Lightning MultiCom is a Swiss manufacturer of secure network access appliances and web-server software solutions. It also offers customized solutions in software and hardware.

Lightning develops and markets the MultiCom

MultiCom

MultiCom is the products name of a broad range of broadband router and firewalls, including VPN IPSec gateway with strong encryption and security, developed and manufactured by Lightning MultiCom in Switzerland, Europe....

 range of broadband router and firewalls, including VPN IPSec gateway with banking/government level encryption and security. In 2005, it also started developing web-server software and providing services around this.

Hardware products are based on Linux

Linux

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...

, and software products on Open-Source.

Lightning's technology addresses professional applications. Lightning currently provides network security solutions to carrier, ISP, banks, media houses, law firms, accountancy firms, consultancies, and to government entities throughout Europe, Asia-Pacific and EMEA region.

Divisions

Lightning is currently divided into several core groups:

• Network Security Solutions Group - Develops and manufactures high-security firewall
  Firewall (computing)
  A firewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny network transmissions based upon a set of rules and is frequently used to protect networks from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communications to pass....
  
   and VPN appliances
• Internet Access Group - Develops and manufactures highly integrated Internet access devices for ISDN, ADSL and leased line
  Leased line
  A leased line is a service contract between a provider and a customer, whereby the provider agrees to deliver a symmetric telecommunications line connecting two or more locations in exchange for a monthly rent . It is sometimes known as a 'Private Circuit' or 'Data Line' in the UK or as CDN in Italy...
  
   accesses.
• Internet Web Server software Group - created in 2005 develops web server software based on open-source packages, such as Joomla!
  Joomla!
  Joomla is a free and open source content management system for publishing content on the World Wide Web and intranets and a model–view–controller Web application framework that can also be used independently....
  
  .

History

• 1965 Lightning founded as a family business, developing airport central-line lighting equipment, which is equipping Swiss airports since 1966 and up to today (2006).
• 1992 A networking startup department was opened
• 1994 First compact router with leased line and ISDN with integrated backup and overflow
• 1995 First personal, pocket-sized ISDN router
• 1996 First router with integration of voice functions (customized development for a client)
• 1997 First router with optional strong 128 bit key encoding
• 2000 First complete Linux system embedded in a router
• 2002 First Linux-based routers engineered and delivered for a major aero-spatial project, EGNOS
  European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service
  The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service is a satellite based augmentation system developed by the European Space Agency, the European Commission and EUROCONTROL. It supplements the GPS, GLONASS and Galileo systems by reporting on the reliability and accuracy of the signals...
  
   at the European Space Agency
  European Space Agency
  The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
  
  
• 2004 First High-Availability embedded Linux firewall and VPN gateway
• 2005 New group founded for Internet Web Server Software and Services