NCC Group named in Forrester MDR services landscape

NCC Group has been named among notable providers in Forrester's Managed Detection and Response Services Landscape, Q3 2026, placing the cyber security company in a market overview of managed detection and response providers.

The Forrester report examines managed detection and response, or MDR, services, which companies use to monitor threats, investigate incidents and support security operations without building a round-the-clock internal centre.

In the report summary, Forrester said organisations can use MDR services to extend security operations and shorten the path from detection to containment. It added that buyers face a wide field of providers that differ by size, offering, geography and target market.

According to NCC Group, the report also lists several technology partners used in its MDR service, which is designed for organisations managing hybrid environments and a mix of security tools across cloud, identity, endpoint and network systems.

Market trends

The report points to a changing MDR market, with customers looking more closely at evidence of results, including the quality of investigations, the speed of containment and reductions in cyber risk. That focus reflects broader pressure on security teams to justify spending and show that outsourced services improve response times and reduce operational strain.

Artificial intelligence also features prominently in the report's assessment of the sector. Forrester noted that success with AI in security operations depends on redesigning workflows rather than adding AI to existing processes.

That matters for MDR providers because the model increasingly relies on automation to handle alert volumes and prioritise investigations. At the same time, customers remain concerned about oversight, false positives and whether automated triage can maintain accuracy at scale.

NCC Group said those themes match what it is seeing in the market. It has argued that AI-led triage and investigation are reshaping security operations, while human review remains important to maintaining detection quality.

Industry position

The latest recognition adds to a growing number of analyst assessments in the cyber security services market, where providers use third-party reports to support their standing with corporate and public sector buyers. Demand for MDR services has risen as organisations struggle with a shortage of specialist staff, fragmented technology estates and a higher tempo of attacks.

NCC Group employs more than 2,000 staff across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. It operates in cyber resilience and software escrow, serving clients in both the public and private sectors.

The Forrester report follows the company's inclusion as a Leader in the 2026 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Managed Detection and Response Services for Midmarket. Analyst recognition does not amount to an endorsement, but it can still influence shortlists in a market where buyers often compare providers on service scope, geographic coverage and technical fit.

Damien Childs commented on the recognition and the wider direction of the MDR market.

"This report reflects many of the trends we're seeing across the market. Organisations need MDR providers that can deliver measurable outcomes, operate across diverse technology environments and help them respond faster when threats emerge. It's encouraging to see the emphasis on both AI-driven transformation and demonstrable results. The future of MDR lies in combining AI, automation and human expertise to deliver better security outcomes for customers," said Damien Childs, Chief Delivery Officer, NCC Group.