A managed cybersecurity provider based in Ashburn, VA, has earned a spot on the Washington Business Journal's 2026 roster
Virtually all the businesses we safeguard lack dedicated security personnel yet face the same threats as a Fortune 500 corporation. There is significant demand for cybersecurity solutions that a small operation can genuinely manage.”— Ian GarrettASHBURN, VA, UNITED STATES, August 31, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Shadowbear, a provider of managed cybersecurity and IT services for organizations without in-house security teams, has secured the No. 35 position on the Washington Business Journal's 2026 list of the Largest Cybersecurity Companies in Greater Washington. The ranking appeared in the Journal's edition published on Aug. 28, 2026.
The annual ranking, prepared by the Journal's research team using data submitted by participating organizations, evaluates cybersecurity firms across the Washington metropolitan region—one of the largest cybersecurity hubs in the nation. Shadowbear, headquartered in Ashburn, VA (Loudoun County), makes its debut on this list.
Shadowbear's Cyber Defense Suite delivers around-the-clock managed detection and response, security monitoring, endpoint protection, employee phishing awareness training, vulnerability scanning, and patch management—all bundled in a single per-user subscription. Tiers are available that add longer log retention, dark‑web surveillance, and zero‑trust network access. The company primarily serves organizations with 10 to 100 employees that manage confidential data: defense subcontractors complying with NIST SP 800‑171 and CMMC requirements, accounting and financial‑services firms, and other regulated small enterprises located in Northern Virginia and elsewhere.
This recognition comes at a time when security obligations are reaching smaller companies earlier than ever. Cyber‑insurance renewals now demand controls that used to be standard only for large enterprises; customers send security questionnaires before signing contracts; and defense subcontractors must conduct self‑assessments against NIST SP 800‑171 irrespective of company size. For businesses in this situation, the issue is no longer whether to treat security seriously but how to do so without building a full‑time team.
"Most of the companies we protect have no security staff but the same adversaries as a Fortune 500 firm," stated Ian Garrett, founder of Shadowbear. "Being ranked alongside the region's largest cybersecurity companies really highlights the increasing demand for protection a small business can actually run on. Our job is for the business owner and IT managers to sleep at night."
For business owners, the Journal's list serves best as a directory of who performs security work in the region. The majority of companies featured on it serve federal agencies and large corporations. Shadowbear's placement on the list underscores a different emphasis: the businesses that surround those institutions, handle their sensitive data, and must meet many of the same standards despite having no equivalent staffing.
Companies in Northern Virginia are invited to request a complimentary 15‑minute Cyber Defense checkup at shadowbear.com/contact. The assessment reviews what an organization currently pays for, flags redundant or unused security tools, and identifies gaps that an insurer, auditor, or customer questionnaire would uncover.
Ian Garrett
Shadowbear
+1 571-680-6880
hello@shadowbear.com
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