10 Best-Selling Network Security Brands In Q3 2016

Tops In Network Security

The network security market was shaken up again in the third quarter of 2016, with new brands rapidly rising the sales ranks and disrupting the status quo, according to new data from The NPD Group, Port Washington, N.Y. The research firm compiles data in its DistributorTrack sales database from leading distributors in the U.S. Global Technology Distribution Council.

Network security stalwarts continued to hold some of the top sales spots in the quarter. Sales overall for network security were down in the third quarter, dropping 3.5 percent to just over $245 million. Take a look at who The NPD Group's research revealed to be among the best-selling network security brands of the quarter.

10. FireEye

FireEye saw a drastic jump in its network security sales in the third quarter, rising 63 percent year over year to $7,033,501, up from $4,315,817 a year ago. That jump resulted in an increase in the company's market share in network security, climbing to 2.9 percent of the market from 1.7 percent in the third quarter of 2015. FireEye has been making significant changes to its portfolio over the past year under new CEO Kevin Mandia, focusing on developing its MVX, endpoint security and FireEye-as-a-Service.

9. Watchguard Technologies

Coming in at No. 9 for the third quarter was Watchguard Technologies, despite a 9.8 percent drop in network security sales over the same quarter last year. According to NPD, Watchguard sold $7,120,359 in the quarter, down from $7,890,550 a year ago. That resulted in a slight drop in network security market share for the Seattle, Wash.-based company, to 2.9 percent. When CEO Prakash Panjwani joined the company in April of last year, he said he hoped to develop the company's core strength in network security and UTM, but also expand into other markets. Most recently, Watchguard launched a new Wi-Fi cloud solution, which includes a new portfolio of cloud-ready access points, with a management platform, built-in wireless security, analytics and engagement tools.

8. ForeScout Technologies

One of the newer entrants into the network security market on the list, ForeScout Technologies is rapidly climbing the rankings, rising 1,610.9 percent year-over-year in network security sales. The company, led by former Intel Security President Michael DeCesare, sold $7,447,548 in the third quarter, up from $435,303 in the same quarter last year. While the sales jump was significant, ForeScout still holds a smaller market share in network security compared to some of the bigger players, at 3 percent; its market share percentage was up 2.9 percentage points from the same quarter last year.

7. McAfee Associates

Despite selling many of its network security assets last year, McAfee remains a strong brand contender in the network security market, The NPD Group found. McAffe's third quarter network security sales rose 43.1 percent year-over-year to $8,501,308. McAfee's market share also continued to increase to 3.5 percent, up 1.1 percentage points over the year before.

6. Check Point Software Technologies

Coming in at No. 6 for network security sales in the third quarter was Check Point Software Technologies. According to President Amnon Bar-Lev, the Israeli network security vendor has been evolving beyond just network security offerings to focus more holistically on threat prevention, a shift he said would help it adapt to a changing security landscape. Check Point network security sales during the quarter were $12,661,869, down 2.2 percent. Its market share was virtually unchanged at 5.2 percent.

5. Sonicwall

Sonicwall has gone through a lot of change over the past year, spinning out from Dell in a deal that closed in November, and naming a new CEO. Company executives said the changes would allow the standalone security vendor to be more competitive than ever in the SMB network security market. The company's network security sales were up significantly year over year in the third quarter, rising 9.9 percent to $17,722,987. Sonicwall's market share, by revenue, rose to 7.2 percent, up 0.9 percentage points over the same quarter last year.

4. Blue Coat Systems

Blue Coat Systems saw the biggest drop in year over year sales in the third quarter, falling 48.4 percent to $18,757,873. However, the company still landed in the No. 4 spot overall. Blue Coat's market share also dropped significantly, down 6.7 percentage points to 7.7 percent of the market, by revenue. Blue Coat was acquired by Symantec this summer. The acquisition closed in August and former Blue Coat CEO Greg Clark took the top role at the combined company.

3. Fortinet

Fortinet landed in the No. 3 spot overall for network security sales, rising 9.6 percent to $25,477,677 in the third quarter. Fortinet's market share also rose slightly, up 1.2 percentage points to 10.4 percent. Over the past year, Fortinet has been pushing its Security Fabric vision, which creates an integrated ecosystem that includes Fortinet's own extensive portfolio of technology, channel partners and third-party partners in cloud, software-defined networking, sandboxing, testing, SIEM and management, and single sign-on technologies.

2. Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks finished a close second in The NPD Group's network security sales ranking for Q3, with $51,600,195 in sales, down 2.2 percent year-over-year. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company finished second in market share, holding 21.1 percent of the market, by revenue. That is up 0.3 percentage points over the third quarter last year. While the company obviously remains a strong player in network security, Palo Alto Networks has also been aggressively expanding its other offerings, including a growing set of subscription services and an endpoint security offering.

1. Cisco Systems

Landing in the No. 1 spot for the quarter was Cisco Systems. Cisco had network security sales of $53,029,068 in the quarter, down 1.6 percent year over year. Security has been a big push for Cisco over the past year, with the company reallocating resources to the division and making multiple acquisitions. The company's security business overall was up 11 percent in its most recent earnings report to $540 million in revenue. Cisco's market share in network security also rose slightly in the quarter, up 0.4 percentage points to 21.6 percent of the dollar share of the market.