Cybersecurity Companies

The 5 most powerful cybersecurity companies:

Anyone who ever attended an RSA conference understands that cybersecurity vendors introduce hundreds of amazing, innovative products every year. But C-level execs aren’t looking for the flashiest new point products. Faced with a severe shortage of security professionals and up against rapidly evolving threats, CISOs are looking for strategic partners, advisory services, and vendors that offer broad platforms. They are also gravitating toward managed security services and cloud-based solutions.

Also, if the brightest minds in security are in agreement that adopting a Zero Trust security framework is the wave of the future, then enterprises will want to work with a vendor who can help bring them on that journey. With that in mind, here’s our list of 10 security companies that have made bold moves in the past year and have taken power positions within the cybersecurity community.

1. Microsoft:

Why they’re here: There was a time when Microsoft Security was an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp. But Microsoft realized that for its Azure cloud to be successful Microsoft had to up its security game. And it certainly has. Gartner has named Microsoft Security a leader in five key areas: cloud access security broker (CASB), access management, enterprise information archiving, unified endpoint management, and endpoint protection platforms.

Power moves: Acquired BlueTalon, a leading provider of unified data access control solutions for modern data platforms. Invested $1B in OpenAI, an artificial general intelligence (AGI) research lab.

By the numbers: $1B — the amount of money that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has pledged to invest in cybersecurity research and development annually.

Outlook: With Windows 10, Office 365 and Active Directory widely deployed, and with most companies having at least some applications and data on Microsoft’s Azure cloud, Microsoft has an opportunity to extend its already deep relationship with enterprise customers to encompass cybersecurity across a multi-cloud environment.

2. Accenture:

Why they’re here: In case you lost track of what happened to industry powerhouse Symantec, chipmaker Broadcom bought the company, minus its Norton Lifelock consumer business, for $10.7 billion, then sold the managed cybersecurity business to Accenture. The acquisition catapults Accenture into a power position in the rapidly growing MSSP market.

Power moves: In addition to the Symantec deal, Accenture has snapped up Deja vu Security, iDefense, Redcore, Magellan, Arismore, and FusionX as part of its commitment to investing in and innovating advanced threat intelligence and cybersecurity solutions.

By the numbers: $1.2 billion — the amount Accenture invested in 33 acquisitions globally in its 2019 fiscal year.

Outlook: Accenture focuses on preparing businesses against the most advanced cyber adversaries and reducing cyber-risk. It offers a wide variety of managed security services, including threat intelligence, application protection, incident response, advanced analytics, and intelligent automation. With the Symantec acquisition, Accenture gains Symantec’s broad customer base and technology expertise, as well as its six security operations centers.

3. VMware:

Why they’re here: Virtualization pioneer VMware isn’t the first vendor you think of when it comes to security. But VMware has been slowly increasing its security product portfolio over the last few years through acquisition and internal development. With the creation of a new security business unit, VMware has announced that it wants to play with the big boys.

Power moves: Acquired Carbon Black, a leader in cloud-based endpoint protection, and introduced a service-defined firewall that runs inside the hypervisor. 

By the numbers: $2.1B — the amount that VMware paid in cash for Carbon Black.

Outlook: VMware has an opportunity to leverage its longstanding customer relationships into a successful security platform offering, but it needs to integrate its acquisitions with its homegrown NSX micro-segmentation functionality and AppDefense security tool. And it needs to convince customers that it has the goods to help companies secure their VMs across hybrid cloud infrastructures.

4. Cisco:

Why they’re here: Networking giant Cisco has had some ups and downs over the years when it comes to executing on an enterprise security strategy, but today Cisco seems to be on the ascent, with a renewed emphasis on security and a strategy that puts the company at the forefront when it comes to emerging approaches like Zero Trust and cloud-based managed security. 

Power moves: Cisco bought Duo Security, which provides cloud-based unified access control and multi-factor authentication, for $2.35 billion.

By the numbers: 9% — the growth rate for Cisco’s cybersecurity business, according to the company’s latest earnings report. In fact, security was pretty much the only bright spot for Cisco, which reported total revenue down 4% and applications and infrastructure platforms down 8%.

Outlook: Cisco has a built-in advantage when dealing with enterprises looking to consolidate and simplify their vendor relationships and their portfolio of security and networking products. However, Cisco has to do a better job telling a clear security story. To that end, the company just announced a cloud-based security service dubbed SecureX that will let customers detect and remediate threats across Cisco and third-party products from a single interface.

5. McAfee:

Why they’re here: McAfee has certainly had its up and downs over the past few years: It was public, went private, then in 2019 considered an IPO, but changed its mind. Despite all that, McAfee has put together a broad cybersecurity platform that encompasses endpoint, edge, and cloud security.

Power moves Bought Light Point Security for browser-centric security. Bought cloud access security broker (CASB) vendor Skyhigh Networks.

By the numbers: $8 billion — McAfee’s estimated valuation last year when it was considering going public again.

Outlook: McAfee recently announced its cloud-native MVISION platform, which includes McAfee Secure Web Gateway, McAfee Data Loss Prevention, and MVISION Cloud (CASB). With this new platform, McAfee is taking a leadership position in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture, which aims to increase security and reduce the cost and complexity of modern cybersecurity.

Information is the oxygen of the modern age. It seeps through the walls topped by barbed wire, it wafts across the electrified borders.