SK Shielders

What SK Shielders does

SK Shielders (legal name: SK Shieldus Co., Ltd.; 에스케이쉴더스 주식회사) is South Korea's largest cybersecurity and physical security company, headquartered in Pangyo, Seongnam. The company operates a dual-brand portfolio: under the SK Shieldus master brand it delivers AI-powered cybersecurity services through the Secudium monitoring and MDR platform, supported by the EQST white hat hacker group (~200 specialists, ~70% domestic penetration testing share), the Top-CERT incident response team (1,000+ cases handled), the SK CyberGuard subscription service for SMEs, and the KARA anti-ransomware alliance. Under the ADT Caps brand, it provides physical guarding, AI-powered CCTV/SVMS safety monitoring, senior digital care, and the CapsHome smart home platform. The combined organization serves 10,000+ customers including Korean public institutions, large enterprises, SMEs, ~360 universities, and residential consumers, and is recognized as a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape Asia Pacific MDR 2025 assessment.

The company monetizes through a hybrid model combining managed services contracts (cybersecurity monitoring, incident response, OT security, consulting), modular SME subscriptions priced from KRW 1,650 to KRW 220,000 per month, custom-priced enterprise engagements, and consumer/residential physical security services. Proprietary technology is the primary differentiator: Secudium (AI SIEM + SOAR platform), AI CCTV (Korea's first private-sector TTA-certified video processing device), QuITE AI (irregular attack flow analysis, ICML 2026 accepted), and the Agentic SOC framework. The company is PE-owned by EQT Korea Infrastructure (acquired 2026-02) and previously acquired SecuLayer in December 2024. Founded in 1971 and now employing 5,001–10,000, SK Shielders combines full-cycle security capabilities from prevention through recovery with the largest security talent pool in the Korean market.

Name

SK Shielders

Legal name

에스케이쉴더스 주식회사 (SK Shieldus Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://skshieldus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

SK Shielders is Korea's #1 cybersecurity and physical security provider, operating the AI-powered Secudium MDR platform, EQST penetration testing team, Top-CERT incident response, ADT Caps guarding, and CyberGuard SME subscriptions across 10,000+ enterprise, government, SME, and consumer customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services (56161)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive/Board Security Advisory & Risk Briefings (BPAKADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Security Guarding (Static Posts) (HSAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity services
• Managed detection response
• Penetration testing
• Physical security services
• OT security consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cybersecurity Services: Full-cycle cybersecurity services including security monitoring (on-site dispatch, remote, hybrid), penetration testing, incident response, compliance consulting, zero-trust, cloud security, and OT security. Provided to public institutions, large enterprises, and SMEs on subscription and project-based models.
2. Subscription-based SME Cybersecurity (CyberGuard): Monthly subscription security service for SMEs offering PC security, network security, and hacking incident response. Offered as modular plans that can be selected based on company environment and scaled as needed.
3. Physical Security Services (ADT Caps): Physical security services under the ADT Caps brand including guard services, remote video monitoring (SVMS), safety monitoring, and integrated security solutions for commercial and residential properties.
4. AI-powered Life Safety Services: AI-based life safety and care services extending beyond traditional physical security, including senior care, home security (CapsHome), and digital caregiving services leveraging AI and smart home integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SK Shielders provides full-cycle cybersecurity services (security monitoring/MDR, penetration testing, incident response, compliance consulting, zero-trust, cloud security, OT/ICS security) and physical security services (guarding, AI-powered video monitoring, senior care, home security) under the SK Shielders, Secudium, EQST, Top-CERT, SK CyberGuard, ADT Caps, and CapsHome brands. The company primarily delivers managed services to Korean public institutions, large enterprises, SMEs, and residential customers, supported by proprietary AI platforms and the nation's largest pool of security professionals.

