LevelBlue acquires Trustwave, forms world’s largest pure-play MSSP
TEXAS, UNITED STATES — LevelBlue has completed its acquisition of Trustwave, establishing itself as the world’s largest independent, pure-play managed security services provider (MSSP).
“The acquisition of Trustwave makes us the most complete cybersecurity partner in the industry,” said LevelBlue CEO Bob McCullen.
“We’re redefining what it means to be a managed security provider—combining world-class human expertise with AI-powered, platform-led services to give clients faster detection, smarter response, and long-lasting resilience against evolving threats.”
With this move, LevelBlue significantly expands its portfolio to deliver advanced cybersecurity capabilities to enterprises, the federal government, and global partners.
The combined entity claims a broader reach at a time when “resilience is now mission-critical for enterprises and government agencies alike,” noted IDC research vice president Craig Robinson.
A new cybersecurity powerhouse
LevelBlue is a well-established player in cybersecurity, founded as a joint venture between AT&T and WillJam Ventures before spinning out as an independent company in 2024.
The firm specializes in managed security services, cybersecurity consulting, and threat intelligence, operating several global Security Operation Centers (SOCs) and Network Operations Centers (NOCs). With approximately 366 employees and annual revenues nearing $98 million prior to the Trustwave deal, LevelBlue has experienced rapid growth, expanding its headcount by more than 450% last year.
Trustwave, meanwhile, is a Chicago-based cybersecurity leader with over 1,000 professionals, including its high-profile SpiderLabs threat research team.
The company reported annual revenue of approximately $542.6 million and was acquired by the MC2 Security Fund in January 2024. Trustwave’s services encompass managed detection and response (MDR), security advisory services, penetration testing, and database security for a diverse international clientele.
Both companies have substantial outsourcing backgrounds, offering managed security, consulting, risk management, and threat intelligence on a global scale. The merged operation will now serve over 30,000 customers, generating annual revenues exceeding $1 billion.
Strategic cybersecurity impact and market leadership
“This strategic move reflects our commitment to delivering better cybersecurity outcomes to our customers and enhances our global go-to-market capabilities, as well as in the U.S. federal, state and local government markets,” McCullen told GovCon Wire.
Backed by Trustwave’s FedRAMP and StateRAMP authorizations, LevelBlue will now be better equipped to fulfill U.S. Department of Defense and critical infrastructure contracts.
Trustwave CEO Eric Harmon added, “This announcement reinforces Trustwave’s market leadership, and together with LevelBlue, positions us to further strengthen our combined leadership position, bolster our offensive and defensive security portfolio, and drive additional innovation to further safeguard and fortify our clients against disruptive and damaging cyber threats.”
The acquisition marks a pivotal moment for the managed security outsourcing sector, as it consolidates two major players to tackle increasingly complex global cyber threats through a blend of human intelligence, scalable platform technology, and pragmatic AI solutions.
