As businesses become increasingly reliant on technology, data and connectivity, the importance of identifying hidden cyber risks and potential threats as part of M&A due diligence is more consequential than ever.
Recent cases show that uncovering a major data breach or vulnerability during acquisition can slash deal value, disrupt negotiations, or even halt the process entirely. This underscores the need, both for the buyer and the seller, for expert cyber advisors to be embedded in the due diligence process, ensuring no risk goes unnoticed.
Similarly, strengthening cyber security across a portfolio of acquired companies isn’t just about risk mitigation, it’s a driver of value creation. When cyber security is treated as a strategic asset rather than a defensive measure, it can make all the difference at the point of divestment.
Eyes open to risk from day zero
Due diligence can begin long before formal negotiations take place. We help you conduct early reconnaissance to identify potential red flags that could influence your next steps, ensuring you enter negotiations with full awareness of cyber risks.
Expertise from data room to boardroom
Our multidisciplinary team of technical specialists and cyber risk advisors work closely with all stakeholders, ensuring critical insights and findings are effectively communicated to decision-makers. From the data room to the boardroom, we provide the intelligence you need to make informed decisions.
Long-term partner in value creation
Cyber threats don’t stop once the deal is done, and neither do we. Post-acquisition, we work with you to strengthen cyber security, mitigate risks, and enhance long-term value, ensuring security becomes a strategic asset, not just a compliance exercise.
Deep cyber security expertise with 20+ years of speciality M&A experience
We know that with M&A the timescales are often tight, the stakes are especially high, and insights and findings need to be raised quickly.
We provide packaged services to suit different deal sizes and complexities, ensuring all stakeholders have the insight needed for a successful transaction. From when you are scanning the market for potential investments to managing cyber risks across a diverse portfolio, we support you at every stage of the acquisition lifecycle.
Trust is at the heart of M&A, and our long-standing partnerships with strategic clients reflect our commitment to securing the right outcomes. We work closely with buyers, sellers, brokers, and legal teams to navigate risks, protect value, and to help get the deal done.
“NCC Group has been helping clients navigate complex M&A deals for over 20 years. Our global Technical Due Diligence team combines deep technical expertise with scale, enabling us to handle deals of any size, from specialised product assessments to multi-billion dollar acquisitions.
As your trusted security partner, we support every stage of a deal from initial research through to post-deal integration, security enhancement and organisational resilience.”
Our M&A cyber due diligence services
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Cyber Risk Assessment & Quantification
Understand the level and cost of risk you are acquiring through key insights and findings reported directly to key stakeholders in an actionable format.
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Online Exposure Monitoring & Assessment
Get the earliest insight into a potential acquiree through leveraging our world-leading threat intelligence experts.
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Third-Party & Supply Chain Risk
Acquiring a company involves inheriting their supply chain, often the root cause of a breach.
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Compromise Assessments
Know what you’re buying; detect existing breaches, persistent threats, and indicators of compromise within a target company’s network pre- and post-acquisition.
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Penetration Testing & Code Review
Assess the security of acquired assets, identifying vulnerabilities, risks and technical debt, all of which could impact valuation and integration post-acquisition.
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Escrow & Verification
Independently capture and verify acquired source code and platforms to strengthen vendor credibility and reduce risk for the acquirer.
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Portfolio Cyber Maturity Assessment & Management
Raise the bar in cyber risk management across your portfolio, and in turn create value through demonstrable cyber security improvement.
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Portfolio Incident Response Retainer
Safeguard your reputation and ensure that you can respond quickly to a breach or incident which affects any of your portfolio companies. Given the potential integration of an acquired network into a central infrastructure it’s key that an incident is tackled quickly to avoid it spreading more widely.
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Cyber Governance, Policy, & Compliance Review
Identify gaps which may otherwise leave you exposed to risk post-transaction.
Further reading
Case Study: Support for a $7.5 Billion M&A Transaction
NCC Group was enlisted as a cyber security due diligence partner for an organization undertaking one of the largest technology deals of the decade. The goal of the client was to understand the cyber resilience of the target organization and to ensure that they weren’t buying into a potential breach.
Why NCC Group?
Experience
We've spent over two decades providing cyber expertise to some of the largest and most complex acquisitions.
Breadth of capability
Our diverse portfolio addresses the broad range of challenges and considerations inherent to the M&A lifecycle.
Global & regional capabilities
We operate across all continents and can support acquisitions of all sizes.
Agile & responsive
M&A often requires a swift response and the ability to pivot quickly to meet deadlines.
Trusted advisors
Find reliable guidance and cyber risk expertise when you need it most.
Cross-vertical
We've engaged in M&A cyber security services across all industries and sectors.
Start your M&A journey with cyber confidence.
Speak to our specialists to safeguard your next deal, from early-stage due diligence through to post-acquisition resilience.