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Redgate
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Redgate Software is a software company based in Cambridge, England. It develops tools for developers and data professionals and maintains community websites. The company describes itself as offering end-to-end Database DevOps to help organizations streamline software development and get value from their data faster.

Key Information

Redgate produces database management tools for Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL and Microsoft Azure. It also produces advanced developer tools for .NET Framework, such as SmartAssembly and .NET Reflector.[1][2]

From 2007 to 2013, Redgate was featured in the Sunday Times 100 best companies to work for in the United Kingdom.[3][4][5] It has won numerous industry awards for its SQL Server management software.[6][7][8][9]

History

[edit]

The company was founded by Neil Davidson and Simon Galbraith in October 1999.[10] It is named after Via Porta Rossa (Red Gate Street) in Florence, Italy, close to where Davidson used to live.[11]

On 20 August 2008, Redgate announced it was taking responsibility for future development of the free tool .NET Reflector.[12]

On 22 March 2010, HyperBac Technologies (formerly known as Xceleon Technologies) was acquired by Redgate.[13]

In 2010, Redgate re-launched Springboard with a different model where teams would again receive investment and mentoring, but this time in exchange for an equity stake. One such recipient of investment-for-equity in 2016 was Berlin-based 3T Software Labs,[14] makers of Studio 3T,[15] the IDE for MongoDB, a popular NoSQL database.

On 7 March 2017 Microsoft announced the inclusion of Redgate tools in Visual Studio 2017. Three components were included: ReadyRoll Core and SQL Prompt Core, both in the Enterprise edition of Visual Studio 2017, and SQL Search in all editions.[16]

In December 2021, Redgate announced that Jakub Lamik was taking up the position as CEO of the company, and that Galbraith would remain on the board as a non-executive director.[17]

References

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Redgate

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Redgate Software is a privately held headquartered in , , , specializing in database management tools for developers, data professionals, and IT teams. Founded in 1999 by Neil Davidson and Simon Galbraith, the company focuses on end-to-end Database solutions to automate database development, deployment, monitoring, and test across platforms like , , , and . With over 500 employees and more than 200,000 customers globally—including 92% of Fortune 100 companies—Redgate emphasizes streamlining software delivery, reducing errors, and enhancing data security. The company's flagship products include Redgate , a migration tool that automates changes and supports version-controlled deployments for stability and speed; Redgate Monitor, a performance monitoring solution providing real-time alerts and insights for SQL Server and other databases; and SQL Toolbelt, a suite of development tools such as SQL Compare for schema synchronization and SQL Data Compare for . Additionally, Redgate Test Data Manager enables secure provisioning of realistic test data while complying with privacy regulations like GDPR. These tools integrate into pipelines to help organizations accelerate value from their data, with Redgate achieving ISO 27001:2022 for . Over its 25-year history, Redgate has evolved from a startup addressing SQL Server pain points to a global leader in database automation, releasing over 680 product updates annually and attracting four million website visitors quarterly. The company maintains active developer communities through resources like Simple Talk articles and events, fostering in database practices without relying on venture funding, as it remains bootstrapped and profitable.

Overview

Founding and Location

Redgate Software was founded in October 1999 by Simon Galbraith and Neil Davidson in , . The company began as a small software firm focused on developing tools for database management, specifically aimed at simplifying tasks for developers working with SQL Server. The headquarters have remained in Cambridge since inception, establishing Redgate as a key player in the region's vibrant technology ecosystem. Located at Cavendish House in the Business Park, the office facilities support a hybrid work model with modern amenities including informal workspaces, collaboration pods, meeting rooms, and a roof terrace for employees. , often referred to as , is renowned as one of the UK's premier tech hubs, fostering innovation through its proximity to the and a cluster of over 5,000 high-tech firms in software, , and . This strategic location has provided Redgate with access to skilled talent and a collaborative environment from its earliest days.

Core Focus and Market Position

Redgate specializes in developing software tools tailored for database developers, database administrators (DBAs), and data teams, with a primary focus on major platforms including , , and . The company's core offerings center on end-to-end database solutions that enable organizations to streamline processes and derive greater value from their data assets. By emphasizing and simplified management of database environments, Redgate aims to alleviate the complexities faced by IT professionals in handling changes, deployments, and performance optimization across the DevOps lifecycle. In the database tooling market, Redgate maintains a prominent leadership position, trusted by over 200,000 customers worldwide, including 92% of 100 companies. Its tools, such as SQL Compare and SQL Prompt, are widely regarded as industry standards and are utilized by more than 800,000 professionals across various organizations. Redgate further strengthens its market standing through community initiatives like Simple Talk, an online resource hub that fosters knowledge sharing among data practitioners, alongside annual surveys such as the State of the Database Landscape report that inform industry trends. This positioning is underscored by recent recognitions, including being named a Strong Performer in the 2024 Peer Insights for Software, where it achieved a 4.6 out of 5 rating based on user feedback, and in the 2025 Peer Insights for Monitoring Tools.

