BLANCCO HISTORY

From Past to Present

2006, June
Blancco opens two new offices in Europe - one in Lille, France and the other in Stockholm, Sweden - in line with the company's efforts to achieve a greater worldwide presence. Yves Gheeraert has been appointed as the Country Manager of the French office and Yvonne Severen has been appointed as the Sales and Marketing Director of the office in Sweden.

2006, May
The Finnish Chamber of Commerce, North Karelia Chapter, awards Blancco with the 2005 export prize in recognition of the company’s success in the international market. The export prize is awarded to companies whose exports have exceeded significant levels in their specific field.

2006, April
Blancco - Data Cleaner+ v4.5 HMG is certified by the Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG), the UK Government’s IT security group, after being independently tested by QinetiQ the leading computer forensics experts. Blancco - Data Cleaner+ v4.5 HMG exceeded the highest security specifications detailed in the HMG Infosec Standard No. 5.

2006, April
Blancco’s data erasure software is certified by the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service to securely erase governmental classified data up to SECRET level. Blancco – Data Cleaner+ and Blancco – Pro (V4.2r2 and 4.4) are approved after meeting the highest security specifications set out by the Netherlands National Communication Security Agency (NLNCSA).

2006, January
Converge, a company which offers an integrated set of end-to-end IT asset management disposal solutions, and Blancco, the global specialist in cutting edge computer reuse solutions, announce their strategic alliance through which Blancco will deliver state-of-the-art destruction solutions as part of the Converge NextPhase offering.

2006, January
Blancco establishes its third office in the USA. The new office is located in Atlanta, Georgia and Mr. Markku Willgren is appointed as the Vice President to manage the new operations and to fortify Blancco's enterprise security initiative with his years of experience in the corporate security business.

2006, January
Blancco releases their new 4.5 client series. The new series offers added benefits for server machines.

2005, December
Blancco experiences phenomenal growth in 2005 with an increase in turnover of 80% compared to 2004. Blancco's relentless effort to deliver highly competitive solutions that focus on the integrated set of activities required when safely reusing or disposing of computers has proved to be very successful.

2005, August
The number of Blancco users exceeds 3 million!

2005, July
Blancco receives a Certificate of Registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) stating that the Blancco name and logo has been registered as a trademark. Blancco’s application was examined and determined to be in compliance with the requirements of the law and with the regulations prescribed by the director of the USPTO.

2005, May
The department of ICT Security of the Polish Internal Security Agency (ABW) grants a security certificate for Blancco – Data Cleaner+ 4.2r1. Blancco – Data Cleaner+ is the only data erasure solution that has received this certificate in Poland. Blancco – Data Cleaner+ has received exceptionally high ranks in the examinations carried out in the laboratories of the ABW. The testing process, which lasted almost one year, has successfully resulted in Blancco obtaining the security certificate for Blancco – Data Cleaner+ for erasing data up to confidential, restricted and secret level.

2005, March
Japan’s leading auction firm, AUCNET Inc. announces its decision to enter into the Used PC Auction Business in co-operation with Blancco. By signing the agreement with Blancco, Aucnet has become an official exclusive license holder and sole distributor of Blancco’s data erasure solutions in Japan. Aucnet markets Blancco’s Products from March 2005 and projects its sales volume to be 200,000 licenses for the first year with strong growth in the coming years.

2005, March
The data destruction software pioneered by Blancco is highly praised by one of the UK’s top forensic computer laboratories.

2004, June
The Norwegian National Security Authority grants Blancco – Data Cleaner v3.3r7 its final, formal approval for use. Blancco – Data Cleaner went through extensive testing following strict data erasure requirements, which refer to British CESG and DIPCOG security specifications and methods of approval.

2004, May 26
The Communications Electronics Security Group (CESG) approves a newer version of Blancco - Data Cleaner (v.3.7 r.1) to both ‘Baseline’ and ‘Enhanced’ standards.

