Data Defenders, LLC

What Data Defenders, LLC does

Data Defenders, LLC is a Chicago-based cybersecurity operations management firm founded in 2005 by Cyrus J. Walker (Managing Principal). The company delivers managed security services through its proprietary DataShield® platform, which is packaged into three tiers — DataShield Government, DataShield Enterprise, and DataShield Small Business — alongside DataShield Threat Analytics, a multi-signaled threat intelligence engine that correlates approximately 75 million signals daily against 4.7M tracked threats/indicators of compromise and ingests 400K+ DarkNet threats updated hourly. Service delivery spans the full cybersecurity lifecycle including governance, process, and technical infrastructure management, executed under the firm's MCOP (Managed Cybersecurity Operations Program) and Cybersecurity Operations 2.0 methodology.

The company serves small-to-medium businesses, private-sector enterprises, and government/municipal organizations, with named leadership covering software development (CTO Donald Nance), SOC and government delivery (CIO Herbert Schreib), and strategy and business development (Principal Lester McCarroll, Jr). Beyond core MSS, the portfolio includes Advisory Services (Cyber Risk Management, Cybersecurity Infrastructure, Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity, GRC), Response Services (Incident Management, Computer Forensics, Network Penetration Testing, Election Technology), and Infrastructure Management (Endpoint/Server, IoT, Network Architecture), supported by a 16-module service catalog covering MDR, EDR, SEIM, vCISO, Cloud Security, and Threat Intelligence.

The business model combines subscription-based managed security services with project-based and retainer advisory and response engagements, sold through direct enterprise field sales with consultation-based selling ('Talk with a Cyber Professional'), website lead capture, and 24/7 phone support (888-601-3064). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Marketing is content-driven via blog, whitepapers, two podcasts (The Resilience Report and The Insight Series), email newsletter, YouTube, and a Google NotebookLM-powered AI expert. The firm is privately held with founder-led ownership, no disclosed external funding, and operates with a small team that delivers scaled claims across SMB, enterprise, and government segments largely through proprietary methodology and partner-enabled delivery.

Name

Data Defenders, LLC

Legal name

Data Defenders, LLC

Website

https://data-defenders.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Data Defenders, LLC is a Chicago-based cybersecurity operations management firm delivering managed security services through its proprietary DataShield Threat Analytics platform to SMBs, enterprises, and government/municipal organizations across the cybersecurity lifecycle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed Cybersecurity Services

NAICS

Computer Facilities Management Services (541513), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Data Security & Privacy Services (DLP, Encryption, Privacy Ops) (BPAKAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compliance, Risk & Audit Management (SOC 2/ISO/PCI) (HDABANAK), Privacy, Data Protection & Cyber Governance (GRC) (BPAHAFAF), Data Security & Privacy Managed Services (DLP/Encryption) (BPAEADAL)

Keywords

• Managed security services
• Cybersecurity operations
• Threat intelligence analytics
• Incident response services
• Governance risk compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Managed Security Services: Recurring managed cybersecurity services through DataShield MSS offering. Includes 24/7 monitoring, threat analytics, endpoint protection, vulnerability management, and infrastructure security management. Subscription-based model with tiered offerings for small business, enterprise, and government customers.
2. Advisory Services: Professional advisory services including Cyber Risk Management, Cybersecurity Infrastructure, Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity, and Governance, Risk, Compliance. One-time and ongoing consulting engagements.
3. Response Services: Incident response, computer forensics, network penetration testing, and election technology services. Typically project-based or retainer arrangements.
4. Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO): Virtual CISO services providing organizations access to seasoned cybersecurity professionals who operate virtually as part of the customer's team.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Data Defenders, LLC provides managed cybersecurity operations through its proprietary DataShield platform, delivering 24/7 monitoring, threat analytics, endpoint and network protection, and rapid incident response. The company also offers advisory services covering cyber risk management, cybersecurity infrastructure, disaster recovery, and governance/risk/compliance, plus response services such as incident management, computer forensics, network penetration testing, and election technology security. Its core solutions are tiered for small business, enterprise, and government customers under the Managed Cybersecurity Operations Program (MCOP) model.