Product overview

SK Shielders (SK쉴더스) is Korea's #1 cybersecurity company operating a dual-brand portfolio combining cybersecurity and physical security. In cybersecurity, the core platform is Secudium — an AI-powered monitoring and MDR platform — complemented by the SK CyberGuard subscription service for SMEs, and specialized teams EQST (white hat hackers/penetration testing) and Top-CERT (incident response/forensics). The company also co-founded and leads KARA (Korea Anti-Ransomware Alliance), the country's only private ransomware response council. In physical security, the ADT Caps brand offers on-site guarding and AI-powered CCTV monitoring, while the CapsHome app extends services into digital senior care and smart home security. The cybersecurity services span full-cycle offerings: SME security (subscription), penetration testing, security monitoring (on-site, remote, hybrid/MDR), incident response, compliance consulting, zero-trust security, cloud security, and OT security.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ADT캡스 (ADT Caps): Physical security brand of SK Shieldus offering guard services, remote video monitoring, AI-powered safety monitoring, senior care, and home security services.
• Secudium
• EQST (이큐스트)
• Top-CERT (탑서트)
• SK 사이버가드 (SK CyberGuard)
• 캡스홈 (Caps Home)

Products and services

• Secudium (시큐디움) AI-powered security control and monitoring platform providing 24x365 real-time threat detection, Managed Detection and Response (MDR), forensic analysis, and incident response through automated SOAR workflows. Powers security operations for over 3,000 customer accounts in Korea.
• SK CyberGuard (SK 사이버가드) Subscription-based cybersecurity service for SMEs offering modular plans covering PC security (antivirus, ransomware blocking, DLP, DRM, blueprint encryption), network security (UTM for 50-100 devices), secure internal messaging, working hours management, and hacking incident response. Monthly plans range from KRW 1,650 to KRW 220,000 per month.
• EQST Penetration Testing Service (이퀘스트) Penetration testing, vulnerability diagnosis, AI/LLM vulnerability assessment, red teaming, and threat intelligence research delivered by approximately 200 white hat hackers. Holds approximately 70% domestic market share in penetration testing and reports an average of 10 zero-day vulnerabilities annually.
• Top-CERT Incident Response Service (탑서트) Incident response and forensic analysis team specializing in APT attacks, ransomware forensics, digital forensics, malware analysis, and breach investigation. Has handled over 1,000 hacking incident cases using proprietary forensic equipment.
• ADT Caps Physical Security Service (ADT캡스) Physical security brand offering on-site guard services, AI-powered Safety Video Monitoring System (SVMS), EV charging station fire detection, senior care digital services, and home security integration. Ranked 2nd in Korea's NCSI advanced security and guard service sector.
• CapsHome Home Security & Care App (캡스홈) Home security and digital care mobile app providing family location sharing, senior care monitoring, AED services, and smart home integration for residential customers and families.
• Agentic SOC Next-generation AI-driven security operations framework combining AI analysis with automated response capabilities for enterprise security operations centers, building on the Secudium platform.
• AI CCTV System AI-powered CCTV system with computer vision capabilities for detecting intrusions, loitering, falls, and other abnormal situations. Korea's first TTA-certified private-sector video information processing device.
• Zero-Trust Security Service Integrated zero-trust security service covering architecture design (SI/consulting), solution deployment, and distribution for enterprise customers.
• Cloud Security Service Integrated cloud security service aligned to standard frameworks across multiple CSP environments, covering consulting, solutions, operations, and monitoring.
• OT/ICS Security Service Industrial-tailored OT security service covering OT security assessment, consulting, solutions, and national critical technology/regulatory compliance consulting, with non-disruptive deployment for manufacturing environments.
• Security Consulting Service Compliance and security consulting service covering ISMS-P, ISO 27001, personal information protection, and zero-trust architecture, delivered by approximately 200 consulting professionals.
• TodakTodak (토닥토닥) AI Lifestyle Safety Service AI-based lifestyle safety and emergency response service providing AI-driven emergency response guidance for childcare and other daily living situations, built on the Databricks AI platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• SMEs accounted for 89.4% of ransomware attack reports in South Korea between 2021-2025, with average of 106.1 days to launch formal investigations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship and core.

