Our history
Fifty years of building, and more than four decades of it in cybersecurity. Here is the record, decade by decade.
1973
the year OKIOK was founded
1983
first encryption product shipped
A company older than the field it works in
OKIOK started in 1973 maintaining mini-computers. It moved into information security ten years later with an encryption board for the IBM PC, and it has been in the field ever since.
What follows is the long version: the products, the awards, the two solutions sold to Beta Systems and Siemens, and the three generations of owners.
1970s
1973
OKIOK is founded
The company mission is to offer maintenance and support for mini-computers.
1978
OKIOK develops advanced technology solutions
OKIOK focuses its business strategy on the development of technology solutions that integrate software with hardware components. The company develops several solutions for the telecommunications industry, including the X.25 multiprotocol processor and specialized intelligent processors.
1980s
1983
Launch of DEB encryption solution for IBM PC
DEB (Data Encryption Board) marks OKIOK’s entry into information security: simplified encryption of files and complete directories, transparent encryption of hard drives, and secure workstation configuration (using solely encryption to validate the MS-DOS work environment) to ward off attacks.
1987
Launch of RAC/M data encryption and access control card
The RAC/M (Resource Access Control/Management) card integrates features for encryption and access control to IT resources.
1990s
1990
Launch of Branch Manager Solution
OKIOK launches Branch Manager, a centralized security management software solution, and solidifies its position in the market in terms of developing solutions for large organizations such as governments and banks.
1992
New professional services division announced
OKIOK leverages its unique knowledge in security and encryption to offer professional services that cover the entire spectrum of IT security needs.
1992
PassMan, one of the first enterprise single sign-on solutions
Built for a major Canadian financial institution, PassMan is deployed across every branch, on all of its financial product sales platforms.
1992
Point-of-sale monitor project named finalist at the OCTAS Gala
The point-of-sale monitor project OKIOK developed and implemented for a large financial group is named a finalist in the Technology category for organizations of 201 employees or more.
1995
Launch of RAC/M IX card
This high-performance encryption processor was used by clients in the financial, telecommunications and health sectors.
1996
Launch of Focal Point Solution
Identifying a strong need in the market for simpler access to applications, OKIOK launches the Focal Point Enterprise Single Sign-On solution, which eliminates the need for users to remember and type multiple passwords.
1997
Launch of S-Filer family of products
The S-Filer solutions enable secure document transfer, notably for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce environments.
1998
Launch of DSSO, a smartcard-based Enterprise Single Sign-On technology
The new technology allows users to sign-on seamlessly to any host and includes a platform-independent smartcard for data storage. A major US telecommunications company implements the technology to simplify access to hundreds of mission-critical Windows- and UNIX-based applications.
2000s
2000
A first MercadOr award
The City of Laval names OKIOK New Exporter of the year, its first MercadOr.
2001
Implementation of an e-banking security infrastructure
OKIOK designs, develops and implements an innovative, zero-trust security infrastructure for a new e-banking platform at a major Canadian financial institution. At launch it protected transactions across more than a dozen applications for more than 400,000 users, with peak loads over 20,000 transactions per second. It is still in production today. The project won an OCTAS award the following year.
2001
Launch of a Certificate Management Solution, part of the S-Filer product family
The solution manages access to web resources, authenticates users and attaches digital signatures to web documents. It shipped as part of a custom solution for a pharmaceutical distributor. The project won an OCTAS award the following year.
2002
Two OKIOK projects honoured at the OCTAS Gala
One was the e-banking security infrastructure designed and implemented for a major financial group while the other was the certificate management and web signing solution designed and implemented for a pharmaceutical distributor.
2003
A new generation takes ownership
Cindy Walsh and Claude Vigeant acquire the business from Mr. Robert Walsh, thus becoming second-generation owners and leaders.
2003
Launch of EASE
Developed for a Canadian trust company, the Electronic Application Submission and Entry System lets brokers and dealers receive and process RRSP loan applications. It is still in use today.
2004
OKIOK launches Global Trust at Burton Group’s Catalyst Conference in San Diego
OKIOK launches Global Trust, a Web Access Management solution based on the latest industry standards. It is the first solution of its kind to integrate user consent management features.
2005
Beta Systems purchases Focal Point Solution
Beta Systems, a public German company, acquires Focal Point, an Enterprise Single Sign-On Solution developed by OKIOK to constitute its SAM ESSO offering.
2006
Siemens acquires Global Trust Solution
Siemens purchases Global Trust, an innovative Web Access Management solution developed by OKIOK to build its DIrX Access solution.
2007
2007 Dunamis Award
OKIOK wins the 2007 Dunamis Family Business Transition Award, presented by the Chambre de commerce de Laval, for having successfully completed the transition to the new owners Cindy Walsh and Claude Vigeant.
2008
Creation of the Center for Innovation and Excellence in Identity and Access Management (CIEIAM)
OKIOK brings its identity and access management experts together in one centre for knowledge transfer and exchange. The same year it places 245th on the Branham list of Canadian technology companies by growth in earnings.
2010s
2010
Development of a network of partners in Latin America
OKIOK signs its first partners to resale its solutions in the Mexican and South American markets, primarily in Colombia and Chile.
2011
Development of a Security offer for smart grid and the energy sector
OKIOK leverages its expertise in IT security as well as its experience in the energy sector to develop an offering focused on the specific challenges of this industry. We help energy providers in security architecture, penetration testing, vulnerability assessment and cyber security.
2011
Major project for the deployment of a smart grid in the United States
OKIOK, as part of a consortium of three companies, validated the security practices of one of the largest US energy suppliers on behalf of the Public Utility Commission of Ohio.
2013
Development of a network of partners throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
OKIOK establishes an international network of partners to resell S-Filer Portal, S-Filer Cloud and RAC/M Identity, and to deliver penetration testing and vulnerability assessment to OKIOK methodologies.
2013
Launch of Identity Compliance As A Service (ICAAS)
To allow businesses of all sizes to take advantage of its RAC/M Identity solution, OKIOK announces the availability of ICAAS, a service offering built around a hosted version of the RAC/M Identity solution.
2013
Launch of RAC/M Identity
RAC/M Identity allows organizations of all sizes to obtain very rapid results in taking control of their identities and access to logical and physical resources. This solution enables organizations to meet their normative or regulatory compliance obligations very quickly and cost-effectively.
2013
Launch of the S-Filer Cloud solution
To allow businesses of all sizes to take advantage of the security and reliability of its S-Filer Portal solution, OKIOK launches S-Filer Cloud, a SaaS version offering the same functionality as S-Filer Portal.
2014
First place at NorthSec
The OKIOK team wins NorthSec, the premier event of its kind, competing under the company’s own name on a scoreboard otherwise full of anonymous handles. Second in 2013 and 2015, third in 2023, and in the top ten most years since.
2015
A second MercadOr, for market diversification
The City of Laval awards OKIOK its Market diversification MercadOr for its standing in international markets and for the share of its sales in the United States, Europe and Latin America.
2020s
2021
A third generation takes over
Éric Vigeant, Michel De Marinis and François Daigle acquire the business in December, thus becoming third-generation owners and leaders. Éric Vigeant becomes president. He joined OKIOK as an intern in 1994 and has led the development of its security solutions since 2016.
2026
Cybersecurity for defence and aerospace
OKIOK expands its offer to support CPCSC certification and the DO-356A/ED-203A refutation testing an external party must run.
Fifty years of experience
Ready for what comes next
For four decades, organizations have trusted OKIOK to solve complex cybersecurity challenges and protect what matters most. Bring us your next challenge and put that experience to work for you.