West Coast Labs
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersCheyenne, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
West Coast Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- West Coast Labs
- Legal name
- West Coast Labs LLC
- Website
- https://westcoastlabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
West Coast Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Testing and Certification Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs (HLAJAIAM)
Keywords
Where West Coast Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cheyenne
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
West Coast Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Product Accreditation and Certification Services: West Coast Labs provides certification and accreditation services for software products and solutions. Products are tested against validation levels and awarded grades (A-AAA). Certified products are listed on the WCL website and awarded use of WCL accreditation logos.
- Development Testing Services: Ongoing testing of application builds during development phase, with regular performance updates and option for pre-launch accreditation.
- Custom Testing Services: Fully customizable testing approach where WCL works with clients to create tailored test cases and methodologies based on specific criteria, scale requirements, timeframe, operating systems, and report specifications.
- RealTime CTS Enrollment: Continuous testing service enrollment for anti-malware solutions, providing ongoing performance analysis and exposure to latest malware outbreaks.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
West Coast Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
West Coast Labs operates an independent test laboratory providing accreditation, certification, and tailored testing services for information security products, anti-malware solutions, and software applications. Its portfolio includes the Checkmark Certified anti-virus certification program, the WCL Validated product accreditation scheme (PVL 1-4, grades A-AAA), the RealTime Continuous Testing Service (CTS) for always-on malware testing, the False Positive Early Detection Service (FPEDS), and custom and development-stage testing services.
Product overview
West Coast Labs is an established test laboratory offering a portfolio of accreditation, certification, and testing services for security products and applications. The core offerings include: Checkmark Certified (an anti-virus certification scheme for endpoint applications), WCL Validated (a four-level product accreditation program with AAA ratings), RealTime CTS (an always-on continuous malware testing framework in its 10th year), and the 2025-launched False Positive Early Detection Service (FPEDS). Supporting these are Custom Testing (fully customizable testing) and Development Testing (testing during product development). The company serves anti-malware vendors, application developers, and security solution providers with independent verification of legitimacy, functionality, and effectiveness.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Checkmark Certified: One of the oldest continually running anti-virus certification bodies in the world, providing certification for endpoint applications.
- WCL Validated
- RealTime CTS
- False Positive Early Detection Service (FPEDS)
Products and services
- WCL Validated
Companies that use West Coast Labs
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
West Coast Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
West Coast Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
West Coast Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AV-TEST: Independent German IT-security testing lab that runs antivirus and security product certifications and publishes widely cited test results. Directly comparable to West Coast Labs in mission, customer base (security vendors), and certification model (AV-TEST Approved).
- AV-Comparatives: Austrian independent testing organization that runs periodic antivirus and security suite evaluations and awards certifications. Directly comparable as a non-commercial security product certification body serving the same vendor customers.
- SE Labs: UK-based independent security testing lab running enterprise and consumer endpoint/email/network protection tests with AAA-rated certifications. Directly comparable in methodology, customer segment, and certification-tier structure to WCL Validated and Checkmark.
- Virus Bulletin: Long-running UK security testing organization running the VB100 certification and a respected conference. Comparable to West Coast Labs' Checkmark Certified as one of the historic, continually operating AV certification bodies.
- MRG Effitas: Independent UK security testing lab focused on online banking, financial malware, ransomware, and endpoint protection efficacy. Comparable as a specialist anti-malware/endpoint testing organization serving similar vendor customers.
Emerging players
- MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations: MITRE-led program that evaluates security products against ATT&CK techniques. Comparable as an independent, methodology-driven security product evaluation that vendors cite in marketing, increasingly competing for the same 'third-party validation' budget as WCL.
- NSS Labs: Historically a US-based independent security product testing firm publishing comparative reports. Comparable in mission to WCL, though its operating status has been disrupted; remains a relevant comparable for the enterprise security testing market category.
Broad incumbents
- ICSA Labs: Long-established (now Verizon) testing and certification lab covering endpoint, network, and IoT security certifications. Comparable as a broad-portfolio accredited testing lab with a recognized certification program, but at much larger scale and scope than WCL.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
West Coast Labs social profiles
Digital presenceWest Coast Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
West Coast Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
West Coast Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
West Coast Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about West Coast Labs
What does West Coast Labs do?
West Coast Labs operates an independent test laboratory providing accreditation, certification, and tailored testing services for information security products, anti-malware solutions, and software applications. Its portfolio includes the Checkmark Certified anti-virus certification program, the WCL Validated product accreditation scheme (PVL 1-4, grades A-AAA), the RealTime Continuous Testing Service (CTS) for always-on malware testing, the False Positive Early Detection Service (FPEDS), and custom and development-stage testing services.
Is West Coast Labs a public or private company?
West Coast Labs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was West Coast Labs founded?
West Coast Labs was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is West Coast Labs based?
West Coast Labs is headquartered in Cheyenne, United States, in the North America region.
How does West Coast Labs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Accreditation and Certification Services are the primary driver. The others are development Testing Services, custom Testing Services and realTime CTS Enrollment.
Who are West Coast Labs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AV-TEST, AV-Comparatives, SE Labs, Virus Bulletin and MRG Effitas. Emerging players are MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations and NSS Labs. ICSA Labs is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does West Coast Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for West Coast Labs.
What industry is West Coast Labs in?
West Coast Labs's product category is Cybersecurity Testing and Certification Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAIAM, Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs. Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.