The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded a potential five-year, $100 million cybersecurity services contract to American defense and information technology company Leidos, according to The Morgantown News.
Under the terms of the agreement, Leidos will manage cybersecurity services at NOAA facilities in the following locations:
- Boulder, Colorado.
- Fairmont, West Virginia.
- Silver Spring, Maryland.
- Washington, D.C.
Cloud and software solutions provider Sevatec filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to challenge the NOAA's decision to award its cybersecurity services contract to Leidos, the Morgantown News reported. However, Sevatec's protest has been denied.
What Does the NOAA Contract Mean for Leidos?
The NOAA contract could help Leidos extend its reach in a government cybersecurity market that is projected to grow.
Global cybersecurity market revenues are expected to reach $181.8 billion by 2021, industry analyst Zion Market Research indicated. In addition, the increasing need for government agencies to securely store and transmit confidential data on computers is one of the key factors that could drive the global cybersecurity market's growth.
A Closer Look at Leidos' Cybersecurity Portfolio
Leidos provides cybersecurity services for government agencies, and the company's cybersecurity services portfolio includes the following offerings:
- Accredited testing and evaluation.
- Cyber analytics.
- Information assurance.
- Insider threat.
- Risk management framework.
- Security operations center (SOC).
Leidos' cybersecurity services help government agencies deploy an adaptive defense strategy, maintain sustainable threat protection and improve their security posture, the company noted. By doing so, these services ensure government agencies are protected against evolving cyber threats.
Capgemini Buys Leidos' Cybersecurity Division
Leidos earlier this year sold its cybersecurity division to Capgemini, a French consulting, technology and digital transformation services provider. With the acquisition, Capgemini is better equipped to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity services and solutions in North America, the company indicated.
Meanwhile, Leidos is a Fortune 500 company that provides information technology, engineering and science services and solutions. Leidos' services and solutions are used by organizations in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil and health markets.
