LevelBlue Doubles Down on Cybersecurity Muscle with Stroz Friedberg Acquisition
In a bold move to consolidate leadership in the global managed security services space, LevelBlue has finalized its acquisition of Aon’s Cybersecurity and Intellectual Property Litigation consulting practices, including the elite forensic firms Stroz Friedberg and Elysium Digital.
The acquired group—now operating as Stroz Friedberg, a LevelBlue company—brings with it heavyweight credibility in cyber incident response, high-tech litigation consulting, and a Rolodex packed with Fortune 500 clients, Am Law 100 firms, and top-tier UK law practices.
Raising the Stakes in Cyber Defense
LevelBlue isn’t just collecting logos; it’s strategically fusing world-class consulting talent into its AI-driven Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services. The result: real-time integration of frontline threat intelligence from live incident response engagements into its 24/7 security operations.
“Our combined strengths will set a new standard for cyber resilience,” said Robert McCullen, Chairman and CEO of LevelBlue. “By pairing Stroz Friedberg’s consulting legacy with our AI-first MDR platform, we’re empowering organizations to manage digital risk with speed and precision.”
This integration means threat indicators gathered by field experts can be fed directly into LevelBlue’s machine learning models—creating a closed-loop system where what’s learned during an incident strengthens automated defenses elsewhere.
Why This Acquisition Matters
With nearly 300 seasoned tech and litigation professionals joining its ranks, LevelBlue instantly becomes the largest independent pure-play MSSP worldwide. And it’s not done yet.
Hot on the heels of the Stroz Friedberg deal, LevelBlue has also inked an agreement to acquire Trustwave, another global MDR and cybersecurity heavyweight. Once completed, the Trustwave acquisition will further scale its services, geographic footprint, and vertical depth—particularly in financial services and healthcare.
This double play puts LevelBlue in direct competition with larger, more diversified firms like IBM, Accenture, and CrowdStrike—but with one key differentiator: focus. While others juggle cloud consulting and digital transformation, LevelBlue is going all-in on security.
Legal Sector Gains and Strategic Alliances
One of the most immediate ripple effects of this acquisition is LevelBlue’s deeper penetration into the legal sector. Stroz Friedberg has long been the go-to name for law firms managing complex breach investigations, digital forensics, and IP litigation support. That expertise is now integrated into LevelBlue’s portfolio, giving the company a clear edge with Am Law clients and legal-adjacent enterprises.
In parallel, Aon isn’t exiting the cyber game, but refocusing. It retains its Cyber Solutions group, CyQu platform, and Cyber Risk Analyzer, and will collaborate with LevelBlue going forward—offering clients broader options across risk brokerage and cyber response.
“Cybersecurity demands more integrated and adaptive solutions,” said Christian Hoffman, Global Specialty & Financial Products Leader at Aon. “This partnership helps ensure our clients are protected on all fronts.”
MSSP Market Shake-Up
The MSSP (Managed Security Services Provider) space is undergoing a reinvention, driven by a surge in advanced threats, AI integration, and demand for outcomes—not just alerts. As enterprise security becomes too complex to manage in-house, the appetite for full-stack, partner-delivered protection is only growing.
LevelBlue’s latest moves position it not only to ride that wave—but help define it.
With marquee acquisitions like Stroz Friedberg and Trustwave, a unified AI-MDR platform, and strategic alliances with firms like Aon, LevelBlue is becoming the MSSP to watch—especially for organizations navigating both digital risk and litigation fallout.
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