The 2026 DRP Market: Who's Left After the Acquisitions

Five years ago, a security buyer evaluating digital risk protection platforms had a dozen credible options. Today, most of those options have been acquired — and the acquirers aren’t always making the products better.

If you’re selecting a DRP platform in 2026, the vendor independence question isn’t academic. It determines whether the product you buy today will still exist as a recognizable, actively developed platform in three years.

The Acquisition Timeline

The consolidation has been rapid and relentless.

2021: IntSights → Rapid7. IntSights’ external threat intelligence was absorbed into Rapid7’s broader security platform. The standalone product lost its independent identity.

2021: PhishLabs → HelpSystems (now Fortra). PhishLabs’ digital risk protection capabilities were folded into Fortra’s security portfolio. The acquisition was PE-driven — Thoma Bravo owns Fortra.

2021: Proofpoint → Thoma Bravo. Proofpoint went private in a $12.3B deal. Their DRP-adjacent capabilities are now managed under PE ownership with the associated pressure on margins.

2022: Digital Shadows → ReliaQuest. One of the original DRP platforms absorbed into ReliaQuest’s GreyMatter security operations suite. The standalone DRP experience no longer exists as an independent offering.

2024: ZeroFox → Haveli Investments PE. ZeroFox went private after a challenging period as a public company. Now under PE ownership with the typical playbook: optimize costs, improve margins, position for eventual resale.

2024: Recorded Future → Mastercard. Mastercard acquired Recorded Future for $2.65B. This is a strategic acquisition rather than PE — but it still means Recorded Future’s roadmap now serves Mastercard’s strategic priorities.

2025-2026: Liferaft → Securitas. Securitas is acquiring Liferaft, the Canadian OSINT platform, integrating it into their physical security services portfolio.

What Remains Independent

The independent DRP vendors still standing in 2026 include DigitalStakeout (privately held, 25+ US investors, no PE involvement), a handful of smaller niche players, and some newer entrants that haven’t yet reached the acquisition threshold.

That’s not a long list.

Why Acquisition Matters for Buyers

The pattern after acquisition is remarkably consistent.

Product development slows. The acquired platform becomes a feature within a larger product suite. Dedicated development resources are reduced or redirected. The innovation pace that attracted customers in the first place stalls.

Pricing increases. Post-acquisition pricing resets are common, particularly under PE ownership. The platform that was competitively priced as an independent vendor becomes a premium-priced component within a larger bundle.

Customer support degrades. Support teams are consolidated, restructured, or reduced. The responsive, dedicated support that characterized the independent vendor is replaced by enterprise support tiers and ticket queues.

Integration replaces independence. The acquired platform’s interface, data model, and workflow are merged into the acquirer’s platform. Customers who chose the product for its specific UX and workflow now navigate a different system.

Roadmap shifts. The acquirer’s strategic priorities replace the original product vision. Features important to DRP buyers may be deprioritized in favor of features that serve the acquirer’s broader customer base.

What Buyers Should Do

Negotiate multi-year pricing protections. If you’re buying from a vendor that might be acquired, lock in pricing with contractual protections against post-acquisition increases.

Evaluate data portability. Can you export your configuration, monitoring scope, and historical data if you need to switch? Vendors that make migration difficult create switching costs that disadvantage buyers post-acquisition.

Weight vendor independence in evaluation. All else being equal, an independently held vendor has stronger alignment with your interests than one operating under PE optimization pressure or as a feature within a conglomerate.

Ask about ownership structure directly. Who owns the company? Is there PE involvement? Are they positioning for acquisition? These aren’t rude questions — they’re due diligence for a multi-year investment.

DigitalStakeout is independently held by 25+ US-based investors with no private equity involvement. The product roadmap is driven by customer needs, not PE exit timelines.

---

Choose an independent DRP platform. Compare alternatives or view transparent pricing.