Devolutions is a company that helps IT departments become more efficient by delivering professional, low cost, easy-to-use management tools backed by a world-class support team. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Devolutions CEO David Hervieux to learn more about the company.
David Hervieux’s Background
What is David Hervieux’s background? Hervieux said:
“I have been passionate about software development for over 20 years, and my journey as an entrepreneur truly began in 2004 when I founded Devolutions. Back then, my primary focus was on offering consulting services. However, as I evolved, so did Devolutions. By 2010, I shifted our mission to creating our own software solutions, and that decision has been one of the most impactful of my career.”
“Today, we are proud to serve over 800,000 users across 140 countries. This growth is not just about numbers; it’s a testament to our commitment to solving real-world challenges in remote connection, privileged access management, and password management. At our core, we are driven by innovation and an unwavering focus on meeting our customers’ needs.”
“On a personal level, it has been a privilege to be recognized by my peers, including receiving the CEO of the Year award from Vision CEO, presented by the Quebec Technology Association and Investissement Québec. These moments remind me of how far we’ve come and fuel my passion to continue pushing boundaries at Devolutions.”
Formation Of Devolutions
How did the idea for the company come together? Hervieux shared:
“The idea for Devolutions didn’t happen overnight. At the time, I was primarily working as a programmer, offering my services as a consultant. Devolutions was more of an untapped concept than a developed business. My first client was my former employer, a purchasing group of independent optometrists. As I developed various products in the hopes of commercializing them, I learned a great deal about basic marketing and the harsh realities of what makes a product succeed or fail.”
“None of those early products took off, mainly because they didn’t provide enough value and there were free alternatives available. But the experience wasn’t wasted. Each project taught me valuable lessons about the market, and I built a website to showcase my services, laying the foundation for what Devolutions would eventually become.”
“The turning point came when I was working for a long-time client and needed to connect to multiple machines to test different browsers—back when Internet Explorer and Netscape were dominant. Tired of remembering all my passwords, I developed a tool—Remote Desktop Manager (RDM)—simply to make my life easier. I didn’t see it as having market potential; I just shared it on my website to demonstrate my expertise.”
“Without realizing it, I had created something that met a real need, not just for me but for others too. In that moment, I unknowingly laid the foundation for Devolutions.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Hervieux reflected:
“One of my favorite memories at Devolutions is rooted in the people—both within the company and our customers. A particularly special moment was when we flew in our very first paying customer after he made a modest $20 purchase. That experience reinforced the importance of building strong relationships with those who believed in us from the start.”
“It has also been incredible to witness the company’s growth. Starting in my basement, we outgrew our head office and moved into a larger space. Despite this growth, what I cherish most is the sense of community that remains strong, no matter how much we expand.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Hervieux explained:
“At Devolutions, we are dedicated to providing IT professionals with solutions that simplify complex security challenges while enhancing control and productivity. Our core products are designed with this mission in mind:”
— Remote Desktop Manager (RDM): RDM simplifies remote access by consolidating all remote connections into one secure platform. With support for hundreds of technologies, enterprise-grade password management, and both desktop and mobile versions, RDM enhances productivity while ensuring security. It is a powerful tool that helps teams cut costs, reduce inefficiencies, and safeguard sensitive data.
— Devolutions Server: Designed for teams of all sizes, Devolutions Server is a self-hosted solution for shared account and credential management. It is easy to deploy and integrates seamlessly with existing IT tools. The platform meets growing security requirements with optional privileged access components, while remaining user-friendly to ensure teams can stay secure without added complexity.
— Devolutions Hub: This cloud-based password management solution is both secure and highly accessible for business users and IT teams. Devolutions Hub Business allows organizations to manage sensitive information via a user-friendly web interface that is accessible from any browser. It offers the perfect balance between security and ease of use.
— Devolutions PAM: Tailored for SMBs, Devolutions PAM controls, monitors, and secures elevated access to accounts and systems. By integrating with enterprise systems and adhering to security protocols, PAM minimizes an organization’s attack surface and reduces the risk of breaches. It is an essential tool for managing privileged access, offering scalability and ease of use.
