerships. A prominent Israeli tech entrepreneur and investor, Nacht played a foundational role in scaling Check Point into a global cybersecurity titan.
Shlomo Kramer
Shlomo Kramer co-founded Check Point and served as Vice President of Architecture, architecting early firewall inspection engines and cryptographic protocols before going on to found Imperva and Cato Networks.
Key Milestones
Company Founded in Ramat Gan, Israel
Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht, and Shlomo Kramer found Check Point Software Technologies in Ramat Gan, Israel, with a vision to secure corporate networks against evolving digital threats.
Source: checkpoint.comLaunch of FireWall-1 & Stateful Inspection
Check Point releases FireWall-1, pioneering stateful inspection (US Patent 5,606,668), which dynamically tracks connection states and revolutionizes commercial network security.
Source: checkpoint.comBlockbuster NASDAQ IPO
Check Point completes its Initial Public Offering on the NASDAQ exchange under ticker symbol CHKP, accelerating global expansion and enterprise channel distribution.
Source: ir.checkpoint.comReaches $500M in Revenue & Global Market Leadership
Check Point solidifies its position as the undisputed global leader in firewall and virtual private network (VPN) security, servicing Fortune 500 enterprises worldwide.
Source: checkpoint.comAcquisition of Nokia Security Appliance Business
Check Point acquires Nokia's security appliance business, deepening hardware-software integration and securing enterprise carrier relationships globally.
Source: news.checkpoint.comIntroduction of Software Blade Architecture
Check Point introduces the revolutionary Software Blade Architecture, enabling customers to dynamically add security capabilities (IPS, Anti-Bot, URL Filtering) on demand.
Source: checkpoint.comUnveiling of Check Point Infinity Architecture
Check Point launches Infinity, the industry's first consolidated cyber security architecture across cloud, network, endpoint, mobile, and IoT.
Source: checkpoint.comAcquisition of Dome9 for Cloud Security
Acquires cloud security posture management leader Dome9 for $175 million, strengthening multi-cloud compliance and visibility.
Source: news.checkpoint.comAcquisition of Avanan for Cloud Email Security
Acquires Avanan for approximately $300 million, integrating cutting-edge inline API-based email security to protect cloud productivity suites.
Source: news.checkpoint.comAcquisition of Perimeter 81 for SASE
Acquires Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) pioneer Perimeter 81 for $490 million, accelerating enterprise Zero Trust branch and remote workforce security.
Source: news.checkpoint.comNadav Zafrir Appointed CEO; Cyberint Acquisition
Co-founder Gil Shwed transitions to Executive Chairman after 31 years as CEO, with former Unit 8200 commander Nadav Zafrir stepping in as CEO. Check Point acquires Cyberint to enhance threat intelligence.
Source: news.checkpoint.comInfinity Platform AI & ThreatCloud Integration
Check Point surpasses $2.57B in revenue, with ThreatCloud AI processing over 3 billion daily transactions with a 99.8% catch rate across global enterprise deployments.
Source: ir.checkpoint.comMajor Acquisitions
Cyberint
2024Perimeter 81
2023Avanan
2021Dome9
2019Keep researching Check Point Software
Check Point Software Company History FAQ
When was Check Point Software founded and who started it?
Check Point Software was established in 1993 in Ramat Gan / Tel Aviv, Israel. The founders launched the enterprise with a clear mission to innovate within Cybersecurity & Cloud Security, pioneering new operational models and customer-centric financial solutions that transformed traditional marketplace practices.
What were the most important milestones in Check Point Software's history?
Key historical milestones for Check Point Software include its initial foundation in 1993, the rollout of proprietary operational and digital platforms, major institutional capital expansions, strategic corporate acquisitions, and its evolution into a recognized market titan generating $2.57 billion in annual revenue.
How did Check Point Software survive historic economic downturns?
Check Point Software navigated major economic crises and market volatility by preserving conservative balance sheet reserves, diversifying its core revenue streams across multiple customer segments, and leveraging low-cost operational infrastructure to maintain positive operating margins when competitors struggled.
Where is Check Point Software headquartered today?
Check Point Software maintains its global corporate headquarters in Ramat Gan / Tel Aviv, Israel, directing enterprise strategy, regulatory compliance, technology engineering, and international customer operations from this central location.
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