AI Rankings · Snapshot 25 Sep 2026

Top cybersecurity firms in Texas, ranked by ChatGPT answers

We asked ChatGPT the questions buyers ask. CoreRecon came up most, in 15 of 24 answers.

Since 17 Sep 2026: Integrate Cyber climbed 14 spots

24ChatGPT answers read
72cybersecurity firms named
63%Answer Share of #1, CoreRecon
0Leaders in ChatGPT's answers

The Answer Map

Where the 20 most-named cybersecurity firms sit in ChatGPT's answers

Niche Picks Named less often, near the top
Leaders Named often, near the top
On the Radar Named less often, further down
Recognized Named often, further down

Bubble size = buyer questions it shows up for

LEADERS ⓘ NICHE PICKS ⓘ RECOGNIZED ⓘ ON THE RADAR ⓘ 0%25%50%75%100% #1#2#3#4#5#6#7 ↑ Named earlier in the answer Answer Share: how often ChatGPT names them → Answer Rank C 7 F K T J C A I C I C I N O A C P D P CoreRecon7tech IT Services and CybersecurityFramework SecurityKatalism CybersecurityTriad InfoSecJustice IT ConsultingCyber One SolutionsAspire CyberIronEdge GroupCyber Craft NetworksIntegrate CyberCritical StartITECSNGNSYSOROBIAMSYSCentre TechnologiesPraetorianPrototype IT

The takeaway

No cybersecurity firm is a Leader in ChatGPT's answers in Texas yet.

None is named in at least half of ChatGPT's answers while also landing near the top. The spot is open.

0 Leaders3 Niche Picks3 Recognized14 On the Radar

Hover or tap a bubble, name or ⓘ for details. The labels describe how ChatGPT answers, not how good a company is.

ChatGPT's Shortlist

Which cybersecurity firms does ChatGPT name most in Texas?

Cybersecurity firms protect businesses from cyber threats: security assessments, managed detection and response, penetration testing, compliance (CMMC, SOC 2, HIPAA) and incident response.

ChatGPT's Shortlist: Answer Share, answers named in, Answer Rank and Question Reach per company.
#vs last weekCompanyAnswer ShareWeekly trendNamed inAnswer RankQuestion ReachOn the map
1 ▲ 1 CoreRecon 62.5% 15 of 24 #4.3 6 of 8 Recognized
2 ▲ 2 7tech IT Services and Cybersecurity named as 7tech 50.0% −8.3 pts 12 of 24 #4.3 5 of 8 Recognized
3 ▲ 4 Framework Security 50.0% +4.2 pts 12 of 24 #6.7 5 of 8 Recognized
4 ▼ 3 Katalism Cybersecurity named as Katalism 45.8% −25.0 pts 11 of 24 #6.6 5 of 8 On the Radar
5 No change Triad InfoSec 41.7% −12.5 pts 10 of 24 #5.9 4 of 8 On the Radar
6 ▼ 3 Justice IT Consulting | IT & Cybersecurity Services named as Justice IT Consulting 41.7% −20.8 pts 10 of 24 #9.3 5 of 8 On the Radar
7 ▼ 1 Cyber One Solutions 37.5% −16.7 pts 9 of 24 #9.8 4 of 8 On the Radar
8 ▲ 6 Aspire Cyber 29.2% +4.2 pts 7 of 24 #3.6 3 of 8 On the Radar
9 ▲ 6 IronEdge Group | Houston Managed IT Services named as IronEdge Group 29.2% +4.2 pts 7 of 24 #4.0 3 of 8 On the Radar
10 ▲ 8 Cyber Craft Networks 25.0% 6 of 24 #4.5 2 of 8 On the Radar
11 ▲ 14 Integrate Cyber 25.0% +8.3 pts 6 of 24 #5.2 3 of 8 On the Radar
12 ▼ 1 Critical Start 20.8% −12.5 pts 5 of 24 #2.8 3 of 8 Niche Picks
13 ▼ 4 ITECS 20.8% −20.8 pts 5 of 24 #4.2 3 of 8 On the Radar
14 ▼ 2 NGNSYS 20.8% −12.5 pts 5 of 24 #6.4 3 of 8 On the Radar
15 ▲ 9 OROBI | Cybersecurity Solutions named as OROBI 20.8% 5 of 24 #10.0 3 of 8 On the Radar
16 ▼ 6 AMSYS 20.8% −20.8 pts 5 of 24 #10.2 2 of 8 On the Radar
17 ▲ 5 Centre Technologies 16.7% −4.2 pts 4 of 24 #1.0 2 of 8 Niche Picks
18 ▼ 5 Praetorian 16.7% −8.3 pts 4 of 24 #1.0 2 of 8 Niche Picks
19 ▲ 13 DefendIT Services, Inc 16.7% +4.2 pts 4 of 24 #6.3 2 of 8 On the Radar
20 ▼ 1 Prototype IT 16.7% −8.3 pts 4 of 24 #7.8 2 of 8 On the Radar

Ranked by Answer Share, the share of ChatGPT's answers that name the company. Answer Rank is where it shows up when named (#1 = named first). Question Reach is how many of the 8 buyer questions it appears for. "vs last week" compares with the 17 Sep 2026 snapshot: spots gained (▲) or lost (▼), and the change in Answer Share.

