Mission Defense Solutions
Mission Defense Solutions is a federally focused Value Added Reseller and systems integrator providing consultative design, integration, and lab-validated deployment of multi-vendor networking, cybersecurity, and visibility solutions to the U.S. Intelligence Community, DoD, and federal civilian agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersAnnapolis Junction, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mission Defense Solutions does
Mission Defense Solutions (MDS) is a privately held, Annapolis Junction, Maryland-based federal systems integrator and Value Added Reseller founded in 2023 by Allen Lerner. The company provides consultative design, architecture, deployment, and Day 2 operational support for mission-critical data center networking, cybersecurity, and network visibility environments serving U.S. Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and federal civilian agencies. MDS does not develop a proprietary product platform; instead, it integrates and resells solutions from an 18+ partner ecosystem spanning Arista (data center networking), Gigamon (network visibility), Dragos and Vectra (cybersecurity/OT), Okta (identity), Keysight (test/validation), Viasat (encryption), and others, with Arista-certified engineers executing the integration work.
The company's primary commercial differentiator is its Multi-Vendor Innovation Lab, a physical test and demonstration facility with four specialized environments (malware testing, network architecture/automation, tap aggregation, and 400Gbps Keysight performance testing) that allows federal customers to validate solutions before production deployment. MDS generates revenue through three streams: technology resale (hardware and software from partner vendors), professional services (design, integration, surge support), and managed services (network and security operations). The company holds a CAGE Code, SAM UEID, and DUNS to enable direct federal prime contracting, and has a co-selling partnership with HCL Federal for expanded procurement reach. MDS operates with a team of fewer than 10 people and is entirely U.S.-focused.
Mission Defense Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mission Defense Solutions
- Legal name
- Mission Defense Solutions
- Website
- https://missiondef.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mission Defense Solutions is a federally focused Value Added Reseller and systems integrator providing consultative design, integration, and lab-validated deployment of multi-vendor networking, cybersecurity, and visibility solutions to the U.S. Intelligence Community, DoD, and federal civilian agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mission Defense Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Federal IT Systems Integration
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- C4ISR Systems & Tactical Data Links (IMABAGAE)
Keywords
Where Mission Defense Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Annapolis Junction
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mission Defense Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Resale: Revenue from reselling integrated solutions from technology partners including Arista, Gigamon, Dragos, Vectra, Okta, Keysight, and others to federal government customers. MDS acts as a Value Added Reseller providing consultation, integration, and deployment services alongside product sales.
- Professional Services: Consultative services including design, architecture, deployment, and Day 2 operational support. MDS provides certified engineers for Arista-certified design and engineering, surge support, and ongoing operational assistance.
- Managed Services: Ongoing managed services for network management, cybersecurity operations, and infrastructure maintenance in hybrid and multi-cloud federal environments.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mission Defense Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mission Defense Solutions is a federal systems integrator and Value Added Reseller that designs, integrates, and deploys mission-critical data center networking, cybersecurity, and network visibility solutions for U.S. Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and federal civilian agencies. The company resells and integrates technologies from 18+ partner vendors (Arista, Gigamon, Dragos, Vectra, Okta, Keysight, and others) alongside certified engineering services, and operates a Multi-Vendor Innovation Lab for pre-deployment validation of solutions.
Product overview
Mission Defense Solutions (MDS) is a consultative, mission-driven systems integrator and value-added reseller serving Federal customers (Intelligence Community, DoD, civilian agencies). Rather than a single unified product platform, MDS offers a portfolio of service pillars—Data Center Networking & Cloud Infrastructure (powered by partners such as Arista, Ciena, Qumulo), Cybersecurity Solutions (leveraging platforms from Dragos, Fortra, Vectra, Okta, HCL Federal, Viasat, Invary), and Network Visibility and Monitoring (utilizing Gigamon, ScienceLogic, Axellio, NetQuest)—integrated through MDS's consultative design and deployment services. A central differentiator is MDS's Multi-Vendor Innovation Lab, which provides four specialized testing environments (Malware Test Lab, Network Architecture/Automation Lab, Tap Aggregation & Security Stack Lab, Network Performance Lab) enabling customers to validate real-world scenarios with partner technologies before production deployment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Data Center Networking & Cloud Infrastructure
- Cybersecurity Solutions Advanced cybersecurity solutions for IT, OT, cloud, and hybrid environments, utilizing a comprehensive suite of technologies for asset visibility, threat detection and simulation, identity and access management, and quantum-resistant security architectures. Leverages partner platforms from Dragos, Fortra, Vectra, Okta, HCL Federal, Viasat, and Invary.
