Vendor Spotlight: Domotz

Domotz is forging a place in the network monitoring market but the company is up against some big players and it has been on an upward trajectory.

Domotz offers cloud-based software designed for IT professionals, managed service providers (MSPs), and smart home installers. Its platform allows users to monitor network devices, detect issues, perform diagnostics, and manage systems remotely.

With features like real-time alerts, automated reports, and integration with popular IT tools, Domotz enables proactive troubleshooting and enhanced network security. Its user-friendly interface and scalability make it suitable for businesses of all sizes, helping improve operational efficiency and minimize network downtime.

In this review, we will document the history of the company and examine the platform that it markets to the world. So let’s take a look at how Domotz contributes to la dolce vita.

Founding and Background

Domotz was founded in 2015 by Domenico Crapanzano, Lucio Russo, Patrizia Cozzoli, and Silvio Di Crosta. The company is headquartered in Draper, Utah, but its founders and current executives are almost all based in Europe. The majority of its employees work at the company’s offices in Pisa, Italy, and its CFO is based in Ireland.

The company’s history is interlinked with a division called Fing and the corporate structure between the two businesses is complicated. Domotz bought Fing, an Irish company, in May 2016. However, it made Fing the parent company in 2019, then in 2022, the name of the UK company, Domotz Limited, was changed to Kanova Group Limited and that became the holding company. Domotz Limited was originally called Cabling Tech UK Limited and was owned by Domenico Crapanzano, who became CEO of Domotz at its founding in 2015.

Over the years, the company has made some important acquisitions that provided it with system technology. Some of those divisions were subsequently sold. The most important of these associated companies was Fing Limited. As explained above, the seniority of each company has switched over the years.

Fing is a network monitor for home and small business use. This is where Domotz got most of its network scanning technology from. Patrizia Cozzoli, one of the founders of Domotz and its first Chief Operating Officer, worked at Fing as Head of Sales and Business Development from the time that Domotz acquired the company. At that time, Fing was based in London. Cozzoli became the CEO of Fing in October 2019.

There is also a relationship with Markov Technologies Limited, which operates in Dublin, Ireland, and in Malta. Both Domenico Crapanzano and Domotz’s Chief Financial Officer, Antonio Prugnoli are simultaneously operating Domotz, Ltd, Markov Technologies Limited, Kanova Limited, and Replica Partner Holdings Ltd, which is based in Dublin, Ireland.

Prugnoli set up the structure that made Fing the holding company for Domotz in 2020. He is currently the only director of Kanova Limited (previously Domotz Limited), which is Domenico Crapanzano’s investment vehicle and operates as the holding company for the whole group. Kanova Limited sold Fing to Lansweeper in October 2020. Patrizia Cozzoli stayed with Fing and became the VP of Corporate Development at Lansweeper.

In September 2023, Domotz bought GlassWire, the producer of an endpoint security scanning tool, and has added network discovery and monitoring to that system. GlassWire is still operated as a separate company.

Timeline and Evolution

Here is a summary of the history of Domotz:

• March 2015: Domotz was founded in Draper, Utah by an international team located in Italy, the UK, and the USA. The main operations of the business were located in Pisa, Italy. Domenico Crapanzano is CEO, Patrizia Cozzoli is Business Development Manager, Lucio Russo is Chief Information Officer, and Silvio Di Crosta is Chief Operating Officer.
• May 2016: Domotz acquires Fing Limited, a home network discovery and monitoring system based in London, UK.
• May 2016: Domotz launches Domotz Pro, a network monitoring system for businesses.
• 2016-2017: Domotz improves its platform with technology from Fing.
• 2017: The Domotz platform introduces integrations to exchange data with third-party tools, such as ConnectWide Automate and Slack.
• 2018: Domotz moves its European sales and support operation from London to Dublin. Formed a US sales team at the Draper, Utah offices.
• August 2018: Giancarlo Fanelli was appointed as US-based Chief Technology Officer. The development team remains in Pisa.
• January 2020: Antonio Prugnoli becomes the Chief Financial Officer. He reorganized the corporate structure, making Domotz Limited in the UK the holding company for the group.
• 2020: Improved automation and reporting.
  2021: Launch of network mapping.
• October 2022: Renames the holding company to Kanova Group Limited. Sells Fing Limited to Lansweeper.
• September 2023: Domotz acquires GlassWire, an endpoint security scanning tool.