— Devolutions Gateway: This tool enables secure access to internal or segmented networks, granting just-in-time access without frequent VPN or firewall updates. With support for multiple protocols and detailed session tracking, Gateway enhances security and simplifies remote access. Supported protocols include RDP, SSH, Telnet, VNC, ARD, PowerShell, and web connections.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Hervieux and the team face in building the company? Hervieux acknowledged:
“The landscape of password management has evolved significantly, and today it has become more of a commodity. While it remains an essential part of IT security, the real challenge now lies in addressing more advanced needs like Privileged Access Management (PAM). As threats become more sophisticated, organizations need to control, monitor, and secure elevated access more effectively.”
“At the same time, IT departments often struggle with the perception of being a cost center, with performance measured more on production outcomes than on security implementations. This creates a unique challenge: balancing the need for robust cybersecurity with the demand for productivity. At Devolutions, we’re addressing this head-on by offering solutions that boost security without compromising productivity. Our goal is to help IT departments improve their security posture while also streamlining their operations to add measurable value.”
Evolution Of Devolutions’ Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Hervieux noted:
“When Devolutions first launched, we were primarily focused on developing tools that addressed specific IT needs. Remote Desktop Manager (RDM) was one of our earliest solutions, designed to centralize remote connections. But as we’ve grown, so has our vision. Today, we’ve moved from offering individual tools to providing complete solutions that address a broader spectrum of cybersecurity challenges.”
“One of the major shifts has been the development of our Privileged Access Management (PAM) module. This solution enhances security by giving organizations the ability to control, monitor, and secure privileged access, helping to reduce vulnerabilities. Additionally, our products now integrate seamlessly to form a cybersecurity ecosystem around our clients, delivering a holistic approach to security.”
“Our acquisition of IT Manager was another key milestone. By incorporating their technology into our platform, we’ve been able to improve our products and provide even more value to our clients. The result is an evolving platform that not only addresses today’s IT challenges but is also ready for the future.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Hervieux cited:
“Over the years, Devolutions has celebrated some significant milestones that reflect both our growth and our focus on security and collaboration:
— 800,000 clients worldwide: Reaching this level of adoption is a major achievement, reflecting the global impact and trust our solutions have garnered.
— Growing to 250 employees: Expanding our team to this size has enabled us to continuously innovate and provide robust support to our customers, all while maintaining the agility of a close-knit company.
— ISO 27701 Certification: This certification highlights our dedication to enhancing data privacy and building trust with our clients. Achieving this standard is a key step in ensuring compliance with global data privacy requirements.
— ITmanager.net partnership: Our strategic partnership with this mobile-first RMM leader strengthens our offering in the remote management space, bringing even more value to our users.
— SOC 2 Type II Report Renewal: Our SOC 2 Type II report renewal reaffirms our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest security and compliance standards.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Hervieux about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“We’re fortunate to work with a wide range of customers who are using our solutions to enhance their operations. One that comes to mind is Derek, an IT professional at a leading advisory, assurance, and tax firm. Derek and his team were struggling to manage their remote connections securely and efficiently. When they started using Remote Desktop Manager (RDM), they found it was the perfect solution to centralize everything in one place. It wasn’t just about saving time, but also about reinforcing the security of sensitive financial data. Derek told us how RDM has made their operations run smoother and more securely, which is always great to hear!”
“Another great example is HES-SO Fribourg, one of the largest universities in Switzerland. They came to us because they needed a better way to manage passwords and access across multiple campuses. We introduced them to Devolutions Server, and it’s been a game-changer for them. By centralizing their password management and implementing stronger security protocols, they’ve made their IT infrastructure much more efficient and secure. It’s stories like these that make what we do so rewarding.”
