Until about three years ago, I knew very little about cybersecurity. Since then, it has become impossible to ignore as the conversation around it has grown louder, more urgent, and more sophisticated. In today’s digital world, cybersecurity has evolved into an adaptive, mission-critical service that safeguards the essential systems we all rely on: banks, hospitals, utilities, schools, and ports. Whether we realize it or not, cybersecurity now underpins nearly every aspect of modern life.
Having worked in the field, I can say with confidence that the future is bright and increasingly strategic. Cyber breaches undermining infrastructure and supply chains have shown that cybersecurity is fundamental not only to operations but also to economic continuity and market stability.
Private equity general partners have taken notice. GPs now recognize that cybersecurity plays a vital role in protecting critical infrastructure, fostering supply-chain resiliency, and bolstering job and national security simultaneously. That understanding has fueled a vigorous wave of consolidation across the sector as firms seek to meticulously construct comprehensive, next-generation cybersecurity platforms.
Legislative Tailwinds
Federal policy has reinforced the momentum. The Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA, 2022), Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act (2022), and Executive Order 14028, “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity” (2021) have established baseline expectations around incident reporting, zero-trust architecture, and software supply chain security. The Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA, updated 2024) and SEC Cybersecurity Rules (Reg S-P Amendments, 2024) extend those standards across government and financial institutions, embedding cybersecurity into enterprise governance and capital allocation.
Why It’s Hot
Cybersecurity now spans the full private markets spectrum, from venture-backed OT and IoT innovators to large-cap PE-backed global security platforms. Its combination of recurring revenue, regulatory tailwinds, and a fragmented vendor landscape makes it an ideal roll-up and platform-building opportunity.
Why GPs Should Care
Limited partners increasingly favor managers who can articulate a platformization thesis in cybersecurity, integrating specialized providers into scalable, value-accretive platforms. With private credit markets tightening, cybersecurity’s high-visibility ARR and durable demand profile make financing more attainable. Strategic exits to hyperscalers, defense integrators, and large-cap sponsors continue to validate the sector’s long-term potential.
Future Tailwinds
Looking ahead, several factors are set to further accelerate cybersecurity investment:
- Pending and emerging legislation such as CIRCIA implementation rules and potential updates to FISMA and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act will expand mandatory compliance and reporting obligations.
- State-level privacy and cybersecurity regulations, including California’s CPRA and New York’s Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) cyber rules, are pushing enterprises toward standardized frameworks and continuous monitoring.
- Agency-driven mandates from CISA, the SEC, and the Department of Health and Human Services are shaping cybersecurity requirements for critical infrastructure and regulated industries.
- Economic and technology trends, including AI adoption, data center growth, and digital supply chain dependencies, are increasing attack surfaces and reinforcing cybersecurity as a non-discretionary budget line item.
- Rising frequency and cost of breaches, particularly in healthcare, education, and manufacturing, are driving demand for integrated threat detection, response, and recovery solutions.
Collectively, these dynamics point to a durable and expanding market where private equity firms can continue to play a central role in building scaled, resilient cybersecurity platforms that define the next phase of digital defense and infrastructure protection.
To see how Dakota Marketplace helps private equity firms source, evaluate, and build differentiated cybersecurity platforms, book a demo of Dakota Marketplace today.