Company Ownership

The main company for Domotz was the UK company that was set up by Domenico Crapanzano in October 2013. This was originally called Cabling Tech UK Limited but Crapanzano changed its name to Domotz Ltd in October 2014. The company was entirely owned by Crapanzano.

The company has never invited investors, but started up with the savings of Crapanzano and then expanded through loans. Despite his ownership of a cabling company, Crapanzano was actually a banker, rising to be the Managing Director of the investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort and then Jefferies & Company. So, Crapanzano has a background in Finance and investment rather than technology. He created a number of offshore investment funds and these, in turn, became the owners of his shares in Domotz.

The UK company registrar doesn’t require private companies to declare their shareholders publicly. However, significant holders have to be recorded. Crapanzano’s stake was identified as being more than 75 percent and he officially ceased to own those shares in June 2021, when they passed into the hands of Dominion Fiduciary Services (Malta) Limited. At this time, Crapanzano was running an offshore investment fund in Malta, called Markov SICAV, which owns Markov Technologies Limited, a Dublin-based company that is run by Antonio Prugnoli, the CFO of Domotz.

In December 2021, the shares of Domotz moved to Tga Funds Sicav Plc – Twenty20 Fund of Malta, with Dario Negri named as the individual responsible for the shareholding. Dario Negri is the CEO of Replica SIM SpA, an investment fund at which Domenico Crapanzano is the Chief Investment Officer and Antonio Prugnoli is the Director of Finance and Operations.

Key People

• Domenico Crapanzano, Founder and Chairman of Domotz: After graduating in Business Administration at the University of Bocconi in Milan, Crapanzano pursued a career in investment banking. His prospects were enhanced by an MBA, which he studied at Columbia Business School in New York, graduating in 1997. He held directorships at major investment banks, including Deutsche Bank, Barclays Capital, and Bank of America. The foundation of Domotz was a diversion for him, but he continued as a partner in various investment funds. He was the CEO of Domotz from its creation until May 2020, when he became Chairman of the Board. At the same time, he was a partner at the investment firm, Redhedge Asset Management LLP in London from November 2014 to November 2019. He became involved with Markov SICAV in May 2018 and Replica Partners in December 202. He is still a Director of those two fund management enterprises.
• Patrizia Cozzoli, Founder of Domotz and VP of Corporate Development at Lansweeper: After gaining a degree in Finance at the University of Bocconi in Milan, Cozzoli moved to London to follow a career in the City’s financial markets. She rose rapidly to executive positions at UBS and Barclays Capital. When Crapanzano decided to start up Domotz, she got on board, running the company from London and strategizing expansion by acquisition. She managed the acquisition of Fing and moved to that company to run it. She became the Head of Sales and Business Development at Fing in May 2016 but remained the Business Development Manager of Domotz until January 2017. She became the CEO of Fing in October 2019 and stayed with the company when it was sold to Lansweeper. Today, Cozzoli is VP of Corporate Development at Lansweeper.
• Silvio Di Crosta, Founder and Chief Operating Officer: Di Crosta is from Pisa and as the manager of the development team, he chose the location of the Development Center when Domotz started up. Thus, The main office of Domotz is in Pisa. Di Crosta followed a career in software development and became a Project Manager at ION Trading, the creator of a financial trading software system. This helped him cross over into a specialization in financial software, which he exploited to get a Senior Vice President position at Jefferies & Company in London, where he worked on automated trading systems for two years. This was where he met Domenico Crapanzano. Being in at the beginning with Domot gave him the opportunity to move back to his hometown and he is still there today in the COO position at the Pisa Office. From May 2020 to January 2024, Di Crosta also acted as the CEO of Domotz. From March 2015 to February 2021, Di Crosta also ran his own IT consultancy.
• Lucio Russo, Founder and Chief Information Officer: Russo provided the networking expertise behind the Domotz product. However, he has never been committed to the business full-time. He is a consultant with an IT and networking consultancy, called Picotron, which is based in Pisa, and has been the CEO of that enterprise since January 2010. Russo has been working as a technical expert since July 1999. He has held a number of executive positions during his career but most of his background is in consultancy.
• Antonio Prugnoli, Chief Financial Officer: While not a founder at Domotz, Prugnoli is probably the only person other than Crapanzano who understands the complicated corporate structure of Domotz. He set up the company family tree and has been the sole Director of Kanova Group Limited since February 2020. He is from Viterbo, near Rome, and graduated from the Università degli Studi della Tuscia with a degree in Economics in 2005 and then studied for accountancy exams. He worked as an accountant in Rome until May 2013 when he moved to Ireland to work for Hertz. He rose through the ranks during his 5 years at Hertz. When he left that company in April 2018, he joined Fing and has been managing the finances of many of the operations of Domenico Crapanzano ever since.

