Accenture - Experts & Thought Leaders

Building on its $10 billion cybersecurity business, Accenture is expanding its position with the acquisition of a majority stake in Dragos and all of runZero and NetRise to deliver end-to-end operational technology (OT) security for the critical infrastructure and industrial operations underpinning power grids, pipelines, manufacturing, distribution facilities and data centers. The Dragos Platform will expand to cover the extended environment that controls physical processes, while Accenture's deep OT security expertise, unique industrial datasets and decades of trusted relationships with critical infrastructure operators will address a need previously unaddressed at scale. Critical infrastructure operators Dragos' industry-pioneer OT threat detection, trusted vendor-neutral platform and proprietary dataset will be enhanced through the acquisitions of runZero and NetRise. The addition of runZero will bring comprehensive exposure assessment and attack-surface intelligence. NetRise will add a unique software supply chain dataset and firmware-level visibility into device exposure. Combining Dragos with runZero and NetRise will deliver a unified solution that enhances visibility, accelerates threat detection and response and strengthens Dragos’ ability to scale adoption of its broadened platform. Industrial and critical infrastructure operators will have one place to see everything on their OT network, understand what’s running on it and help stop what’s attacking it. Operational technology environment The expanding mix of critical assets, including industrial control systems, Internet of Things, sensors, cloud-connected devices and related IT infrastructure, makes up the extended high-growth operational technology environment known as “xOT.” With operational environments more connected than ever, AI is being integrated into industrial decision-making in ways that will expand xOT environments further over the next several years. AI is also being integrated into adversary operations in ways that compress the time between IT compromise and OT targeting. As geopolitical and AI-driven threats accelerate, most cybersecurity budgets remain focused on IT, leaving critical infrastructure xOT environments exposed. To address this imbalance, business and government leaders need to invest now in xOT cybersecurity that uses the right datasets to help defenders harness AI more effectively. Advanced cybersecurity capabilities “In an age when AI-driven cyber threats and geopolitical risk are evolving at a rapid pace, our cybersecurity practice is growing by double-digits and has a strong track record of leveraging inorganic opportunity to fuel organic growth,” said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture. “Our clients across industries and regions are asking us how to be more proactive and integrated in their approach to cybersecurity. The addition of Dragos, complemented by runZero and NetRise, fills this important need. We are confident Dragos’ differentiated OT platform will accelerate our growth in the critical infrastructure and industrial operations markets, driving long-term shareholder value through scaled adoption of advanced cybersecurity capabilities.” Physical operations globally Led by Dragos co-founder and CEO Robert M. Lee, runZero and NetRise will operate under Dragos (based in Hanover, Maryland with 580 employees), which will continue to function as an independent business. HD Moore, CEO of runZero (based in Austin, Texas with 66 employees), Thomas Pace, CEO of NetRise (based in Austin, Texas with 57 employees), and Michael Scott, Chief Technology Officer & Chief Scientist at NetRise, will become key Dragos executives. “Our energy and water systems, manufacturing plants, data centers and other operational environments need cybersecurity built from the ground up for xOT and designed to keep pace as threats evolve. The consequences of getting it wrong become societal threats,” said Robert M. Lee, co-founder and CEO of Dragos. “Organizations need solutions, not a patchwork of software and services. The addition of runSero and NetRise will allow the Dragos Platform to be a unique end-to-end platform for global defense, and Accenture will bring its decades of trusted relationships and deep expertise to help us scale and secure more critical infrastructure and physical operations globally.” Multi-vendor environments Dragos works with the world’s pioneer technology companies, including through its strong collaboration with cloud platforms, as well as cybersecurity software companies and OT equipment manufacturers. Dragos will retain its vendor-neutral approach and its product roadmap to support customers’ complex, multi-vendor environments. Accenture has grown its cybersecurity business to $10 billion of revenue in fiscal year 2025 from $700 million of revenue in 2016. This represents a 35% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR), which is four times the rate of Accenture’s overall CAGR. Cybersecurity services market These acquisitions are expected to meaningfully expand Accenture's position in the OT cybersecurity market from services, where Accenture is already an established leader in an estimated $7 billion OT cybersecurity services market, into the broader OT cybersecurity market through the addition of software capabilities—an estimated $27 billion opportunity in 2026, projected to grow to nearly $59 billion by 2031 at approximately 16% CAGR [1,2]. Together, Dragos, runZero and NetRise are estimated to generate approximately $208 million in annual recurring revenue as of June 2026, representing 53% year-over-year growth. The acquisitions deliver strong gross margins and, while initially dilutive, are expected to be accretive to earnings per share and free cash flow over time, positioning the business for long-term growth and returns. Purchase price adjustments Accenture has entered into agreements to acquire a majority stake in Dragos and 100% of runZero and NetRise at a combined enterprise value of approximately $4.175 billion, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The transactions are expected to close in August or September 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals. These acquisitions will build on more than a decade of investments from Accenture in OT cybersecurity, including the acquisitions of Cimation in 2015, Revolutionary Security in 2020 and other OT-focused companies like Callisto, Electro 80, True North Solutions and SYSTEMA.  

