What Clearshark does

ClearShark, operating as 'Optiv + ClearShark,' is a U.S. federal cybersecurity solutions provider headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, founded in 2001. The company delivers cleared technology solutions and federal services to Defense, Intelligence, and Civilian agencies through multiple government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs), including NASA SEWP V, GSA Schedule, DoD ESI, Army ITES-SW2, and SEC BOA. Its offerings are organized around four solution pillars: Identity Security for Government, Secure Data & AI for Government, Security Operations Infrastructure Orchestration (SecOps IO), and Zero Trust architecture. These are complemented by managed and co-managed services, advisory and compliance consulting, implementation and deployment services, and a Splunk Authorized Learning Partner program that includes the Splunk Edge Hub. The company reports delivering solutions to more than 7,500 federal customers and works with over 450 technology vendor partners, including Splunk, Palo Alto Networks, CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Nutanix, Gigamon, Ping Identity, Cribl, and Vectra AI.

ClearShark generates revenue through multiple streams: federal technology resale (transaction fees on vendor products delivered through GWACs), professional services (implementation, integration, and Splunk training), managed and co-managed security services, and advisory/compliance services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; engagement is driven by federal contracting cycles. The company is owned by Optiv Security Inc. and operates as Optiv's federal-focused arm, combining its intelligence-community heritage and cleared personnel with Optiv's 2,500+ cybersecurity professionals and Fortune 500 vendor relationships. ClearShark holds CMMC Level 2 and ISO 27001:2015 certifications and is designated a GSA Highly Adaptive Cybersecurity Services (HACS) provider, credentials that are prerequisites for sensitive federal work.

ClearShark's go-to-market is exclusively field/enterprise sales targeted at federal agency stakeholders, with no direct-to-consumer or commercial channel. In April 2022 the company acquired FedBiz IT, expanding its contract portfolio and accelerating the 'doubling' of its federal presence. Subsequent additions include status as an Agent on the DoD ESI Cyber Software program, the hiring of an industry veteran as President, and ongoing content marketing through Cyberscoop and Fedscoop partnerships. The company is private, has 101-250 employees per firmographic data, and is led by founder and chairman Martin Bentz and co-founder and VP Kefton Schermerhorn.

Name

Clearshark

Legal name

Optiv Security Inc.

Website

https://clearshark.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Optiv + Clearshark is a U.S. federal cybersecurity solutions provider delivering cleared technology integration, zero trust architecture, identity security, managed SecOps, and advisory services to 7,500+ Defense, Intelligence, and Civilian agencies through multiple GWAC vehicles and 450+ vendor partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Federal Technology Sales: ClearShark generates revenue by sourcing, selling, and integrating technology solutions from 450+ vendor partners to federal government customers through multiple contracting vehicles.
2. Professional Services: Implementation, integration, deployment, and technical services including Splunk Authorized Learning courses and vendor enablement.
3. Managed and Co-Managed Services: Ongoing managed security services for federal government environments, allowing agency teams to focus on mission while ClearShark manages cyber risk.
4. Advisory and Compliance Services: Federal advisory services and vendor advisory services helping agencies maintain compliance and cyber resilience with custom comprehensive strategies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Clearshark is an end-to-end federal solutions provider that sources, integrates, and manages cybersecurity and IT solutions from 450+ technology vendor partners for Defense, Intelligence, and Civilian agencies. The company delivers four core solution pillars—Identity Security, Secure Data & AI, Security Operations Infrastructure Orchestration (SecOps IO), and Zero Trust—complemented by implementation, managed, and advisory services accessed through federal contracting vehicles.

Product overview

Optiv + ClearShark is an end-to-end federal solutions provider offering a unified portfolio of cybersecurity products and services. The core offerings include four main solution pillars: Identity Security for Government, Secure Data & AI for Government, Security Operations Infrastructure Orchestration (SecOps IO), and Zero Trust. These are complemented by managed services, advisory and compliance services, and implementation/deployment capabilities. The company also maintains multiple government contract vehicles including NASA SEWP V, SEC BOA, US Army ITES-SW2, DoD ESI, and Trellix DoD ESI. As a technology reseller and integrator, they work with 450+ vendor partners including Splunk, Palo Alto Networks, CyberArk, and others to deliver solutions to over 7,500 federal customers. The company was formed through the combination of ClearShark and Optiv's federal practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Secure Data & AI for Government: Cybersecurity solutions for government agencies covering identity security, zero trust, and data & AI security