Locations

Domotz has four offices:

• Draper, Utah, USA: The nominal HQ and home to the US sales and support team.
• Pisa, Italy: The main offices of the company, where development and corporate management take place.
• Dublin, Ireland: A sales and support center for Europe.
• Sofia, Bulgaria: A development center that focuses on the Web-based front end of the Domotz system.

Although the official story of Domotz is that it was set up in Draper, Utah, in truth, the company has been operating from Pisa all along. The legal seat of the company has been London, while the Sales storefront is based in Utah.

All the executives of the company work from home.

Domotz Target Market and Customer Base

Domotz primarily targets the following markets and customer segments:

1. Managed Service Providers (MSPs)

MSPs are a key customer base for Domotz. The platform helps these service providers monitor and manage multiple client networks remotely, offering features like:

• Real-time monitoring of devices and networks
• Alerts for network issues
• Remote troubleshooting and diagnostics
• Automated reporting for clients MSPs benefit from the platform’s ability to oversee large-scale, multi-site operations, helping them improve service delivery, reduce downtime, and enhance customer satisfaction.

2. IT Professionals and IT Departments

Domotz serves IT professionals who manage the infrastructure for businesses of all sizes. These customers use Domotz to:

• Monitor networks and devices in real-time
• Detect issues before they cause downtime
• Automate routine maintenance tasks
• Ensure network security and compliance
  Businesses, from small to large enterprises, benefit from Domotz’s scalable platform to maintain operational efficiency and network stability.

3. Custom Installers and Smart Home Integrators

Domotz targets custom installers who manage smart home automation systems. These professionals use the platform to remotely manage IoT devices, home networks, and connected technologies in residential environments. The platform is particularly useful for:

• Monitoring smart home devices like lighting, security systems, and AV setups
• Detecting and resolving issues before they affect homeowners
• Providing post-installation maintenance and support services, Domotz helps installers offer proactive customer service, allowing them to manage home systems efficiently.

4. Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs)

Domotz caters to SMBs that require network monitoring but may not have dedicated IT teams. The platform provides an easy-to-use solution for monitoring network health and device performance, offering businesses a cost-effective way to ensure network uptime and security without a large IT investment.

5. Commercial Buildings and Facilities

For commercial buildings, such as offices, hotels, or educational institutions, Domotz offers a solution to manage complex networks of IoT devices and connected systems. Facilities managers can use the platform to monitor building automation systems, ensuring that lighting, HVAC, and other critical systems are functioning properly.

