Jacobs extends tech investment, scouting arm through new partnership

Companies in the government market are increasingly telling their employees and customers alike that part of the mandate of being a systems integrator is to be a tech scout too.

Such scouts look into the greater commercial landscape for those promising technologies that can be of dual use in the public sector. Sometimes that means partnerships, but in other instances that means an investment into a technology company for gaining access to that product line.

Jacobs took the path of investment late last year when it backed geo-analytics firm HawkEye 360 and evidently is looking for opportunities to do more through a partnership with NightDragon, an investment and advisory firm focused on cybersecurity.

Under their arrangement announced Tuesday, Jacobs and NightDragon will work together on building and co-investing in a joint cyber and intelligence ecosystem that brings those emerging technologies to both national security and commercial entities.

NightDragon also is an investor in HawkEye 360, which is lined up as a contributor to the ecosystem being formed with Jacobs. Five other companies are also participating in capacities such as co-investments, distribution agreements and program engagements.

"The formation of this alliance directly aligns with Jacobs' new strategic growth accelerator around data and creates a foundation for delivering innovative, secure solutions and technologies across multiple domains,” Caesar Nieves, Jacobs senior vice president for cyber and intelligence, said in a release.

“By partnering with a market leader like Jacobs, we hope to better arm commercial and government defenders with leading technologies, talents and solutions to combat these rising threats and prepare themselves for an increasingly digital future," added Dave DeWalt, NightDragon’s founder and managing director, plus a former CEO of FireEye.

NightDragon and Jacobs aim to align their joint strategy with goals laid out by the White House, Defense Department and members of Congress on public-private partnerships aimed at bolstering the U.S.’ cybersecurity posture.

Jacobs has made cyber a priority in recent years that include the new version of its strategy unveiled in early March to focus on technologies that cross the digital and physical worlds.

DeWalt and fellow former FireEye executive Ken Gonzalez stood up NightDragon to focus on growth and late-stage investments in companies focused on computer network security.