Absolute Software: Self-Healing AI for the Age of Remote Security

In a world where laptops get stolen, endpoints drift off the network, and malware evolves faster than patch cycles, traditional security software often fails when it’s needed most — at the point of compromise.

Absolute Software (TSX: ABST) flips that equation. Instead of just detecting threats, its platform can heal itself, restore key functions, and even maintain compliance autonomously — all without human intervention.

It’s the first — and still only — cybersecurity company with firmware-embedded, self-healing AI built into millions of devices globally.

With hybrid work now the norm, endpoint risk has exploded. And Absolute’s vision — persistent protection and intelligent recovery — may be exactly what enterprise security needs to scale.

The Origin: A New Security Layer, Built into the BIOS

Absolute’s roots trace back to the early 2000s, when it pioneered persistent tracking for stolen laptops by embedding code into firmware.

Fast forward to today, and Absolute’s Persistence® technology is pre-installed at the factory level on over 600 million devices — including Dell, Lenovo, HP, and other top manufacturers.

This gives Absolute a unique advantage:

Its software can survive OS reinstalls, firmware updates, or wipe attempts
It can reinstall itself if tampered with
It operates below the operating system, allowing it to recover critical apps and settings after compromise

This isn’t just antivirus — it’s cyber resiliency infrastructure.

The Platform: Autonomous Endpoint Defense and Resilience

Absolute’s product suite delivers layered, AI-enhanced protection for remote and distributed devices. Key offerings include:

1. Absolute Secure Endpoint

This is the core platform — combining visibility, control, and intelligent policy enforcement across devices.

Features:

Monitor device health, security posture, and location
Enforce compliance rules (e.g., patch levels, encryption)
Remotely lock, wipe, or recover devices
Detect risky user behavior and policy drift

2. Absolute Application Resilience

Absolute doesn't just monitor other security tools — it keeps them alive.

Using AI-driven healing protocols, it can:

Detect if security agents like CrowdStrike or Zscaler are disabled
Automatically reinstall or repair them
Maintain uptime across critical tools (VPN, encryption, EDR)

This means enterprise software stacks stay functional — even if attackers or users try to disable them.

3. Absolute Secure Access (acquired from NetMotion)

A secure access platform for hybrid workers that provides:

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)
Network condition analysis
User behavior monitoring
Seamless VPN experiences for frontline teams

This acquisition positions Absolute to compete directly in the SASE/Zero Trust space with AI-enhanced optimization and visibility.

AI and Automation: Smarter, Faster, Self-Correcting Security

AI plays a crucial role in Absolute’s stack. It powers:

Behavioral anomaly detection (e.g., a user logging in from multiple countries)
Automated policy enforcement (e.g., push encryption updates when disabled)
Predictive failure modeling (e.g., identifying which devices are at highest risk of compromise)

Most importantly, Absolute’s AI doesn't just alert — it acts.

If it detects that a security agent is missing or corrupted, it doesn't wait for IT to intervene. It self-heals.

This makes it one of the few platforms truly capable of autonomous cybersecurity remediation at scale.

Customer Base and Use Cases

Absolute serves over 13,000 global customers, including:

Fortune 500 companies
Government agencies
K–12 and higher education institutions
Healthcare providers
Financial services

Use cases include:

Ensuring compliance with HIPAA, SOC 2, or GDPR by enforcing encryption and remote wipe
Securing student devices in large school districts — even if they leave the network
Maintaining business continuity for frontline workers in healthcare, logistics, or energy
Enabling secure remote workforces with visibility across thousands of distributed endpoints

The common denominator: Absolute thrives where centralized IT breaks down.

Financials: Growth Mode, SaaS Transition Underway

Absolute has evolved from a licensing company to a recurring revenue SaaS model — and its financials reflect that transition:

Market Cap (Q2 2025): ~$450M
FY2024 Revenue: ~$220M
ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue): ~$185M
Gross Margin: ~72%
Net Retention Rate: ~112%
Customer Retention Rate: ~94%
Profitability: Positive adjusted EBITDA
Free Cash Flow: Positive in 2024

Over 75% of revenue now comes from subscriptions, with high-margin renewal streams and multi-year enterprise contracts.

The company aims to accelerate growth via SASE and international expansion, particularly in Europe and APAC.

Strategic Partnerships and OEM Advantage

One of Absolute’s strongest competitive assets is its OEM firmware partnerships, which include:

Dell Technologies
HP Inc.
Lenovo
Acer
Panasonic

These partnerships embed Absolute’s Persistence® module directly into the device BIOS, giving it a level of resilience and control no other endpoint security company can match.

The company also integrates with:

CrowdStrike
SentinelOne
Zscaler
VMware
Microsoft Intune
ServiceNow

These integrations allow Absolute to monitor and heal third-party apps — transforming it from a device protector into a platform protector.

Competitive Landscape: Endpoint Resilience vs. Endpoint Protection

Absolute doesn’t aim to replace antivirus or EDR tools — it makes them stronger.

Competitors include:

Tanium – Strong in endpoint visibility and patching, but more complex and enterprise-heavy
CrowdStrike / SentinelOne – Elite threat detection, but don’t offer self-healing infrastructure
Microsoft Defender – Widely adopted, but not embedded at the firmware layer
VMware Workspace ONE – Device management-focused, with less automated recovery

Absolute’s advantage is in its unique, persistent footprint — no other vendor can survive device wipes or OS reinstalls while autonomously restoring security controls.

Strategic Moves and Acquisitions

In 2022, Absolute acquired NetMotion Software, a leader in secure access and mobile performance tools. This move:

Expanded Absolute’s TAM into ZTNA and SASE markets
Added new telemetry and network-level intelligence
Created a unified Secure Endpoint + Secure Access platform for hybrid teams

This positions Absolute to compete with:

Palo Alto Networks (Prisma Access)
Cisco (Umbrella)
Zscaler
Fortinet

It’s a bold step — and a necessary one — as more cybersecurity spending shifts to cloud-based access and posture control.

Risks: Scale, Complexity, and Market Visibility

As a mid-cap Canadian company in a field dominated by U.S. tech giants, Absolute faces some challenges:

Limited brand awareness outside IT/security circles
Rising competition from platforms like Microsoft Defender and Jamf
Dependence on OEM partnerships for Persistence adoption
Slower growth compared to flashy AI-native startups
Potential acquisition target — could be acquired before it scales fully

Still, its high retention, embedded model, and recurring revenue give it a strong foundation. And in a market that’s moving from detection to remediation, Absolute is already ahead of the curve.

Investor Takeaway: The AI Backbone of Endpoint Resilience

Absolute Software isn’t trying to dazzle with hype. It’s focused on keeping devices online, protected, and compliant — even when everything else fails.

Its AI doesn’t just find the problems — it fixes them.

In a world where remote endpoints are the new front line, and IT resources are stretched thin, Absolute’s self-healing, autonomous approach is increasingly valuable.

It’s not antivirus. It’s survivability software — and it might just be the most underrated AI security company in the game.

For investors looking to ride the shift from protection to resilience, Absolute Software belongs on the radar.