Customer Base

Domotz’s customers range from small businesses and home automation integrators to enterprise-level MSPs and commercial facilities managers, making it a versatile platform for a wide variety of industries where network monitoring is essential.

Domotz Pro is the flagship product of Domotz, Inc., designed to provide comprehensive remote network monitoring and management for IT professionals, managed service providers (MSPs), and custom installers. Below is a detailed breakdown of Domotz Pro’s features and functionalities:

1. Real-Time Network Monitoring

Domotz Pro continuously monitors the status and performance of network devices, giving users real-time visibility into network health and activity.

• Device discovery
• Real-time alerts
• 24/7 monitoring

2. Network Topology Mapping

Domotz Pro features network topology mapping, a visual tool that displays how all devices are connected within the network.

• Auto-generated maps
• Device-level insights
• Interactive map data access

3. Remote Device Access and Management

Domotz Pro allows IT administrators to remotely access and manage network devices, reducing the need for on-site visits.

• Remote desktop and SSH access
• Web-based interfaces
• Power management

4. Custom Alerts & Notifications

Customizable alerts allow users to stay informed about network events based on specific triggers and thresholds.

• Custom parameters
• Alerts notifications via email, SMS, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zapier
• Device offline notifications

5. Automated Reporting

Automated reports help MSPs and IT professionals keep clients and team members informed about network performance and device activity.

• Scheduled reports
• Customizable reports
• PDF and CSV export

6. Security and Network Vulnerability Scanning

Domotz Pro includes a focus on network security, offering tools to detect and address vulnerabilities.

• Vulnerability scanning
• Open port detection
• SNMP monitoring (Simple Network Management Protocol)

7. Third-Party Integrations

Domotz Pro integrates with various popular platforms to improve workflow and productivity:

• ConnectWise Manage for ticketing
• Slack and Microsoft Teams for notifications
• Zapier for workload automation
• Public API enables developers to interface new apps to Domotz

8. Multi-Site and Multi-Network Management

Domotz Pro supports the monitoring and management of multiple networks across different locations from a single dashboard.

• Centralized management
• Cross-site reporting to consolidate the monitoring of multiple networks

9. Mobile Access

Domotz Pro offers mobile apps for both iOS and Android, giving users the ability to manage and monitor networks from anywhere.

• Push notifications
• Remote access to the system console

10. Remote Power and PoE Management

Domotz Pro includes tools for power management and Power over Ethernet (PoE) device control.

• Remote Reboots
• PoE On/Off control

11. Network Performance Metrics

Domotz Pro provides detailed metrics on the health and performance of networks, helping users maintain uptime and troubleshoot issues efficiently.

• Bandwidth monitoring
• Latency and packet loss
• Device health monitoring

Other Notable Products

The Domotz platform has only one product, which is the Domotz Pro system. However, the company offers a partner program, which has a number of benefits and can be regarded as a complementary product.

1.  Domotz Channel Partner Program

The Domotz Channel Partner Program is designed to empower IT service providers, MSPs, and resellers by offering them access to Domotz’s powerful remote monitoring and management platform. Through this program, partners can offer Domotz Pro as part of their own service portfolios, enhancing their ability to manage networks and provide proactive support to their clients.

Partners benefit from a scalable pricing model. This allows them to expand their services as they grow, and they gain access to priority technical support, training resources, and marketing materials to help promote Domotz solutions.

This program not only helps partners improve the service they deliver to their customers but also creates new revenue streams by offering network monitoring, security, and device management solutions. Domotz’s integrations with major IT management tools and platforms make it easy for partners to adopt and embed the service into their existing workflows, ensuring seamless deployment.

Through the Channel Partner Program, Domotz aims to build strong, long-term relationships with resellers and MSPs, helping them enhance their operational capabilities and customer satisfaction.

2. GlassWire

While not on the Domotz platform, GlassWire is a product of Domotz, Inc., delivered through a division of the company.

GlassWire is a network monitoring and security tool designed for both individual users and businesses. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows users to visualize and track their network activity in real-time.

