Meta

5 Cybersecurity Companies to Know

Cybersecurity is experiencing rapid industry growth, and it’s not slowing down. The International Data Corporation projected that worldwide spending on security-related hardware, software, and services will reach $103.1 billion in 2019, which is a 9.4% increase over 2018.

That pace is expected to continue “for the next several years” as a multitude of industries rev up budgets to meet various threats and requirements.

As you might expect, that growth translates into opportunities for cybersecurity professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysis is projected to increase 28% by 2026, which is greater than any other computer and information technology occupation. The median annual wage for information analysts is $98,350.

If you’d like to explore a future in cybersecurity, you may be wondering where you can work. The reality is that employers vary widely. From brand new cybersecurity startups to the largest cybersecurity companies that earn billions each year, there’s no standard organization that employs cybersecurity professionals.

Take a look at the following list of cybersecurity companies to get a taste of where you could pursue a career. You can also use these companies to track advances and developments in the field.

5 Noteworthy Cybersecurity Companies

Here are some cybersecurity companies that you should know.

1.    Cisco

Cisco is a technology conglomerate traditionally known for networking hardware and software. However, the company, which reported revenue of nearly $50 billion in 2018, has made major strides in becoming a cybersecurity leader.

In August of 2018, TechCrunch announced that Cisco was planning to purchase Duo Security for $2.35 billion in cash. “The acquisition feels like a good fit for Cisco,” the report added. “Duo’s security apparatus lets employees use their own device for adaptive authentication. Instead of issuing key fobs with security codes, Duo’s solution works securely with any device.” It noted how Duo Security was the latest in a string of security-based acquisitions, including OpenDNS, Sourcefire, and Cloudlock.

Those moves have paid off. In the third quarter of 2019, according to CNBC, Cisco’s security business segment had a revenue of $707 million, good for a 21% increase from the previous quarter. Cisco offers a complete line of security products and services, with entries in malware protection, firewalls, intrusion prevention, email security, analytics, and more.

2.    McAfee

McAfee is a security company that specializes in software solutions. Its products and services touch 97 million enterprise endpoints and 525 million consumer endpoints, according to the company. Eighty percent of Fortune 100 firms use McAfee.

McAfee is a privately held company, so current revenue figures aren’t available. Management consultant and author Peter Cohan estimated in Forbes that McAfee earned $2.5 billion in 2017. That makes it a considerably smaller organization than a company like Cisco. However, of course, Cisco doesn’t exclusively work in cybersecurity. Cisco also has about 10 times more employees than the 7,000 who work for McAfee.

McAfee offers enterprise and consumer solutions that help protect home users, small and large businesses, and government agencies, among others. The company’s acquisition of Skyhigh Networks in early January helped McAfee take the next step in one of their primary security objectives: cloud security. Cohan added that analytics, data science, and deep learning are other areas that will contribute to McAfee’s future growth.

3.    Symantec

Symantec is one of the largest cybersecurity companies to qualify as a “pure play” firm. That means that it solely focuses on cybersecurity, as opposed to larger companies that have cybersecurity divisions, like Cisco, Microsoft, and Intel.

Symantec reported nearly $5 billion in revenue for 2019. The company’s website noted that it has more than 11,000 employees in more than 35 countries. Symantec blocks 142 million threats daily and protects 86% of the Fortune Global 500. Overall, about 300,000 businesses depend on its products and services.

Enterprise offerings include Symantec’s Integrated Cyber Defense Platform, which spans a complete portfolio for protecting cloud and on-premises environments. On the consumer security side, Symantec protects information, devices, networks, and identities through its flagship brands, Norton and LifeLock.

4.    Darktrace

Darktrace is a cybersecurity company that specializes in artificial intelligence (AI). It was founded in 2013 by mathematicians from the University of Cambridge, along with government experts in cyber intelligence. The company’s website noted that it has more than 800 employees across 40 offices globally.

The original idea behind Darktrace was to use machines to defend against machine-based cyberattacks. In an interview with CNBC, Nicole Eagan, co-founder and CEO of Darktrace, described the current “cyberarms race.” “We’re going to see attackers beef up their mathematical and artificial intelligence algorithms and we’re going to see the defenders doing the same,” she said. “And this is going to probably continue on for some period of time — we expect actually that’s going to get worse before it gets better.”

In September 2018, Darktrace raised $50 million at a $1.65 billion valuation in a series of funding. Once noted as one of the most promising cybersecurity startups, Darktrace has earned plenty of accolades as an emerging and innovative cybersecurity company. It claims to be the first to use AI to cyber defense, and since the company’s founding in 2013, several other competitors have followed suit.

5.    Zeguro

Zeguro is a cybersecurity startup based in San Francisco. According to the startup’s LinkedIn page, Zeguro employs 11 to 50 employees.

In November 2018, Zeguro secured $5 million of seed funding to launch its Cyber Security Platform. The software as a service platform helps companies “monitor their risks, train employees, and quickly recover from cyber attacks,” Sidd Gavirneni, CEO of Zeguro, said in a press release. “Our platform also empowers SMB’s with turnkey – and critical – answers to the ‘so what?’ once potential vulnerabilities have been identified.” Those answers include preventative services and customized cyber insurance plans. Zeguro’s products and services are targeted toward small- and medium-sized businesses that can benefit from a full suite of risk management services and protection.

You can discover security to protect your databases in an introductory course before learning about networking technologies, database development, project management, finance, and more by earning a master’s in information systems online.

River University’s program is offered 100% online and features experienced faculty members who are practitioners in their fields. Multiple start dates and rolling admissions enable you to get started as soon as possible, so you can achieve your educational goals quickly.