2004, May 17
D&B, the leading provider of global business information, rates Blancco, on May 14, 2004, on its maximum credit rating AAA –category. Only 5% of Finnish enterprises belong to this top credit-rating category.

2004, January
The Finnish Software Industry awards Blancco with the 2004 Industry Award for Commercialized Innovation. The decision was based on the company’s success in becoming the leading company in professional data erasure with over 1.5M end-users worldwide

2003, December
Blancco – Australasia is established together with ComSec Enterprises Pty Ltd.

2003, November
Blancco – US East is established in New York City

2003, October 15
Blancco Ltd. is awarded the “Ohto”-Certificate 2003 by the Finnish Security Group, FinnSecurity, and the Magazine “Security”. Minister of Interior, Kari Rajamäki, hands the award to Blancco Ltd who has proved to be a company that continuously develops their products in good conjunction with their customers.

2003, August 4
Milestone of one million Blancco users is achieved. The millionth software license is sold in Tokyo, Japan in the beginning of August.

2003, July 8
DIPCOG, the Defence INFOSEC Product Co-Operation Group of the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) grants Blancco Ltd its certificate DAC/0019. Due to the need for the highest standard of security, MoD sets special security specifications from CESG’s standards and adopts certified products into their own security procedures. Blancco is currently the only DIPCOG approved data erasure product. MoD highly recommends the use of Blancco within its individual MoD.

2003, January
Blancco - Data Cleaner is the only data erasure utility to have passed both confidential and secret/top secret standards and to be accredited as an HMG Infosec approved product by the Communications -Electronics

2003, January 16
Blancco – Asia is established and is managed by Sarah Kim

2002, December 15
Blancco - Italy is established and is managed by Ezio Molino

2002, December 12
Blancco – CE is established and is managed by Thomas Wirth
Blancco – US West is established and is managed by John Gorman

2002, October 15
Milestone of 500 000 Blancco customers is achieved

2002, March 11
Blancco – UK is established and is managed by Tony Collis

2001, November
Blancco – LAN Server is launched in order to facilitate PC lifecycle management. The product is a huge success and is used by a large number of PC handlers such as recycling and refurbishing centres, auction houses, leasing companies and large-scale corporations.

2001, October
Finnish minister of trade and industry, Mr. Kimmo Sasi, hands Blancco Ltd. the “Golden Key” -certificate of honour for the company’s work that has been emphasized by innovativeness, broad-mindedness, quality and know-how.

2001
Number of Blancco users exceeds 100.000

2000, October
Blancco Ltd. wins the business division award of the Finnish junior Chamber of Commerce for its productive idea.

2000, July
Blancco Ltd. expands internationally after Venture Capitalist Helmet Business Mentors’ investment.

2000, February 23
Carelian innovations Ltd. changes its name to Blancco Ltd. in order to better support Blancco - brand thinking.

1999, July 21
Blancco – Data Cleaner 1.0 version is launched. Carelian Innovation sells its other product lines and R&D projects, including its succesful product Protekto – Antitheft Device for PC computers, to third parties. The company focuses on professional data erasure products that can be used by average PC users.

1997-1998
Mr. Janne Tervo and Mr. Kim Väisänen co-found Carelian Innovation Ltd. The company focuses mainly on different R&D –projects in the field of electronics and computer peripheral devices. In summer 1998 product development for Blancco – Data Cleaner begins after successful market research and test marketing. According to the results of the market research, there were no easy-to-use, reliable disk-wiping tools available in the market.

1997, September 17
A central hospital in Finland accidentally sells PCs with medical records of 3000 patients. The incident is widely reported in the news and is one of the biggest data security crimes in Finland. The incident provides Mr. Tervo with the idea of a 100% secure data erasure tool that would be easy-to-use for the secure wiping of hard disk drives.

1996
Mr. Janne Tervo and Mr. Kim Väisänen meet at Enterprise Game course at university.