OVHcloud buys Seald to boost end-to-end encryption

OVHcloud has acquired Seald, a French company specialising in end-to-end encryption technology, as the cloud provider deepens its data security offering.

OVHcloud said the deal adds technology that encrypts content before it is sent and only allows decryption by the intended recipients on their devices. The company said the model limits access by infrastructure hosts, software publishers, and system administrators.

The acquisition centres on Seald's software development kit, which OVHcloud plans to integrate into its product catalogue. OVHcloud also pointed to a "zero knowledge" approach, which it said restricts access to encrypted content during processing and storage.

Encryption focus

Seald develops tools for adding end-to-end encryption to web and mobile applications. OVHcloud said Seald's SDK holds a CSPN security visa delivered by ANSSI, the French Cybersecurity Agency.

OVHcloud said the SDK supports access rights management, encryption key rotation, multi-device management, and secure retrieval of private keys. The company said the integration process does not require specialist expertise in advanced encryption.

OVHcloud said it intends to incorporate end-to-end encryption alongside existing security products in its portfolio. The company cited Secret Manager, KMS, and HSM as part of that existing set.

Portfolio integration

OVHcloud described the acquisition as part of a wider security and compliance strategy. The company said it aims to address high-sensitivity use cases across business and public sector customers.

The company said end-to-end encryption adds an additional security layer that extends beyond the cloud backend and reaches user devices. It framed the move as a way to create a fuller protection chain that covers storage, processing, and endpoints.

OVHcloud operates more than 500,000 servers across 46 data centres on four continents, according to the company. It said it serves 1.6 million customers in more than 140 countries.

In its statement, OVHcloud positioned the acquisition as a step in its trusted cloud agenda and its approach to regulatory compliance. The company did not disclose financial terms of the acquisition.

Technical approach

OVHcloud said Seald's technology uses encryption that takes place before data leaves the sender. It said only final receiving users can decrypt the content on their devices.

The company said the approach prevents access by intermediaries, including hosting providers and system administrators. It also said the model aligns with a "zero knowledge" approach to data security.

"OVHcloud, a global cloud player and the European Cloud leader, announces the acquisition of Seald, a French company focused on end-to-end encryption technologies," said OVHcloud.

OVHcloud said Seald's technology will sit alongside its current security propositions and become part of its native catalogue over time.