Optiv
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Information security services |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Denver , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Cybersecurity services and technology reselling |
| Owner | Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (majority), The Blackstone Group (minority) |
Optiv Security, Inc. ("Optiv") is a privately held company specializing in information security services and technology reselling, with its headquarters located in Denver, Colorado. Functioning as a solutions integrator, Optiv provides comprehensive cybersecurity services on a global scale.
Since its inception in 2015, Optiv has supported more than 7,500 customers in over 70 countries, dedicating its efforts solely to cybersecurity and risk management. The company collaborates with a vendor network that includes upwards of 800 providers of cybersecurity hardware and software.
In 2017, Optiv became part of the portfolio of the international investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR).
History
On November 5, 2014, two security companies, Accuvant and FishNet Security, revealed plans to merge and form a cybersecurity enterprise valued at $1.5 billion, offering extensive cyber defense capabilities. This merger was finalized on February 2, 2015, with Blackstone Group acquiring the majority ownership.
The unified organization announced its new name, Optiv Security, in April 2015 and officially introduced the brand during Black Hat USA in August of the same year.
In 2016, Optiv grew through acquisitions such as Advancive, Adaptive Communications, and selected assets from Evantix. That year also marked significant leadership appointments including a Chief Information Officer and a General Manager for Canada.
Although Optiv filed for an initial public offering in November 2016, it was instead acquired by KKR in February 2017. That year also saw Optiv broaden its international footprint by acquiring Toronto-based Conexsys and Pennsylvania-based Comm Solutions.
September 2017 brought notable additions to Optiv’s board of directors with industry veterans Dave DeWalt and General (Ret.) David Petraeus joining the company.
By mid-2018, Optiv established its headquarters within the newly developed 1144 Fifteenth Tower located in downtown Denver, becoming one of its anchor tenants.
In July 2019, Optiv inaugurated its Dallas Innovation and Fusion Center situated in Frisco, Texas. This 14,000 square-foot facility houses an Advanced Fusion Center that combines cybersecurity specialists with capabilities in data analytics, robotics, machine learning, intelligence gathering, and automation technologies.
April 2022 marked the launch of Privileged Access Management as-a-Service (PMaaS) by Optiv. By August 2022, the company had formed a partnership with Shared Services Canada to implement nationwide device authentication solutions.
Optiv further strengthened its federal government engagements through the acquisition of ClearShark in March 2023.
Services and solutions
Optiv provides a broad range of cybersecurity services and solutions tailored to organizations. These include strategic business planning, continuous monitoring and operational support, technology integration and deployment, along with defensive measures.
Their service offerings concentrate on several critical areas:
- Cyber Digital Transformation
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Strategy and Risk Management (SRM)
- Managed Security Operations (SecOps)
- Threat Management
- Architecture and Engineering
Ownership
The majority ownership of Optiv Security belongs to global investment firm KKR & Co, with minority stakes held by The Blackstone Group.
KKR maintains operations across 20 cities in 15 countries and is recognized as a premier private equity firm with approximately $610 billion in completed deals by mid-2019. Technology represents a fundamental investment focus for KKR within the Americas region.
Awards and recognitions
- Positioned within the top 10% of solution providers by revenue in the 2019 CRN Solution Provider 500 ranking.
- Featured as one of the leading pure-play cybersecurity firms globally by Cybersecurity Ventures in 2020.
- Honored as the premier pure-play security solutions integrator on The Channel Company's 2019 SP500 list for a third straight year.
- Awarded Frost & Sullivan's 2018 Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award for managed security services in North America.
- Included in the 2017 Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-expanding private enterprises across North America.