Accenture wins $789Mn U.S. Navy cybersecurity deal
VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES — Accenture Federal Services, a subsidiary of global consulting giant Accenture, has secured a 10-year, $789 million contract to bolster the U.S. Navy’s maritime cybersecurity capabilities.
The agreement tasks Accenture with developing SHARKCAGE, a security perimeter to protect critical defense assets and data across U.S. Navy networks.
“Network interconnectedness is essential to protecting critical U.S. defense assets and sensitive military data,” said Rick Driggers, Accenture Federal Services’ cyber lead.
“Accenture Federal Services will help provide U.S. Navy fleets with the enhanced attack sensing and warning capabilities that these times demand.”
Integrated cyber defense systems
Under the contract, Accenture will deliver integrated hardware and software systems to the U.S. Navy’s cybersecurity program office.
These SHARKCAGE systems will enable defensive cyber operations and data synthesis across U.S. Navy networks like InformationTechnology-21 and ONENet.
“Performing work within a shared, integrated environment will ultimately enhance our client’s overall cyber monitoring and decision support cycles,” said Paul Ott, an Accenture Federal Services managing director.
Reinforcing Accenture’s federal presence
The contract, which includes a five-year base period and a five-year option, comes as the U.S. Navy intensifies its cybersecurity efforts amid rising threats and IT modernization demands.
Based in Arlington, Virginia, Accenture Federal Services specializes in bringing commercial innovation to federal agencies through emerging technologies and human-centered design. Its parent company, Accenture, serves over 9,000 clients across 120 countries.
Accenture reported $64.1 billion in revenue for fiscal 2023 and employs 733,000 people globally, including 14,000 focused on U.S. federal projects. This latest deal with the U.S. Navy reinforces Accenture’s position as a leading U.S. federal IT contractor.
Accenture’s other military and cybersecurity deals
In October 2023, the Finnish Defence Forces awarded Accenture a contract for an enterprise resource planning (ERP) transformation program. The program will modernize the Finnish military’s legacy ERP system using SAP S/4HANA.
While not directly a cybersecurity contract, it involves securing and modernizing critical systems for the Finnish military.
Accenture has a strong cybersecurity practice and provides cybersecurity services globally to clients across industries and sectors. It acquired Morphus, a Brazil-based cybersecurity company, to expand its cybersecurity capabilities in Latin America.
Accenture recently ranked #1 in the OA500 2024, the first objective index of the world’s top 500 outsourcing companies.