History

Establishment and Early Development

Following its founding by Simon Galbraith and Neil Davidson in 1999, Redgate launched its inaugural product, SQL Compare, in the same year to address the pressing need among developers for a reliable tool to compare and synchronize SQL Server database s. This tool emerged from Davidson's recognition of a gap in database management workflows, where manual schema comparisons were error-prone and time-consuming, particularly in the burgeoning SQL Server . By providing automated detection and scripting of differences, SQL Compare quickly gained traction as an essential utility for database administrators and developers handling in environments. Redgate pursued a bootstrapped growth model during its early years, relying solely on revenue from initial sales without external funding or debt, which allowed the founders to maintain full control while reinvesting profits into product refinement. Operating from a modest setup in , , the company established its first office in 2000 and assembled a small team of around 10 by 2003, focusing intensely on the niche SQL Server market where demand for specialized tools was growing amid the rise of enterprise database applications. This lean approach emphasized organic expansion through quality software, avoiding the distractions of investor pressures and enabling a deliberate pace in targeting developer pain points. Early challenges included limited initial , which led to missed opportunities with the company's first tools, as the team learned the importance of aligning development with user needs rather than technical alone. A pivotal shift occurred around 2003 when Redgate actively solicited and incorporated developer feedback to overhaul SQL Compare, resulting in Version 3 that delivered a 100-fold and enhanced features like better handling of complex schemas. This responsiveness to input not only solidified SQL Compare as Redgate's success but also established a customer-centric that drove sustained adoption among SQL Server professionals.

Expansion and Milestones

Following its early success with SQL Server tools like SQL Compare, Redgate began expanding its product portfolio in the mid-2000s to address broader database management needs. In 2009, the company launched Schema Compare for , marking its entry into the cross-database market and extending support beyond to include Oracle databases. A key leadership transition occurred in 2013, when co-founder Simon Galbraith assumed the role of sole CEO, streamlining decision-making as the company scaled. In 2021, Galbraith stepped down as CEO and was succeeded by Jakub Lamik. This period also saw Redgate's international growth accelerate, with the opening of its first U.S. office in , in 2011, followed by a U.S. headquarters in , in 2016. Additional offices were established in Brisbane, Australia, in 2018; Berlin, , in 2019; and a third U.S. location in in 2023, supporting a growing global customer base. By 2019, Redgate had achieved significant milestones, including cumulative revenue exceeding $500 million—65% from the U.S.—and over 3.5 million users who had actively engaged with its products since inception. The company further broadened its reach that year by acquiring , an open-source database migration tool, enhancing its capabilities. Expansion into cloud databases gained momentum in the early 2020s, with tools like Redgate Monitor adding support for Azure SQL in 2021 and subsequent integrations for and other cloud-native environments. In response to the , Redgate adopted a remote-first working model in 2020, which evolved into a flexible-hybrid approach by 2021 to balance collaboration and flexibility across its distributed teams. Recent developments include the 2024 acquisition of DB-Engines to bolster database ranking and search capabilities, alongside reaching $100 million in annual recurring revenue, reflecting sustained growth in multi-platform and cloud-focused solutions serving over 200,000 IT professionals worldwide. In 2025, Redgate acquired Vertabelo Data Modeler, launching Redgate Data Modeler in October 2025 to support database modeling across multiple platforms.

Products and Services

Database Development Tools

Redgate's database development tools primarily revolve around the SQL Toolbelt Essentials, a bundled suite of software designed to streamline schema management, , and for SQL Server environments. This collection addresses key challenges in database development by providing integrated solutions that enhance and ensure consistency across development teams. Central to the suite is SQL Compare, which enables developers to compare and synchronize database schemas across SQL Server instances, including versions from 2008 to 2022, Azure SQL, and Amazon RDS. It performs detailed schema diffs at the object and line levels, generating accurate deployment scripts that handle dependencies in the correct order to prevent errors such as . Complementing this, SQL Data Compare focuses on data synchronization, allowing precise comparisons and transfers of data between databases while preserving and supporting deployments to SQL Server, Azure SQL, and RDS. These tools integrate seamlessly with (SSMS) and , facilitating repeatable processes for schema and data alignment during development cycles. SQL Source Control extends the suite by integrating database objects directly with version control systems like , SVN, TFS, or , enabling teams to version schemas and static data as files within repositories. It supports two-click commits and updates from within SSMS's Object Explorer, tracks full revision history including authorship and rationale, and includes object locking to avoid conflicts. Filters allow exclusion of non-essential elements like users or permissions, ensuring focused versioning. For automated migrations and broader deployment needs, Redgate incorporates features like schema drift detection and script generation, which identify discrepancies between expected and actual database states early in pipelines. These capabilities tie into Redgate's emphasis on practices by supporting integrations such as , Azure DevOps, and Jenkins. The evolution of these tools has expanded support beyond SQL Server to multi-database environments through Redgate , a migration tool that automates database changes using plain SQL scripts versioned in source control. handles automated migrations across over 50 database management systems, including , , and , with built-in drift detection to flag deviations and ensure traceable, repeatable deployments. This integration allows teams to maintain a for database changes, reducing risks in heterogeneous setups.

