Thawte acts as a trusted third party by providing inexpensive digital trust solutions to anyone, anywhere and at any time. A truly global enterprise that transcends geographical and virtual borders, Thawte is renowned for assisting the new breed of pioneers to trade and communicate digitally. Thawte's range of products adds the elements of trust and integrity to all forms of information in transit over the Internet, ensuring peace of mind and protection.

Thawte continues to prosper as a distinct brand within the VeriSign stable. The company has the full backing of VeriSign, while it maintains full autonomy in its day-to-day business.

Thawte Today

Thawte continues to prosper as a distinct brand within the VeriSign stable. The company has the full backing of VeriSign, while it maintains full autonomy in its day-to-day business.

The more things change, the more they stay the same

Thawte is unique. No one matches the precise mix of values, skills and assets we bring to our customers. Importantly, our commitment to the egalitarian ethos of the Internet and our focus on extending a trusted relationship on the Internet to anyone, anywhere mean that there is no other company quite like us.

Thawte focus has remained unchanged, and we are still dedicated to our core driving forces:

• Providing outstanding value for money
• Ensuring world-class multi-lingual customer service
• Extending our business to everyone

A culture shared by our customers

The thawte culture is one based on the values and ideals that we share with thawte customers. Thawte history gives us a uniquely cosmopolitan view of business - one that reflects a truly international perspective.

In attitude thawte strive to be like thawte customers, and as a result thawte have not become a bland corporate entity. With thawte belief system intact, thawte strive to deliver, as always, only the very, very best.

Thawte History

• 2004 – In response to customer research and the never ending quest to provide outstanding customer service and the best product range in the industry, thawte launches SSL123 Certificates. These certificates are domain validated, are capable of 128-bit encryption and are issued within minutes!
• 2003 – thawte confirms its value proposition and ability to innovate. The Reseller Program, thawte's popular partner program solidifies its status as the most successful program of its type in the industry. To compliment this, thawte launches t-refer, a unique commission-based referral channel, offering anyone the opportunity to promote thawte products and generate extra revenue.
• 2002 – thawte launches a new brand focused on promoting online trust. A new website is launched, offering an enhanced user experience and improved functionality.
• 2001 – Sales continue to grow and the company further expands on its range of offerings. 2-year products are introduced, offering customers further value for money and convenience.
• 1999-2000 VeriSign acquires thawte, giving us access to additional resources and backing to continue focusing on what we do best - pleasing our customers with our unique approach and affordable, best-of-breed products, most stringent authentication and highest standard in service levels.
• 1997-1999 – thawte builds a reputation for offering outstanding value for money and superb customer service. We extend our product range. According to a Netcraft survey, thawte had captured an astonishing 41% of the global SSL certificate market by the end of 1999, selling certificates to numerous countries.
• 1996 - thawte evolves into the first Certification Authority to sell public SSL certificates outside the United States . We sell our first digital certificate on 12 June to a company in Spain. Sales grow exponentially, the company expands rapidly, and a move is made to larger premises…the family garage has become too small.
• 1995 - thawte is born. IT entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth starts advising South African businesses on the commercial and security implications of the Internet.