One of its key features is the ability to monitor bandwidth usage, offering insights into which applications and devices are consuming data, making it particularly useful for users with limited internet plans. Additionally, GlassWire provides real-time alerts for unusual network behavior, helping users identify potential security threats, such as malware, unauthorized connections, or suspicious activity, making it a handy tool for enhancing network security.

GlassWire’s focus is more on personal network monitoring and basic security alerts rather than advanced enterprise-level solutions. It lacks some deeper remote management capabilities found in products designed for IT professionals and MSPs, such as Domotz. However, its easy-to-use interface, graphical insights, and customization options make it highly accessible for less technical users, while still providing valuable features like firewall management and historical data tracking.

GlassWire is a solid choice for individuals and small businesses looking for a simple yet effective tool to manage and secure their networks.

Major Competitors

Domotz faces competition from several network monitoring and management solutions, especially in the MSP and IT professional market. Here are some major competitors:

1. Auvik

A cloud-based network monitoring and management platform for Managed Service Providers and IT teams. Priced per device.

Features:

• Network discovery
• Real-time monitoring
• Network mapping
• Real-time alerts
• Configuration backup and restoration

Strength:

• Known for its deep network visibility
• SNMP device status monitoring
• Multi-vendor network support

Target Market:

• Managed Service Providers
• IT teams managing complex infrastructures

2. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor

All-in-one infrastructure and network monitoring tool. A choice of on-premises software or a SaaS platform on the cloud.

Features:

• Real-time monitoring for IT asset hardware
• Application monitoring
• Traffic analysis
• Real-time alerts

Strength:

• Highly customizable
• Sensor-based monitoring
• Integration with many third-party tools

Target Market:

• Enterprises and IT teams that require detailed monitoring of large and complex networks

3. LogicMonitor

A cloud-based infrastructure monitoring and observability platform. Offers units for monitoring on-premises infrastructure, cloud platforms, logs, and websites. Also provides an AI option.

Features:

• Infrastructure monitoring across networks, servers, cloud services, and applications
• Automated discovery
• Real-time alerts
• Customizable dashboards

Strength:

• Strong in multi-cloud and hybrid environments
• Integrations for cloud services like AWS and Azure

Target Market:

• Large enterprises
• Managed Service Providers
• IT teams with complex, hybrid infrastructures

4. NinjaOne (formerly NinjaRMM)

Unified endpoint management and network monitoring solution for MSPs. Designed to organize support teams and provide them with the tools to manage a site’s IT assets.

Features:

• Device monitoring
• Patch management
• Remote access
• Maintenance task automation
• Help desk ticketing

Strength:

• Efficiency gains through automation
• A multi-tenant version available for MSPs

Target Market:

• Managed Service Providers
• IT departments

5. SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM)

An on-premises scalable network performance monitoring package for large organizations. Installs on Windows Server.

Features:

• Network performance tracking
• Network discovery
• Network mapping
• Real-time alerts

Strength:

• In-depth network performance metrics
• Integration capabilities
• Scalability for large networks

Target Market:

• Large enterprises with extensive network infrastructures

6. ManageEngine OpManager

A comprehensive network and infrastructure monitoring tool. Provides automated monitoring and can be installed on cloud accounts.

Features:

• Real-time monitoring of networks, servers, and storage
• Fault management
• Network discovery
• Network mapping
• Custom dashboards

Strength:

• Status monitoring for both networks and servers
• A competitive price
• Deployment options – Windows Server, Linux, AWS, or Azure

Target Market:

• SMBs
• Larger enterprises, including multi-site operations

Spotlight Wrap-Up

Domotz has established itself as a significant player in the network monitoring and management industry. Since its founding in 2015, the company has made strategic moves, including opening new offices, relocating its headquarters to the United States, and acquiring key companies like Fing and GlassWire. Domotz’s growth and strategic initiatives highlight its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction in the network management space.