ZBeta, a pioneer in delivering comprehensive physical security consulting services, now announced the addition of Jim McCormack as Learning and Development Manager. In this role, he will focus on building the company’s commitment to learning, technical excellence, and collaboration. McCormack will shape and oversee ZBeta’s learning and development initiatives, spanning onboarding, career growth, and knowledge sharing. His focus will be on creating programs that scale — helping new hires hit the ground running, supporting ongoing development, and deepening expertise across every corner of the company. Zbeta’s ongoing commitment “At ZBeta, our greatest asset is the collective knowledge and drive of our people,” said Anna Yates, Vice President of Talent and Culture, ZBeta. “Jim’s approach to learning and development will further strengthen our foundation and help us continue to set new standards for client service and performance, and further demonstrate Zbeta’s ongoing commitment to our people and our clients.” Developing talent and driving operational excellence Investing in people and growth sits at the heart of ZBeta’s mission. McCormack’s addition builds on this commitment and deepens its focus on developing talent and driving operational excellence. By nurturing a culture of ongoing learning, ZBeta is redefining what modern consulting means — forward-thinking, collaborative, and always striving to exceed client expectations. Evolving diverse learning, training, and quality programs A strategic and results-driven executive, McCormack brings more than 13 years of leadership experience designing, implementing, and evolving diverse learning, training, and quality programs across global organizations. His expertise spans the full learning lifecycle — from designing comprehensive training programs and implementing global learning management systems to driving leadership development and embedding Diversity, Equity & Inclusion principles into organizational cultures. Prior roles of McCormack Before joining ZBeta, McCormack served as Global Learning and Development Lead for SMB at Accenture, where he oversaw teams across six global locations and implemented standardized assets to foster collaboration and performance excellence. Previously, he held senior training leadership roles at Indeed.com, where he led the financial operations training strategy. McCormack is also the founder of RKW Training, a consultancy specializing in onboarding, management development, and learning strategy design. ZBeta’s focus on people “ZBeta’s focus on people and its culture of continuous learning and collaboration aligns perfectly with my passion for building educational and training ecosystems that empower businesses to grow and thrive,” said McCormack. “By focusing on capability building and knowledge sharing, we can elevate how our teams deliver for clients and for one another.”

SecurityBridge, creator of the Cybersecurity Command Center for SAP, announced Secure Together New York 2025, an in-person SAP security event on November 12, 2025, at the Accenture Office, One Manhattan West, New York. SecurityBridge’s expertise in SAP cybersecurity has been featured by top-tier media outlets, including Forbes, TechRadar, and The Hacker News. The company will join forces with partners - Accenture, Bowbridge, Fortinet, NextLabs, and Saviynt to deliver a full day of expert sessions exploring the future of SAP security. These sessions will cover AI-powered segregation of duties (SoD) controls, quantum-resistant strategies, and defense mechanisms against modern ransomware and file-based exploits. Next generation of enterprise security  “Secure Together New York 2025 brings the SAP community face-to-face with the pioneers shaping the next generation of enterprise security,” said Bill Oliver, U.S. Managing Director, SecurityBridge, adding “From quantum-ready controls to zero trust transformation, attendees will gain actionable insights they can apply immediately within their organizations.” Secure digital cloud transformation Attendees will gain practical insights into SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) security, zero-trust data segregation, and secure digital cloud transformation, as well as an early look at SAP’s GRC 2026 roadmap and new Fiori-first security usability enhancements. Designed for security and compliance professionals, the program combines innovation, practicality, and real-world use cases to help enterprises strengthen their SAP security posture with confidence. Why attend Expert Sessions from global SAP security leaders on AI, quantum security, and ransomware defense. Real-World Use Cases highlighting zero-trust data segregation and SAP cloud security transformations. Peer Networking with industry leaders and partners shaping SAP security in North America. Forward-Looking Insights into SAP’s GRC roadmap and AI-driven identity governance. Attendance is free, and the one-day format minimizes disruption to work schedules while delivering maximum value for SAP security teams.