AUSTIN, TX – July 9, 2025 — NSS Labs, long known as the gold standard for independent security product testing, is back—with a new ownership structure, revitalized leadership, and a mission laser-focused on the evolving demands of today’s cybersecurity and advanced technology ecosystem. Led by Founder and CEO Vikram Phatak, NSS Labs 2.0 is now wholly owned and operated by its senior partners and executive team.
The reimagined NSS Labs will deliver confidential, data-driven testing services tailored to three core audiences:
- Enterprises will benefit from objective testing and continuous validation of security technologies—on-premises, in the cloud, or delivered via third-party services. These assessments support strategic initiatives including risk governance, supply chain validation, vendor accountability, and regulatory compliance.
- Security Vendors will gain rigorous third-party validation of product efficacy using real-world attack scenarios. Testing data will help refine product strategy, accelerate go-to-market timelines, and support credible claims in a competitive market.
- Service Providers will receive evaluations built for multi-vendor environments, helping them benchmark offerings, support procurement decisions, and communicate service value with independently validated data. Testing also supports operational readiness and future roadmap development.
In addition to its commercial services, NSS Labs is also the Official Testing Partner of CyberRatings.org, the non-profit that publishes public test results and research on cybersecurity technologies. NSS Labs contributes by developing test methodologies, authoring both individual and comparative reports, and producing educational and thought leadership content for the broader cybersecurity community.
Originally founded in 2007, NSS Labs quickly became a globally trusted authority, shaping product development, procurement, and strategy decisions across the cybersecurity ecosystem. After private equity ceased operations in 2020, Phatak acquired select assets and intellectual property from the custodian of NSS Labs 1.0 and recognizing renewed demand from stakeholders, reassembled veteran talent and new industry leaders to launch NSS Labs 2.0.
“We’re not just relaunching NSS Labs—we’re rebuilding it for the future,” said Phatak. “We’ve preserved the integrity and rigor that put NSS Labs on the map, and supercharged it with interactive tools, modern methodologies, and a team with decades of hands-on experience evaluating cybersecurity products across a wide range of categories—including endpoint, cloud, AI, and post-quantum cryptography.”
What’s New at NSS Labs 2.0
- Interactive, Data-Driven Tools: Stakeholders can engage with test data through intuitive interfaces, enabling real-time comparison and deeper insights into product performance.
- Expanded Testing Portfolio: Beyond traditional technologies like enterprise firewalls and SD-WAN, NSS Labs now evaluates advanced solutions such as AI/ML-powered tools, ransomware defenses, and post-quantum cryptographic systems.
- Tailored Services by Audience: Purpose-built programs for enterprises, vendors, and service providers combine transparency, speed, and rigorous technical validation.
A Legacy That Inspires Confidence
NSS Labs 2.0 draws on decades of hands-on experience testing hundreds of cybersecurity products across diverse categories. Each evaluation begins with the development of robust, detailed methodologies, followed by rigorous real-world testing to ensure products meet the demands of today’s fast-evolving threat landscape.
The lab’s live, real-time infrastructure tests against a broad array of exploits, evasions, malware, and malicious URLs—mirroring the complexity of real-world attacks. Unique to NSS Labs are thousands of hand-crafted evasions that mimic sophisticated threat actor techniques, designed specifically to bypass detection systems. Scalable cloud infrastructure simulates large enterprise environments, enabling high-fidelity assessments under realistic conditions.
Led by Visionaries, Powered by Experts
The new NSS Labs is guided by a leadership team with deep expertise in cybersecurity testing, strategy, and innovation:
- Vikram Phatak, Chief Executive Officer & Founder
- Ian Foo, Chief Technology Officer & EVP of Product
- Carma Austin, Chief Strategy Officer
- Cathy Main, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
- Tim Otto, Vice President of Test Operations
- Thomas Skybakmoen, Vice President of Research
To learn more about NSS Labs and its services, visit www.nsslabs.com.
About NSS Labs
NSS Labs delivers research-backed insights through its advanced testing platforms, empowering enterprises, security vendors, and service providers to make informed, evidence-based cybersecurity decisions. By handling the heavy lifting of testing for effectiveness, performance, and suitability, NSS Labs helps clients move beyond assumptions to gain actionable clarity. Its auditing and governance services offer continuous assurance that deployed security technologies are performing as expected—protecting investments and supporting accountability.
