Surfshark’s success story in Lithuania

A global cybersecurity vision born in Lithuania

Surfshark was founded with a clear goal: to make online privacy simple, accessible, and effective for everyone. What began with a VPN quickly evolved into a full suite of cybersecurity tools – bringing together antivirus, breach alerts, and identity protection in one easy-to-use app.

That growth story took shape in Lithuania, where a strong pool of tech talent and a supportive environment made it the natural place to build. From here, Surfshark began scaling its vision globally – while keeping its roots firmly in Vilnius.

The right environment for a cybersecurity startup to build and scale

Surfshark didn’t need to look far to find a place where a digital-first company could grow efficiently – its home country already had everything it needed.

Lithuania’s digital infrastructure ranks among the fastest and most reliable in Europe, with wide coverage across the country. For a company built on digital access, that level of connectivity made it easier to collaborate across teams, support remote work, and deliver a smooth experience to users – a critical foundation for offering trusted network security services.

Equally important has been the mindset of the people behind that growth. Lithuanian professionals bring not just technical skills, but a proactive attitude and a drive to improve – traits that continue to shape Surfshark’s journey. Much of this begins in the country’s universities, where strong tech and engineering programmes help the talent pool grow and evolve with the industry.

Surfshark’s growing presence on the global stage

It didn’t take long for Surfshark to outgrow its startup label. In 2022, it joined forces with fellow Lithuanian cybersecurity company Nord Security, pushing its valuation to $1.6 billion and earning unicorn status. That same year, it was named one of the Financial Times 1000 fastest-growing companies in Europe – a milestone that reflected just how far it had come since launching in 2018.

As Surfshark grew, so did the opportunities. Expanding into markets like South Korea opened new doors, while acquiring US-based Ironwall added fresh capabilities and perspectives. Today, the company serves users around the world and coordinates teams across multiple countries. With each step, Surfshark became more global – yet Lithuania remained the place where people, strategy, and operations come together.

Local strengths driving global opportunity

As Surfshark continues to scale, Lithuania remains a strong base for its next phase of growth. The country’s infrastructure, skilled talent, and supportive business environment create the conditions for progress. As the company expands internationally and takes on new levels of complexity, these foundations are opening the door to new opportunities.