Monitoring and DevOps Solutions

Redgate Monitor is a comprehensive database monitoring tool designed to provide real-time performance tracking for SQL Server and other platforms, including , , , and , allowing database administrators to manage their entire estate from a single interface. It enables proactive issue detection through features like query analysis, which identifies slow-performing queries and bottlenecks, and customizable alerting that notifies teams of anomalies such as high CPU usage or blocking sessions before they impact users. The tool's Enterprise edition extends these capabilities with security auditing, sensitive action logging, and enhanced high availability architecture to support large-scale environments. In the realm of , Redgate offers SQL Change Automation, a framework that automates the building, testing, and deployment of database changes within pipelines, primarily for SQL Server databases using cmdlets and version-controlled scripts. This tool supports migrations-based or state-based approaches to ensure safe, repeatable deployments, integrating seamlessly with tools like Azure DevOps or Jenkins to align database changes with application releases. Additionally, Redgate provides version-controlled database migrations for multi-platform environments, facilitating automated deployments across development, testing, and production stages to accelerate workflows. Redgate Test Data Manager is a solution for test data management that enables teams to provision, , and synthesize realistic test data while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations such as GDPR. It supports data subsetting, generation, classification, and to create secure, non-production environments, integrating with pipelines to streamline testing without exposing sensitive information. Redgate's solutions emphasize cloud integration, with Redgate Monitor offering out-of-the-box support for Azure SQL Database, including Elastic Pools, and AWS RDS for SQL Server, enabling monitoring of cloud-hosted instances without additional configuration. These integrations include capabilities for tracking setups, such as SQL Server Always On Availability Groups and clusters on Azure or AWS, as well as disaster recovery features like log shipping and mirroring monitoring to ensure business continuity. By providing unified visibility into on-premises and cloud resources, these tools help organizations optimize workloads and minimize downtime during migrations or scaling events.

Operations and Culture

Leadership and Governance

Redgate's leadership is anchored by its board of directors and executive team, which guide the company's strategic direction in database DevOps tools. Co-founder Simon Galbraith serves as board chair, having shaped the company's product vision and overall strategy since assuming the CEO role in 2013. Although he transitioned from the CEO position in 2021, Galbraith continues to influence key decisions through his chairmanship, drawing on his deep involvement in Redgate's evolution as a privately held entity. The current CEO, Jakub Lamik, was appointed in December 2021 and also holds the position of on the board. Lamik, who previously served as , leads the executive team in driving operational growth, , and market expansion, with a focus on enhancing Redgate's solutions for developers and data professionals. In sales and revenue, Cassi Roper directs customer-facing strategies, emphasizing partnerships and adoption of Redgate's monitoring and solutions. The executive team also includes David Gummer, who manages product roadmaps and vision alignment with market needs. As a founded in 1999, Redgate operates under founder-led governance, with decision-making centered on its core team without the influence of or public market pressures. The board comprises executive directors like CEO Lamik and Steve Mitchell, alongside Philippa Snare, who provides independent oversight on growth and operations since 2017. This structure enables agile, long-term planning focused on excellence and customer-centric , maintaining Redgate's debt-free status and independence.

Workforce and Financial Overview

Redgate employs more than 500 people worldwide as of 2025, operating a distributed model that includes remote employees across multiple regions. The company maintains offices in key locations such as its headquarters in , , along with sites in Austin and Pasadena in the United States, in , in the United States, in , and in the as of 2025, fostering a global presence while supporting hybrid work arrangements. This structure enables Redgate to attract talent internationally and adapt to diverse employee needs. Financially, Redgate remains a bootstrapped with no external venture funding, achieving profitability through . In 2024, the company reached $100 million in annual recurring revenue, reflecting its stable operational scale and market demand for its database solutions. This self-sustained model underscores Redgate's focus on long-term viability over rapid expansion. Operationally, Redgate emphasizes work-life balance through a flexible hybrid model that allows employees to blend remote and office-based work, earning high employee satisfaction ratings. The company advances diversity initiatives, including partnerships with organizations like She Can Code to promote women in STEM, resulting in women comprising 50% of the executive team and a 13% year-on-year increase in female representation in upper-middle pay quartiles. At its headquarters, practices are integrated, such as eliminating usage and incorporating systems to create an environmentally conscious workspace.

References

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