Product overview

Data Defenders, LLC is a cybersecurity operations management company offering a comprehensive portfolio centered around its DataShield® brand. The core offering includes DataShield® Managed Security Service (MSS) with three tiered solutions: DataShield® Government, DataShield® Enterprise, and DataShield® Small Business. Supporting the DataShield® platform are multiple service modules organized into three categories: Advisory Services (Cyber Risk Management, Cybersecurity Infrastructure, Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity, Governance/Risk/Compliance); Response Services (Incident Management, Computer Forensics, Network Penetration Testing, Election Technology); and Infrastructure Management (Endpoint/Server Management, IoT, Network Architecture). The service catalog lists 16 additional service modules including MDR, EDR, Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Management, Security Awareness Training, SEIM, Identity Management, Cloud Security Management, vCISO, Cyber Policy Development, Cyber Incident Management, Cybersecurity Operations Management, and Threat Intelligence. A key differentiator is DataShield® Threat Analytics, which provides multi-signaled threat intelligence correlating approximately 75 million signals daily across 4.7M tracked threats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DataShield®: Managed cybersecurity services brand including DataShield Government, DataShield Enterprise, DataShield Small Business, and DataShield Threat Analytics solutions.
• Data D-Fense 24/7
• Cybersecurity Operations 2.0®

Products and services

• DataShield Government Cybersecurity Operations management solution designed to provide comprehensive and rapid deployment of the critical cybersecurity lifecycle for government organizations, including municipal customers.
• DataShield Enterprise Managed cybersecurity solution designed to scale with the maturity level of enterprise customers, providing insights-driven threat intelligence and evolving controls from compliance through operations.
• DataShield Small Business Scalable Cybersecurity Operations solution designed to meet SMB needs, providing expert protection against cyber threats at an affordable cost for organizations without dedicated internal security teams.
• DataShield Threat Analytics Multi-signaled threat intelligence platform tuned directly to customer technology infrastructure, providing deep insight into the threat landscape by correlating approximately 75 million signals daily against 4.7M identified threats and incorporating 400K+ DarkNet threats updated hourly.
• DataShield Managed Security Service (MSS) Comprehensive managed cybersecurity service covering 24/7 monitoring, rapid incident response, computer forensics, behavioral analytics, endpoint malware prevention, vulnerability assessment, and firewall/IDS/IPS management under the MCOP lifecycle model.
• Advisory Services Professional advisory engagements including Cyber Risk Management, Cybersecurity Infrastructure, Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity, and Governance/Risk/Compliance (GRC) to help businesses mature their cyber operations.
• Response Services Incident management, computer forensics, network penetration testing, and election technology services designed to enhance an organization's capability to respond to active cyber threats.
• Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) Provides organizations access to seasoned cybersecurity professionals who operate virtually as part of the customer's team, delivering executive-level security leadership without the cost of a full-time CISO hire.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.7M threats and indicators of compromise tracked across customer networks
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Best-in-class partners (unnamed)coreTechnology or IntegrationData Defenders partners with best-in-class technology partners to ensure the highest and most robust protection available. These partnerships help make Data Defenders a premier provider of Cybersecurity Operations solutions. The specific partner names are not disclosed on the website.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arctic Wolf Networks: Arctic Wolf is a leading mid-market MSSP offering managed detection and response, security operations, and vCISO-style services. Directly comparable to Data Defenders' DataShield MSS tiered offerings across SMB, mid-market, and enterprise.
• eSentire: eSentire is a pure-play MDR and managed security services provider serving mid-market and enterprise customers. Comparable in service model, recurring MSS revenue structure, and multi-signal threat detection approach to DataShield Threat Analytics.
• Expel: Expel provides transparent, MDR-focused managed security services with a tech-forward delivery model. Closely comparable to Data Defenders' MDR, EDR, and SOC-as-a-service offerings and similarly targets mid-market and enterprise.
• ReliaQuest: ReliaQuest delivers MSSP and MDR services with proprietary threat intelligence and a focus on enterprise customers. Comparable to Data Defenders in its blend of managed services, threat analytics, and tiered enterprise/government offerings.
• Pondurance: Pondurance delivers MDR and compliance-focused managed security services, particularly to regulated industries and the public sector. Comparable to Data Defenders' DataShield Government tier and GRC advisory orientation.
• Binary Defense: Binary Defense provides MDR, SOC-as-a-service, and threat hunting for mid-market and enterprise clients. Closely aligned with Data Defenders' DataShield Enterprise MSS, threat analytics, and incident response capabilities.
• Deepwatch: Deepwatch operates a cloud-native SOC and MDR platform for mid-market and enterprise customers. Comparable in recurring MSS subscription model, tiered enterprise offerings, and emphasis on managed detection and response.

Broad incumbents

• Trustwave: Trustwave is a large, established MSSP offering managed security, GRC advisory, database security, and incident response across enterprise and government. Comparable breadth of services but at much greater scale than Data Defenders.
• Secureworks: Secureworks (now part of Sophos) is a broad MSSP offering managed detection, incident response, and threat intelligence. Comparable service portfolio and government/enterprise orientation to Data Defenders, but at significantly greater scale.
• CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike offers Falcon Complete, a fully managed MDR service built on its endpoint and identity platform. Comparable MDR/EDR functionality to DataShield MSS but bundled into a much larger, well-capitalized platform incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DataDefendersLLC
• Xx.com/datadefenders
• Facebookfacebook.com/data-defenders-llc-129964020394790
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/data-defenders-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Data Defenders, LLC