Top 10 Data Security Companies to Watch in 2026
▼ Summary
– Help Net Security has identified 10 standout data security companies tackling old problems with innovative approaches and better control over data.
– Atakama provides a browser security platform for MSPs to enforce policies, monitor activity, block threats, and prevent data leakage through a managed workspace.
– AvePoint offers a Data Security Posture Management solution to identify, classify, and protect sensitive cloud data with automated enforcement and backup capabilities.
– Dymium enables governed, real-time data access by dynamically applying policies to requests from applications and AI systems without duplicating data.
– EchoMark embeds invisible watermarks in emails and documents to trace unauthorized sharing, helping detect and deter leaks while maintaining workflows.
Navigating the complex world of data protection requires innovative solutions from forward-thinking companies poised to shape the industry’s future. These organizations are redefining security by offering powerful tools that give businesses unprecedented control over their most valuable asset: information. From securing cloud environments to protecting against insider threats, the following ten companies represent the vanguard of data security technology worth watching closely.
1. Atakama, led by CEO Daniel H. Gallancy, delivers a browser security platform specifically designed for managed service providers. Their browser extension transforms standard web browsers into managed workspaces, enabling MSPs to enforce data policies, monitor browsing activity, and block phishing attempts and malware. The platform includes comprehensive dashboards for identifying unusual behavior and integrates seamlessly with existing client management systems to streamline administration across multiple organizations.
2. Under CEO Tianyi Jiang’s leadership, AvePoint offers a Data Security Posture Management solution that helps organizations identify, classify, and protect sensitive information across diverse cloud environments. The platform provides complete visibility into data location, access patterns, and usage while combining automated policy enforcement with encryption and risk-based alerting. This approach enables proactive prevention of data exposure and compliance violations, with integrated backup and recovery capabilities adding another layer of protection.
3. Dymium, guided by CEO Denzil Wessels, provides governed real-time access to enterprise data through dynamic policy enforcement. The platform connects directly to data sources without requiring data duplication or staging, applying identity, role, and context logic to determine appropriate access levels. By automatically masking or redacting sensitive fields when necessary, Dymium helps organizations maintain compliance while significantly reducing exposure risks across applications, analytics tools, and AI systems.
4. CEO Troy Batterberry’s EchoMark addresses insider risk and accidental data leaks through invisible, individualized watermarks embedded into emails, documents, and images. Operating silently without client software requirements, the technology enables organizations to trace any unauthorized sharing back to its source. The platform integrates with common business systems and delivers forensic insights that help detect, remediate, and deter leaks while maintaining seamless workflow operations.
5. HYCU, under CEO Simon Taylor’s direction, provides comprehensive data protection as a service across on-premises, cloud, and SaaS environments. Their platform simplifies backup, recovery, migration, and security processes while reducing complexity and eliminating infrastructure overhead. With automated workflows and deep integration capabilities, HYCU empowers businesses to protect against data loss, system outages, and ransomware attacks while maintaining operational resilience.
6. NextLabs, led by CEO Keng Lim, delivers data-centric security products that protect information wherever it resides. Their platform utilizes attribute-based access control and dynamic authorization to enforce policies in real time across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. Through persistent protection of data in use, at rest, and in transit, NextLabs enables comprehensive policy management, application-level protection, and audit visibility to mitigate regulatory risks and insider threats.
7. Under CEO Gadi Evron’s guidance, Knostic enables safe enterprise AI adoption by applying “need-to-know” controls to large language models. The technology identifies where AI tools might overshare sensitive content and prevents inappropriate disclosure in real time. By enforcing strict governance protocols, Knostic ensures that users, agents, and assistants only access information aligned with their specific roles and responsibilities.
8. Paperclip, directed by CEO William Weiss, offers an integrated suite of enterprise solutions for managing, automating, and protecting sensitive documents and communications. Their platform features always-encrypted data processing, AI-powered document transcription, cloud content management, encrypted email, e-signatures, and secure file exchange capabilities. This comprehensive approach ensures data remains protected throughout its entire lifecycle.
9. CEO J. Gaston Siri’s SideDrawer provides a secure digital vault platform specifically designed for financial services firms. The technology centralizes document management, automates data collection workflows, and enforces role-based access and compliance controls. Through API connections and integration capabilities, SideDrawer supports mobile access and custom branding while tracking all platform activity to help financial institutions streamline operations while safeguarding sensitive client information.
10. Based in Spain under CEO Luis Ángel Del Valle Echavarri, SealPath offers data-centric protection that keeps business documents secure whether stored locally, in the cloud, or shared externally. Their innovative technology allows organizations to maintain control over access and permissions even after files leave their environment. By integrating with existing systems without disrupting workflows, SealPath helps companies of all sizes safeguard sensitive information effectively.
(Source: HelpNet Security)
