KPMG International announced today that Forrester Research has named it a Leader among security consulting service providers, receiving the highest score of any vendor evaluated in the strategy category.

“Client references consistently mentioned one area of differentiation for KPMG that provides high value: consultants with operational experience who have deeper insights on the day-to-day battles clients fight than typical service delivery personnel with just a consulting background,” wrote the report’s authors in The Forrester Wave™: Information Security Consulting Services, Q3 2017.

“Cyber security used to be viewed only as a technology discipline,” said Greg Bell, who Co-Leads KPMG’s Global Cyber Security practice, along with Akhilesh Tuteja. “But cyber now permeates every aspect of the business. When executed properly, it can help with business growth, as well as protect brands and customers. We’re equally at ease working with client teams in operations, finance, and innovation; as we are with IT and compliance.”

According to the report: “KPMG has the clearest, most direct vision… [asserting] its desire to help CISOs and boards of directors come together on information security as a business issue, not an IT issue. The company’s go-to-market approach leads with vertical expertise, while it is also applying investments across global member firms in areas like data analytics to cyber security engagements.”

“Cyber preparedness continues to be one of the most pressing issues that businesses are grappling with,” said Mark A. Goodburn, Global Head of New Business Innovation, KPMG. “Reputational and brand risk has risen in importance to become one of the top three most important risks named in our latest CEO Outlook*, highlighting they are acutely aware of how transparent the business environment has become.”

*KPMG's 2017 Global CEO Outlook