Products and services

• Identity Security for Government Identity and access management solutions designed specifically for federal government agencies, supporting zero trust architecture and privileged access management.
• Secure Data & AI for Government Cybersecurity solutions that protect data and enable AI capabilities for federal government environments.
• Security Operations Infrastructure Orchestration (SecOps IO) Next-generation Security Operations Center (SOC) solution that transforms cyber operations to operate at machine speed, providing sharpened defensive operations and reducing costs.
• Zero Trust Zero trust security architecture implementation for federal agencies, enabling dynamic identity verification and continuous mission protection.
• Implementation and Deployment Services Technical services for implementing and deploying technology solutions within federal environments, taking software from purchased to securely operational.
• Managed Services for Federal Government Managed and co-managed cybersecurity services allowing federal agencies to focus on mission while Optiv + ClearShark manages cyber risk in the customer's preferred environment.
• Federal Advisory Services Advisory and compliance consulting services tailored for federal government requirements and regulations, helping agencies maintain compliance and cyber resilience.
• Vendor Advisory Services Advisory services for technology vendors seeking to serve federal government markets and navigate federal contracting complexity.
• Splunk Authorized Learning Courses Authorized Splunk training and certification courses delivered under the Splunk Authorized Learning Partner program for federal customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivering solutions to 7,500+ federal customers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FedBiz ITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2022ClearShark acquired FedBiz IT in April 2022 to expand its contracts portfolio including NASA SEWP V and other agency-specific contracts. The acquisition strengthened ClearShark's position as a federal technology solutions provider by adding capabilities and contract vehicles.
• OptivcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClearShark operates in partnership with Optiv, the largest pure-play cybersecurity solutions provider. The combination brings together ClearShark's federal expertise and cleared services capabilities with Optiv's 2,500+ cybersecurity professionals who serve Fortune 500 clients. The partnership enables ClearShark to leverage Optiv's resources, vendor relationships, and best practices while maintaining focus on federal market unique requirements.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Guidehouse: Advisory and managed services firm with a strong federal practice in cybersecurity, risk, and compliance — overlapping with ClearShark on federal advisory, compliance, and managed security services.
• Iron Bow Technologies: Federal IT solutions provider specializing in cybersecurity, cloud, collaboration, and data center modernization for defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies — overlapping heavily with ClearShark's vendor reseller and integration model.
• immixGroup (TD SYNNEX Public Sector): Federal IT distribution and solutions provider (now part of TD SYNNEX Public Sector) that connects technology vendors with government customers via contract vehicles. Comparable to ClearShark on vendor enablement and federal channel model.
• CDW Government (CDW-G): Federal-focused arm of CDW that resells and integrates IT and security technology for government agencies, with similar vendor partnerships and contract vehicles. Most directly comparable on the federal IT reseller/integrator model.

Broad incumbents

• SAIC: Federal IT and engineering services provider with significant cybersecurity offerings for Defense, Intelligence, and federal civilian agencies. Directly comparable on federal cyber integration and managed services work.
• Leidos: Major federal IT and cybersecurity prime contractor serving Defense, Intelligence, and Civilian agencies. Competes with ClearShark on cyber solutions, managed security services, and federal contract vehicles across similar agency customers.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Large federal system integrator with a substantial cybersecurity practice serving DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civilian agencies. Overlaps with ClearShark on federal cyber advisory, zero trust, and identity/security operations work, but at much greater scale.
• ManTech (now Constellis): Federal cybersecurity and intelligence solutions provider with deep DoD/IC roots and cleared workforce — historically one of the most direct competitors to ClearShark in federal cyber integration and managed services.
• Optiv: ClearShark's parent and the largest pure-play cybersecurity solutions provider in North America. Optiv + ClearShark is the formal combination of the two, so Optiv is the closest strategic reference point for ClearShark's cybersecurity integrator business model.
• Perspecta (now Peraton): Federal IT and cyber services provider serving DoD, Intelligence Community, and federal civilian agencies with enterprise IT, cyber, and mission solutions. Comparable at the large-scale integrator level across many of the same federal customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clearshark
• Facebookfacebook.com/Clearshark

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Clearshark