- Network Visibility and Monitoring Advanced network observability, real-time threat detection and response, and high-performance packet capture and analysis capabilities, enabling secure, resilient, and efficient network operations. Powered by Gigamon, ScienceLogic, Axellio, and NetQuest.
- Multi-Vendor Innovation Lab A multi-vendor technology innovation lab with four specialized environments: Malware Test Lab (AI/ML network sensing, kernel integrity monitoring, threat emulation), Network Architecture & Automation Lab (Arista EOS, Ansible, Python, AVD), Tap Aggregation Lab (Gigamon-based traffic management), and Network Performance Lab (Keysight, 400Gbps, BER, microsecond latency). Enables federal customers to validate real-world scenarios and best-fit technology for specific mission requirements before deployment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced deployment risk through pre-production lab validation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mission Defense Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mission Defense Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration18 records
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
Mission Defense Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Arista NetworkscoreHigh-speed, programmable networking solutions for data center, enterprise, and high-performance computing environments. MDS provides Arista-certified engineers for design, architecture, and Day 2 operational support. Partner testimonial states MDS has been a 'true force multiplier' for Arista's sales and engineering teams.
- AxelliosupportingHigh-performance software solutions deployed on COTS hardware for capturing, storing, and distributing massive volumes of time-series data at 100Gbps+ speeds for real-time mission-critical analysis.
- CienasupportingHigh-speed optical transport and Ethernet networking solutions with advanced management software for scalable, efficient, and reliable data connectivity.
- DiCon FiberopticssupportingAdvanced optical and photonic solutions for mission-critical high-speed networks, quantum research, and military/aerospace systems.
- DragoscoreCybersecurity platform enhancing threat visibility, detection, and response specifically for Operational Technology (OT) environments, helping protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
- EquinixsupportingSecure data center colocation, network, and cloud peering services enabling government agencies to seamlessly interconnect and scale digital infrastructure worldwide.
- FortrasupportingUnified cybersecurity platform combining offensive and defensive capabilities with AI-driven analytics, threat intelligence, and automation for improved visibility and cyber defense operations.
- GigamoncorePhysical and virtual network visibility solutions collecting, enriching, and routing network traffic intelligence. MDS is a trusted Value Added Reseller with dedicated test lab for validating visibility and traffic management. Gigamon testimonial praises MDS's 'deep technical expertise and customer-first approach' and 'proven to be a trusted extension of our team.'
- HCL FederalcoreSecure software solutions purpose-built for U.S. federal missions delivering cybersecurity, automation, and digital modernization across hybrid environments. Co-selling partnership for federal market expansion.
- InvarysupportingSoftware solutions continuously monitoring and verifying integrity of in-memory data structures and OS kernel behavior, detecting unauthorized changes in real time.
- KeysightcoreAdvanced hardware and software platforms for comprehensive network and security testing, validation, and optimization. MDS operates Keysight test lab for validating 400Gbps connections, BER, MACSEC, and microsecond latency measurements.
- NetQuestsupportingAdvanced monitoring and interception solutions for high-speed optical and wide-area networks enabling real-time surveillance and proactive cyber threat detection.
- OktacoreComprehensive identity and access management platform delivering secure authentication, SSO, MFA, Lifecycle Management, and API Access Management for government applications.
- QumulosupportingSoftware-defined data platform for storing, managing, and unifying massive volumes of unstructured data across edge, core, and cloud environments with real-time access and AI-driven analytics.
- Red HatsupportingOpen-source enterprise platforms delivering hybrid cloud infrastructure, automation, and application development tools for mission-critical environments.
- ScienceLogicsupportingAI-driven observability and automation platform providing real-time visibility across complex IT ecosystems with intelligent insights and automated workflows.
- VectracoreAI-driven cybersecurity platform detecting and responding to threats across cloud, data center, and enterprise environments through real-time network behavior analysis. Vectra testimonial states MDS brings 'collaboration meetings with the customer, deep technical knowledge of the full spectrum cyber environment, and a vision to bring the RIGHT capabilities to the mission.'
