Thursday, December 12, 2024

Rising Costs of Cyber Attacks Sparks Momentum in Cybersecurity M&A Activity

Date:

USA News Group Commentary

VANCOUVER – USA News Group – With costly attacks on the rise, the global cybersecurity market is projected to explode by ten times to between $1.5-2 trillion in the next few years, according to a report from McKinsey and Company. It’s a market that’s prime to explode, especially when the costs of cybercrime soaring to an alarming $8 trillion. The market potential is waking all sorts of tech giants into a flurry of cybersecurity M&A activity, including recent mega-deals such as the Accenture plc (NYSE:CAN) acquisition of Innotec Security, SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S) being set to acquire cybersecurity consulting firm Krebs Stamos Group, and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) set to acquire Talon Cyber Security. With each new M&A event, the spotlight turns to potential future targets, such as Integrated Cyber Solutions Inc. (CSE:ICS) and HUB Cyber Security Ltd. (NASDAQ:HUBC).

Since going public earlier this year, Integrated Cyber Solutions Inc. (CSE:ICS) has been building momentum. Their latest announcements include the introduction of new solutions catering to Small-to-Medium-Business (SMB) and Small-to-Medium Enterprise (SME) sectors and the significant customer renewal and expansion of services with a longstanding client in the power, renewables, and broader energy value chain sector.

Attacks on the energy sector have become more common place, and increasingly costly. For example, a cyberattack earlier this year on Canada’s Suncor Energy was projected to cost the company millions of dollars, according to experts.

With their latest customer renewal, Integrated Cyber initially began their relationship through their “land and expand” business model, by delivering Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services. Over the years since establishing the relationship, ICS has successfully improved the client’s security profile across multiple locations, while delivering value and growth alongside their clients.

In particular, the MDR process is part of a greater Managed Cyber Security Awareness and Training platform, utilizing the Proofpoint platform, which private equity firm Thoma Bravo acquired for $12.3 billion in 2021.

“While the cybersecurity companies targeting SMBs and SMEs are nascent, they already represent billions in revenue,” said Alan Guibord, CEO of Integrated Cyber Solutions. “With hundreds of thousands of targeted businesses in just the U.S. and Canada, this market yearns for premium services—akin to those enjoyed by large corporations—but at cost-effective prices.”

In the case of HUB Cyber Security Ltd. (NASDAQ:HUBC), the confidential computing cybersecurity solutions and services developer is now forecasting over $10 million in new contracts in 2024 from a key contract with a top US-based enterprise AI firm, Blackswan Technologies. Their strategic alliance is ushering in the commencement of a project in partnership with a globally renowned major banking group.

The major project together has led the two companies to explore the possibility of a potential merger. Together, the two companies are aiming to revolutionize the banking sector across various regulatory domains, by streamlining operations, reducing ownership costs, and eliminating the need for data lakes and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes. 

“Importantly, the collaboration’s scope extends beyond a single client, offering the potential for expansion and engagement of additional customers, including governments and large enterprises,” said Uzi Moskowitz, CEO of Hub Security. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation and reinforces our position as a leader in the confidential computing landscape.”

The surge in M&A activity in the cybersecurity space is gaining momentum, as evidenced by the recent acquisition of Innotec Security by Accenture plc (NYSE:CAN). Known as one of the most prominent cybersecurity service providers in the Spanish market, Innotec brings with it an additional 500 cybersecurity professionals to Accenture Security’s already large 20,000-professionals workforce.

Innotec Security is an excellent and well-regarded company in Spain with a highly skilled cybersecurity team, which will significantly enhance our security footprint in the market,” said Paolo Dal Cin, global lead of Accenture Security. “Importantly, this acquisition will also expand our regional capabilities and resources and help us address the growing demand we’re seeing for managed security services across Europe.”

According to Accenture’s Cyber-Resilient CEO report, 70% of CEOs in Spain from large organizations (revenues of more than US$1 billion) are concerned about their organizations’ ability to avert or minimize damage to the business from a cyberattack. Yet nearly two-thirds (63%) of CEOs said their organizations don’t incorporate cybersecurity into business strategies, services or products from the outset.

Two other acquisitions announced that are set to take place are from SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S) and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) respectively.

In the case of SentinelOne, the cybersecurity giant said it is acquiring advisory firm Krebs Stamos Group in a move towards creating a new entity called PinnacleOne Strategic Advisory Group.

PinnacleOne is a direct response to our customers increasingly asking for help in solving big picture security challenges, and expands our ability to assist private sector enterprises and public sector organizations in securing the future,” said Eran Ashkenazi, Chief Customer Officer, SentinelOne. “Our partners will also benefit from tapping into this expertise to complement the services they offer to their most high-profile clients.”

As per the statement, PinnacleOne will function as a strategic advisory firm and a readily available think tank. Their primary objective is to assist clients in comprehending their potential adversaries, their motives, assessing their digital presence, evaluating the robustness of their security measures, and determining the necessary actions to fulfill their security obligations. Additionally, PinnacleOne offers guidance to executives in navigating the constantly changing regulatory landscape and developing effective security strategies that empower them to thrive in today’s ever-changing threat landscape.

For Palo Alto Networks, the world’s cybersecurity leader announced its intent to acquire start-up Talon Cyber Security, a pioneer of Enterprise Browser technology. Key to the deal, Talon’s Enterprise Browser provides an innovative, cutting-edge solution, which when combined with Palo Alto’s Prisma SASE, will enable users to securely access business applications from any device, including mobile and other non-corporate devices, while delivering seamless user experiences.

Talon enables organizations to secure all work activity via an Enterprise Browser, without touching the personal usage of the device or impacting user privacy,” said Lee Klarich, Chief Product Officer for Palo Alto Networks. “Integrating Talon with Prisma SASE will enable Palo Alto Networks to securely connect all users and devices to all applications, including private applications, and apply consistent security no matter who the user is and what device they use for work.”

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. (“MIQ”). MIQ has been paid a fee for Integrated Cyber Solutions Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares of Integrated Cyber Solutions Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Integrated Cyber Solutions Inc.  which were purchased in the open market, and reserve the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares Integrated Cyber Solutions Inc. at any time without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, we currently own shares of Integrated Cyber Solutions Inc.  and will buy and sell shares of the company in the open market, or through private placements, and/or other investment vehicles.

While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between the any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.

Posted on Behalf of Integrated Cyber

Bob Beaty
+ posts

For over 30 years, Bob Beaty has been explaining concepts and companies to the global investment community. One of the original writers for Jim Cramer’s Thestreet.com, he also wrote for AOL (Can/US), the Globe and Mail, and the Huffington Post. Over that period, he illuminated small-cap companies to investors with wit and pith but mostly opinion and facts. Investing should be fun. Pedantic, staid content is no fun.

Before embarking on his writing career, Bob had a successful international journey in the finance industry. He served as a broker, derivatives product manager, and a Director of London's Credit Suisse subsidiary. His career spanned across major financial hubs including Toronto, Vancouver, and the UK, giving him a unique global perspective. (He is still fondly remembering those English client lunches.)

Other than everything Groucho Marx and George Carlin ever said, Bob lives by a simple credo;

‘Never do anything the person standing in front of you can't understand.’ Hunter S. Thompson.

Let’s go.

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