NetBird raises $10M to challenge legacy security vendors for EU firms
Berlin-based startup NetBird has secured a $10 million funding round that positions the company as a serious European alternative to legacy security suites such as Sophos. With EU enterprises under pressure to modernise remote access, comply with stringent data rules and reduce dependence on non‑European vendors, NetBird is betting that its open, developer‑friendly approach to secure networking will resonate across the continent.
From VPN replacement to full zero‑trust platform
NetBird emerged as part of a new wave of infrastructure tools built around WireGuard-based VPN technology and zero‑trust network access (ZTNA). Traditional corporate VPNs and bundled endpoint suites from providers like Sophos have been criticised for complex configuration, sluggish performance and limited visibility in hybrid and multi‑cloud environments. By contrast, NetBird focuses on delivering a lightweight, programmable overlay network that can be deployed in minutes across on‑premise, cloud and remote endpoints.
The startup’s platform enables engineers and IT teams to create software-defined private networks that automatically authenticate devices, enforce least‑privilege access and encrypt traffic end‑to‑end. Instead of funnelling all traffic through a central VPN gateway, NetBird builds a mesh of peer‑to‑peer encrypted connections, improving latency and resilience for distributed teams.
Why legacy tools like Sophos are under pressure
Many EU companies still rely on traditional VPN appliances and monolithic endpoint protection suites such as those offered by Sophos. While these platforms remain entrenched, they face several structural challenges:
- They were designed for office‑centric networks, not cloud‑native, remote‑first setups.
- They often combine multiple functions (firewall, antivirus, VPN, web filtering) in a single stack, locking customers into one vendor.
- They may route sensitive traffic via non‑EU infrastructure, raising data sovereignty concerns.
- Licensing and scaling models can be costly for fast‑growing teams and micro‑services architectures.
As security teams embrace zero‑trust architectures and identity‑centric access control, there is growing appetite for more modular, API‑driven tools that integrate easily with modern DevOps workflows. This is the gap NetBird aims to fill.
Funding to accelerate EU‑first, open and compliant security
The new $10 million round will be channelled into product development, go‑to‑market expansion and deeper integration with the European regulatory landscape. While the investors were not disclosed in the provided information, the scale of the round underlines strong confidence in the demand for European‑centric network security platforms.
NetBird plans to double down on three strategic pillars that are particularly relevant to EU enterprises:
- Data protection and compliance: Building features aligned with GDPR, NIS2 and sector‑specific rules for industries such as finance and healthcare, including granular access logs, policy‑as‑code and robust identity integration.
- Open, auditable architecture: Leveraging open‑source components and transparent cryptographic designs to give security teams more confidence and control compared with closed, black‑box appliances.
- European infrastructure choices: Offering deployment options that keep control planes and critical data within EU jurisdictions, addressing sovereignty and Schrems II concerns around transatlantic data transfers.
How NetBird differentiates itself as a Sophos alternative
Positioning as a direct alternative to a long‑established vendor like Sophos requires more than marketing. NetBird is focusing on specific technical and operational advantages that matter to modern IT and security teams.
Developer‑centric, infrastructure‑as‑code approach
Unlike traditional security suites that are often administered through proprietary consoles, NetBird emphasises API-first design and infrastructure‑as‑code support. Network policies, access rules and device onboarding can be version‑controlled and integrated into CI/CD pipelines. For engineering‑heavy organisations, this reduces manual configuration drift and makes security automation far more achievable than with legacy tools.
Zero‑trust by default, not as an add‑on
While incumbents such as Sophos have added zero‑trust capabilities over time, they are often layered on top of existing VPN or firewall products. NetBird is built around the principle that no device or user is trusted by default. Access is granted dynamically based on identity, device posture and policy context, with continuous verification rather than one‑time authentication at the network edge.
Performance and user experience
By leveraging modern WireGuard tunnels and mesh connectivity, NetBird aims to deliver faster, more stable connections than hub‑and‑spoke VPN architectures. This is particularly critical for distributed engineering teams working with cloud workloads, Git repositories and real‑time collaboration tools. A smoother experience for end users typically translates into fewer support tickets and better adherence to security policies.
Why EU companies are actively seeking European security vendors
The timing of NetBird‘s funding is no coincidence. EU organisations are reassessing their cybersecurity stacks under the combined pressure of rising ransomware incidents, stricter regulation and geopolitical uncertainty. Dependence on non‑EU vendors for critical security functions has become a board‑level concern in some sectors.
Several trends are driving interest in alternatives like NetBird:
- Regulatory scrutiny: Supervisory authorities are pushing for clearer visibility into data flows, logging and cross‑border transfers.
- Vendor diversification: Large enterprises are reducing single‑vendor exposure, especially for identity, network access and endpoint security.
- Cloud‑native transformation: As workloads move to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and European providers, legacy perimeter tools struggle to keep pace.
- Talent shortages: Security teams need tools that are simpler to deploy and manage, with strong automation and self‑service capabilities.
What the $10M round means for the European security ecosystem
The fresh capital gives NetBird the runway to scale engineering, expand its partner ecosystem and invest in enterprise‑grade features such as advanced identity provider integrations, role‑based access control and multi‑tenant management for managed service providers. For customers, this could translate into a credible, long‑term roadmap that reduces the perceived risk of moving away from established vendors like Sophos.
More broadly, the round signals growing investor confidence in home‑grown European cybersecurity startups that combine modern zero‑trust principles with region‑specific compliance and sovereignty guarantees. As EU firms continue to modernise their infrastructure, platforms such as NetBird are likely to feature more prominently in RFPs where performance, transparency and jurisdictional control matter as much as raw security features.
For now, NetBird‘s $10 million raise marks a significant step in the company’s bid to become the preferred secure networking layer for European organisations that want a modern, developer‑friendly and EU‑aligned alternative to legacy security suites.