• Korea Education and Information FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Three-way MOU signed with SK Shielders and Escape Solution to strengthen cybersecurity at approximately 360 member universities across South Korea. The partnership deploys SK Shielders' AI-based Secudium security control center for 24/7 monitoring, along with MDR, attack surface management, penetration testing, and security consulting services tailored to university environments. The three organizations plan to build a cooperation system for threat intelligence sharing and security policy establishment.
• Escape SolutionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Three-way MOU signed with SK Shielders and Korea Education and Information Foundation to strengthen cybersecurity at approximately 360 member universities. Escape Solution contributes its expertise to the joint initiative for threat intelligence sharing and security policy establishment across South Korean universities.
• NHN WalkpilotmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Partnership with NHN Walkpilot to strengthen senior digital care services, combining SK Shielders' physical security monitoring and dispatch infrastructure with NHN Walkpilot's AI and smart home technology. SK Shielders participates in the Ministry of Welfare's 'AX Sprint' smart home project, integrating physical security monitoring and dispatch capabilities with AI technology. Plans to enhance 'CapsHome' service with caregiving features and expand into life-safety care services.
• TUV SUD KoreamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026MOU signed on March 26, 2026 to strengthen OT/ICS security compliance for Korean companies expanding overseas. SK Shielders provides OT security assessments and consulting while TUV SUD Korea handles testing, audits, and certification aligned with global standards such as IEC 62443. The collaboration addresses rising security requirements driven by EU Cyber Resilience Act, NIS2, and NERC-CIP regulations, with plans for joint certification business and expanded cooperation through joint marketing.
• Korea Baseball Organization (KBO)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 February 2026ADT Caps, SK Shielders' physical security brand, signed official 2026 KBO League sponsorship contract on February 24th. The partnership features daily 'Caps Play' content showcasing key defensive plays, monthly awards for outstanding defensive players, and an annual '2026 ADT Caps KBO Defensive Award' presented to nine players. ADT Caps also gains virtual advertising visibility during broadcasts and at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, leveraging the league's record 12 million spectators in 2024.
• KARA (Korea Anti-Ransomware Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSK Shielders is the sole domestic operator of KARA, Korea's only private ransomware response council. KARA collaborates with global security companies, law firms, cyber insurance providers, and government agencies to provide pre-diagnosis, incident analysis, recovery, and prevention services for ransomware attacks. SK Shielders coordinates the alliance's collaborative response to ransomware threats.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AhnLab: AhnLab is South Korea's most established publicly traded cybersecurity company, offering antivirus, endpoint security, and enterprise security products. It is the closest direct domestic peer to SK Shielders in the Korean cybersecurity market and a key competitor for enterprise and government contracts.
• Secui: Secui is a Korean network security and firewall specialist serving enterprises and public institutions. It competes with SK Shielders in network security and managed security services for Korean enterprises.
• IGLOO Security: IGLOO Security is a Korean cybersecurity vendor focused on threat intelligence and security analytics. It overlaps with SK Shielders' penetration testing, threat intelligence (EQST), and incident response offerings in the domestic market.

Broad incumbents

• CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike is the global MDR and endpoint security leader, widely regarded as the dominant Western player in managed detection and response. SK Shielders' Secudium MDR platform directly competes with CrowdStrike Falcon in the broader APAC MDR market where IDC ranks SK Shielders as a Major Player.
• Palo Alto Networks: Palo Alto Networks is a global cybersecurity platform spanning network, cloud, and SOC. SK Shielders' zero-trust, cloud security, and MDR services compete broadly with Palo Alto's Cortex and Prisma offerings across enterprise accounts.
• Trend Micro: Trend Micro is a Japan-headquartered global cybersecurity vendor with strong APAC presence. It serves Japanese and broader APAC enterprise customers that overlap with SK Shielders' planned geographic expansion.
• Check Point Software Technologies: Check Point is a global cybersecurity vendor specializing in network security, endpoint, and cloud. Its enterprise/government customer base overlaps with SK Shielders' enterprise business in regulated industries.
• Mandiant (Google Cloud): Mandiant, now part of Google Cloud, is a global incident response and threat intelligence leader. Its Top-CERT-equivalent offering competes with SK Shielders' Top-CERT for cross-border breach investigations.

Regional players

• KT (Korea Telecom) Security: KT, the Korean telecom incumbent, operates a security services arm serving Korean enterprises and public institutions. It directly competes with SK Shielders in the domestic Korean market, leveraging telecom relationships for distribution.

Emerging players

• S2W: S2W is a Korean AI-driven security analytics startup specializing in dark web monitoring and threat intelligence. It is an emerging competitor in the Korean market where SK Shielders' EQST group is dominant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SKshieldus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skshieldus
• Facebookfacebook.com/skshieldus

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments4 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SK Shielders