- ViasatsupportingGovernment-grade, high-assurance encryption portfolio securing network links, devices, storage, and satellite systems for military, government, and commercial sectors.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mission Defense Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Leidos: Largest incumbent federal integrator with very broad coverage of IC, DoD, and civilian cybersecurity and network modernization programs. The most pervasive competitor for the same federal networking, OT security, and zero-trust engagements MDS targets.
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Top-tier federal integrator with very large IC and DoD cyber, networking, and digital modernization practices. Operates with a far heavier clearance footprint, contract vehicles, and account teams than MDS, but competes directly for the same mission-IT dollars.
- SAIC: Large federal science and IT integrator with deep footprint across DoD, IC, and Federal Civilian agencies in cybersecurity, network modernization, and zero-trust — competes in the same mission-IT buying cycle as MDS but at significantly larger scale.
- ECS Federal: Mid-large federal integrator (now part of ASGN) serving IC, DoD, and civilian agencies across cybersecurity, cloud, and AI/ML — overlapping broadly with MDS's three service pillars but operating at much greater scale and contract-vehicle depth.
Emerging players
- Two Six Technologies: Mid-stage federal technology company with significant overlap in cyber, electronic systems, and IC/DoD mission support. Has shifted from pure R&D services into integrated mission solutions overlapping with MDS's stack, and has substantially deeper capital and acquisition footprint.
- Tyto Athene: Mid-stage federal systems integrator formed from ITT Exelis acquisitions and MindPoint, with deep IC and DoD cyber network operations and modernization programs. Directly comparable GTM of secure mission IT to MDS, with a substantially larger scale and contract-vehicle footprint.
Direct peers
- Ultra Intelligence & Cyber: Specialized federal cyber and intelligence integrator built from acquisitions of Applied Insight and others — competes for the same IC/DoD mission-IT work as MDS and offers a similar trust-and-clearance-driven value proposition with multi-vendor integration.
- Electrosoft: Federal IT and cybersecurity integrator serving DoD, civilian, and IC customers with a comparable consultative, services-led model across FedRAMP, identity management, and cyber operations — overlapping directly with MDS's cybersecurity and zero-trust service pillars.
- MindPoint Group: Small-to-mid federal cybersecurity and IT integrator deeply focused on the Intelligence Community and Federal Civilian agencies. Operates a similar sub-100-person specialist model across cyber compliance, C&A, and security engineering, directly overlapping with MDS's core customer base and VAR-plus-services GTM.
- Highlight Technologies: Federal IT integrator specializing in DevSecOps, cloud, and cybersecurity for DoD and Federal Civilian agencies. Closely comparable in sub-prime size, federal-customer overlap, and the integration-plus-OEM-services delivery model that defines MDS.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mission Defense Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceMission Defense Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mission Defense Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Mission Defense Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mission Defense Solutions 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 Mission Defense Solutions
What does Mission Defense Solutions do?
Mission Defense Solutions is a federal systems integrator and Value Added Reseller that designs, integrates, and deploys mission-critical data center networking, cybersecurity, and network visibility solutions for U.S. Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and federal civilian agencies. The company resells and integrates technologies from 18+ partner vendors (Arista, Gigamon, Dragos, Vectra, Okta, Keysight, and others) alongside certified engineering services, and operates a Multi-Vendor Innovation Lab for pre-deployment validation of solutions.
Is Mission Defense Solutions a public or private company?
Mission Defense Solutions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mission Defense Solutions founded?
Mission Defense Solutions was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mission Defense Solutions based?
Mission Defense Solutions is headquartered in Annapolis Junction, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mission Defense Solutions make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Technology Resale is the primary driver. The others are professional Services and managed Services.
Who are Mission Defense Solutions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC and ECS Federal. Emerging players are Two Six Technologies and Tyto Athene. Direct peers are Ultra Intelligence & Cyber, Electrosoft, MindPoint Group and Highlight Technologies.
Does Mission Defense Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mission Defense Solutions.
What industry is Mission Defense Solutions in?
Mission Defense Solutions's product category is Federal IT Systems Integration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAGAE, C4ISR Systems & Tactical Data Links. Its NAICS code is 5415 and its SIC code is 7373.