The top 10 cybersecurity companies in the U.S.
The landscape of cybersecurity has changed dramatically since ARPANET’s infamous Creeper and Reaper malware attacks in the 1970s. Statista recently predicted that the revenue in the cybersecurity market is on its way to a soaring $185.70 billion.
As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the industry’s primary focus is on safeguarding people, companies, and governments and their digitally stored information. The next wave of cybersecurity experts is being trained to protect your information from hackers, incidents, and leaks.
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Tech giants like Apple, MasterCard, and Meta each wield access to mountains of vulnerable data. You might’ve encountered one of these behemoths asking for your information, whether it be your email address or a physical one, credit card information, or social security number. But the question remains: Which cybersecurity companies actually pull the most weight, directly focusing on the security of your information?
Whether you’re gearing up for a career switch or getting started in the cybersecurity industry, you’ll want to know the significant players protecting your data, where they’re located, their origins, services, offered certifications, and job availability.
The top 10 cybersecurity companies in the U.S.
To determine the top companies, we analyzed the latest stock filings and determined which had the largest market capitalization.
Market cap—or market capitalization—results from multiplying the price of a company’s stocks and the total number of purchased shares, giving an idea of its relative size and value.
The following organizations are the definitive American heavyweights, with some playing a significant role in global security. Each pushes the tech boundaries of protecting information systems, networks, devices, and data. It’s worth noting that market cap prices fluctuate daily.
| Company | Ticker | *Market cap (Billions) |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Systems | CSCO | $226.51 B |
| Palo Alto Networks | PANW | $122.04 B |
| CrowdStrike | CRWD | $75.92 B |
| Fortinet | FTNT | $63.38 B |
| Cloudflare | NET | $30.77 B |
| Zscaler | ZS | $28.75 B |
| Leidos | LDOS | $22.84 B |
| Check Point Software | CHKP | $22.61 B |
| Gen Digital | GEN | $16.65 B |
| Akamai Technologies | AKAM | $16.17 B |
| *All company valuations in this article are accurate as of October 21, 2024. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Systems | ||
| CSCO | ||
| $226.51 B | ||
| Palo Alto Networks | ||
| PANW | ||
| $122.04 B | ||
| CrowdStrike | ||
| CRWD | ||
| $75.92 B | ||
| Fortinet | ||
| FTNT | ||
| $63.38 B | ||
| Cloudflare | ||
| NET | ||
| $30.77 B | ||
| Zscaler | ||
| ZS | ||
| $28.75 B | ||
| Leidos | ||
| LDOS | ||
| $22.84 B | ||
| Check Point Software | ||
| CHKP | ||
| $22.61 B | ||
| Gen Digital | ||
| GEN | ||
| $16.65 B | ||
| Akamai Technologies | ||
| AKAM | ||
| $16.17 B | ||
1. Cisco Systems
Market capitalization: $226.51 billion*
Ticker symbol: CSCO
Headquarters: San Jose, CA
Origins: Cisco Systems was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, a now-divorced couple who worked as computer operations staff members at Stanford University. In school, they developed a technology to connect distant computer networks, which became the foundation for their first product.
Overview: While primarily known for its networking hardware, Cisco offers an industry-leading portfolio of technology innovations in security, firewalls, secure access service edge (SASE), zero trust, and threat intelligence. The company provides security services across many sectors, with entities including the State of Hawaii, Marriott International, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and the NFL.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: Yes
Hiring: Yes
2. Palo Alto Networks
Market capitalization: $122.04 billion*
Ticker symbol: PANW
Headquarters: Santa Clara, CA
Origins: The company was founded in 2005 by Nir Zuk, a former Check Point engineer. It started gaining traction in 2011 when Gartner listed it as an emerging leader in its Magic Quadrant for Network Firewalls. Palo Alto Networks debuted on the New York Stock Exchange the following year, raising more than $260 million with its initial public offering—the fourth-largest tech IPO of the year. Nikesh Arora assumed the role of Chairman and CEO in 2018.
Overview: The Palo Alto Networks platform includes advanced firewalls and cloud-based offerings, which extend protection to various security domains. Since its start, the company claims it has thwarted more than 8 billion cyber attacks.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: Yes
Hiring: Yes
3. CrowdStrike
Market capitalization: $75.92 billion*
Ticker symbol: CRWD
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Origins: CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm, was conceived in 2011 by former McAfee EVP George Kurtz and came on the scene in 2012 with incident response services. Later, in 2013, the company released its flagship product, Falcon, which is made for endpoint protection and threat intelligence. Under Kurtz’s leadership as CEO, the company has assisted the U.S. Department of Justice and corporations such as Sony Pictures in resolving numerous high-profile cyber-espionage incidents.
Overview: CrowdStrike, a leading cloud-based endpoint and workload protection provider, offers integrated antivirus solutions alongside robust threat intelligence and incident response capabilities. HR companies such as BIPO, financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, and local governments, including the City of Las Vegas, rely on CrowdStrike to safeguard their critical systems. The company also publishes an annual global threat report.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: Yes
Hiring: Yes
4. Fortinet
Market capitalization: $63.38 billion*
Ticker symbol: FTNT
Headquarters: Sunnyvale, CA
Origins: Brothers Ken and Michael Xie founded the “fortified network” company in 2000 with the aim of building the highest-performing network security fabric, helping organizations protect their data from malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. Fortinet had its initial public offering in 2009, selling shares at $1.25 on a split-adjusted basis (a 2-for-1 stock split in June 2011 and the 5-for-1 stock split in June 2022).