Funding
After asking Hervieux about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“I’m happy to share that Devolutions is currently generating nearly $50 million CAD in annual revenues. This growth reflects our commitment to providing high-quality solutions that meet the evolving needs of IT professionals, particularly in the SMB and mid-market sectors. We’ve achieved this success through organic growth, with a focus on continuous innovation and expanding our product offerings, without the need for external funding.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Hervieux assessed:
“At Devolutions, we’re primarily focused on serving small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), managed service providers (MSPs), and mid-market organizations. These segments represent a significant portion of the global IT landscape, where there’s a strong demand for robust yet easy-to-deploy security solutions. While our core focus is on these markets, we’re also seeing growing interest from larger organizations that are looking for scalable solutions that can meet their unique needs. By catering to this wide spectrum, we’re able to provide flexible, adaptable tools for businesses of all sizes.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Hervieux affirmed:
“Devolutions differentiates itself by focusing on making productive Privileged Access Management (PAM) accessible to MSPs, SMBs, and mid-market companies. Many competitors offer solutions that are either too complex or too expensive for smaller businesses, but we’ve developed a platform that fits their specific needs without unnecessary features or high costs. Our solutions aren’t overkill—they’re designed to be powerful yet accessible.”
“Additionally, with 200+ integrations, Remote Desktop Manager (RDM) stands out by connecting all your favorite tools into a single platform, maximizing efficiency and productivity. Our users can centralize their workflows without juggling multiple tools, which is a significant time-saver.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Hervieux emphasized:
“Looking ahead, one of our primary goals is to unify the deployment of our solutions, both for cloud and self-hosted environments. We’ve observed different trends in North America and Europe and by unifying these deployments, we aim to provide flexibility for our customers, ensuring they have the right deployment model to fit their needs.”
“Another major goal is to democratize Privileged Access Management (PAM). We want to ensure that even solo administrators or smaller teams can benefit from PAM solutions without it being overly complex or costly. It’s about delivering value at every level.”
“Lastly, we’re looking to expand our product offerings with more IT-related solutions, always focused on empowering IT professionals to be more efficient and secure in their work.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Hervieux concluded:
“Yes, I’d love to highlight some exciting new initiatives we’ve recently launched. At Devolutions, we’re committed to providing IT professionals not just with the tools they need, but also the knowledge and community support to succeed. That’s why we’ve launched Devolutions Academy, an educational initiative designed to help users make the most of our software solutions. It empowers IT professionals with the insights and skills they need to keep up with the ever-evolving tech landscape. In addition, we’ve expanded our online community platform with Devolutions Force 2.0. This platform allows users to share knowledge, test beta products, earn rewards, and access promotions. Together, Devolutions Academy and Devolutions Force 2.0 provide a powerful combination of learning and community support, helping our users stay ahead of the curve.”
“If you want more information, we just published a press release on the topic.
Important Things About Cybersecurity
What are some important things for IT professionals to keep in mind in terms of cybersecurity? Hervieux concluded:
“Here are a few key things to keep in mind:
1.) Password management is essential: Weak or reused passwords are still one of the most common vulnerabilities. IT pros should ensure their organization is using secure, centralized password management tools to reduce risks and improve oversight. It’s also the first step for an enhanced cybersecurity posture and it’s now a necessity and a commodity. In 2024, it SHOULD be implemented in all businesses.
2.) Privileged access management (PAM) is critical: Managing who has access to what, and ensuring that privileged accounts are secured, monitored, and controlled, is crucial. A compromised privileged account can lead to severe security breaches, so implementing PAM solutions is essential to reducing your organization’s attack surface.
3.) Zero trust architecture: Adopt a zero trust mindset, assuming that every connection or user is a potential threat until proven otherwise. This approach can help limit access and minimize the damage in case of a breach.
4.) User education: Don’t underestimate the power of security training. Users are often the weakest link, so regular education on recognizing phishing attacks, following security best practices, and understanding the latest threats is key to strengthening your organization’s defenses.
By focusing on these points, IT professionals can build a culture of cybersecurity awareness that lasts well beyond this month.”