Overview: The company’s security solutions range from hardware like routers and access points to its flagship FortiGate firewall, cloud-based Security Fabric, and FortiClient VPN. Fortinet protects the networks and data at organizations like IHG Hotels and Resorts, Jersey Mike’s, and Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: Yes
Hiring: Yes
5. Cloudflare
Market capitalization: $30.77 billion*
Ticker symbol: NET
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Origins: Cloudflare, established in 2004 by current CEO Matthew Prince and Lead Engineer Lee Holloway, initially embarked on a mission to trace the origins of email spam through Project Honey Pot. This project monitored how spammers harvested email addresses from websites. However, it wasn’t until Prince’s tenure at Harvard Business School in 2009, where he crossed paths with Michelle Zatlyn, now COO, that the business model pivoted toward identifying, blocking, and firewalling cyber threats. Cloudflare debuted in 2019, trading shares at $15 each.
Overview: Cloudflare, a global server network, is designed to enhance performance and provide security for websites of all sizes, from small businesses to high-traffic platforms. Its suite of services includes server-side encryption (SSE), application and infrastructure optimization, developer tools, and IT insights.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: No
Hiring: Yes
6. Zscaler
Market capitalization: $28.75 billion*
Ticker symbol: ZS
Headquarters: San Jose, CA
Origins: Established in 2007 by Jay Chaudhry, a man whose humble beginnings trace back to a village devoid of running water, Zscaler was built on the principle of “Zero Trust Security.” This concept mirrors a nightclub bouncer’s job of granting access to people only after thorough authentication and verification.
Overview: The firm boasts the world’s most expansive security cloud, with over 150 data centers scattered worldwide. Its Zero Trust Exchange encompasses three key services: Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA), a conduit for secure user connectivity on the public internet; Zscaler Private Access (ZPA), a shield for enterprise-wide internal applications; and Zscaler Digital Experience (ZDX), a network monitoring tool adept at identifying user experience and productivity challenges.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: Yes
Hiring: Yes
7. Leidos
Market capitalization: $22.84 billion*
Ticker symbol: LDOS
Headquarters: Reston, VA
Origins: Leidos traces its roots back to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), founded in 1969 by nuclear physicist J. Robert Beyster in La Jolla, California. In 2013, SAIC underwent significant changes, splitting into two companies, with Leidos emerging as the larger entity focused on national security, health, and engineering.
Overview: Leidos’ spectrum of cyber solutions includes offensive, defensive, and cyber-physical systems, operating in areas such as zero trust and quantum cryptography. Its most prominent partner is the U.S. government, namely the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: No
Hiring: Yes
8. Check Point Software
Market capitalization: $22.61 billion*
Ticker symbol: CHKP
Headquarters: San Carlos, CA
Origins: Check Point was founded in 1993 by Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht, and Shlomo Kramer in Israel, with Shwed conceiving the company’s core technology while serving in the Israeli Defense Forces’ Unit 8200. The company is also headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Overview: Check Point is a multinational provider of software and combined hardware and software products for IT security, including network security, endpoint security, cloud security, mobile security, data security, and security management. It’s Check Point Infinity is an AI-powered cybersecurity platform designed to prevent attacks and threats at faster-than-normal response times.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: Yes
Hiring: Yes
9. Gen Digital
Market capitalization: $16.65 billion*
Ticker symbol: GEN
Headquarters: Tempe, AZ
Origins: Gen Digital emerged from a complex history of mergers and acquisitions. It traces its roots to Symantec, founded in 1982 by Gary Hendrix. In 2019, Symantec sold its enterprise business to Broadcom and rebranded as Norton LifeLock. The company then merged with Czech cybersecurity firm Avast in a $8.6 billion deal in 2022.
Overview: Gen Digital is known for its consumer cybersecurity and digital safety solutions. These include flagship antivirus products such as Norton 360, Avast, and CCleaner.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: No
Hiring: Yes
10. Akamai Technologies
Market capitalization: $16.17 billion*
Ticker symbol: AKAM
Headquarters: Cambridge, MA
Origins: Akamai Technologies was established in 1998 by Dr. Tom Leighton, an MIT professor, and his graduate student Danny Lewin, along with Jonathan Seelig, Preetish Nijhawan, and Randall Kaplan. In 2013, with more than 50 patents under his belt, Leighton took on the role of CEO and played a key role in transitioning the company from an early internet content delivery network to a comprehensive platform offering cybersecurity and cloud computing services.
Overview: Akamai now earns about two-thirds of its revenue from security and cloud computing solutions. The company recently launched the Guardicore Platform, integrating zero-trust network access and micro-segmentation with AI capabilities. Akamai also acquired Noname Security for $450 million to enhance its API security offerings. These moves reflect Akamai’s ongoing transformation from a content delivery network to a comprehensive cloud and security company.
Offers cybersecurity-related certifications: No
Hiring: Yes
Other notable cybersecurity companies in the U.S.
The list of cybersecurity companies below is arranged alphabetically. It includes other notable names, each contributing significantly to the growth and development of the cybersecurity industry.
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