Not on ChatGPT's shortlist? Find out why in a free AI visibility audit.

Buyer questions

What do buyers ask ChatGPT about cybersecurity firms in Texas?

The 8 questions we ask ChatGPT, each asked 3 times.

Overall, CoreRecon is named most. But ask “Which cybersecurity firms in Texas are best for CMMC and government compliance?” and Aspire Cyber comes up in 3 of 3 answers.

In ChatGPT's words

How ChatGPT describes the top three

#1 · CoreRecon

“CoreRecon — Better suited for SMBs needing 24/7 monitoring, compliance, and incident-response capabilities.”

#2 · 7tech IT Services and Cybersecurity

“7tech — Provides cybersecurity and IT services, including security assessments and managed services.”

#3 · Framework Security

“Framework Security — Austin; CMMC Level 2 readiness and compliance consulting.”

Where ChatGPT gets its information

The websites behind the answers

To show up on this list, these are the sites ChatGPT is reading.

The websites ChatGPT cites most across this page's answers.
WebsiteTimes citedShare
clutch.co1010%
cyber-security-firms.com77%
corerecon.com66%
itecsonline.com55%
stingrai.io44%
designrush.com33%
barsec.tech33%
fulcrumgroup.net33%
cmmcconnect.com33%
blackswan-cybersecurity.com33%

The receipts

Every answer, word for word

One full ChatGPT answer for each buyer question, unedited.

“What are the best cybersecurity firms in Texas?” ChatGPT · 25 Sep 2026

Places ChatGPT showed

  • 7tech · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Truewater IT Support of Houston · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Katalism Cybersecurity · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Baxter Clewis Cybersecurity · 4.3★ · Training center
  • Framework Security · 4.8★ · Computer security service
  • BlueRadius Cyber · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Aspire Cyber · 5.0★ · Computer security service

There is no single universally “best” cybersecurity firm in Texas—the right choice depends on whether you need managed security (MSSP), penetration testing, compliance help, cloud security, incident response, or enterprise consulting. The firms below are among the better-known and highly reviewed options in Texas, based on industry presence, service offerings, and available review/ranking data.

Large enterprise cybersecurity providers

  • — Endpoint security, threat intelligence, managed detection and response (MDR), and incident response. It has a significant Texas presence and is commonly used by large organizations.
  • — Cyber risk consulting, compliance, cloud security, and large-scale security transformations.
  • — Enterprise security consulting, managed security, and digital risk services.

Texas-based or Texas-focused cybersecurity firms

  • 7tech — Provides cybersecurity and IT services, including security assessments and managed services. It appears in Texas cybersecurity consulting rankings and local business listings.
  • Truewater IT Support of Houston — Managed IT and cybersecurity services for businesses, including security monitoring and support.
  • Katalism Cybersecurity — Cybersecurity-focused services in the Dallas area.
  • Baxter Clewis Cybersecurity — Known for cybersecurity training and related security services.
  • Framework Security — Cybersecurity services provider based in Austin.
  • BlueRadius Cyber — Cybersecurity services firm in Austin.
  • Aspire Cyber — Provides cybersecurity services for organizations.

Good options by need

NeedFirms to consider
24/7 monitoring / managed security7tech, Truewater, CrowdStrike, enterprise MSSPs
Pen testing / security assessmentsFramework Security, BlueRadius Cyber, specialized consulting firms
Compliance (HIPAA, PCI, SOC 2, etc.)Deloitte Cyber, Accenture Security, cybersecurity consultants
Small and mid-sized businessesTruewater, 7tech, local managed security providers
Large enterprisesCrowdStrike, Deloitte Cyber, Accenture Security

When evaluating a cybersecurity firm, check:

  • Relevant certifications (CISSP, OSCP, CISM, CREST, etc.)
  • Experience in your industry (healthcare, finance, energy, government, etc.)
  • Whether they provide 24/7 incident response
  • Compliance experience (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS)
  • Whether they have a clear incident-response process and service-level agreements

If you tell me your city in Texas, company size, and whether you need MSSP, penetration testing, compliance, or a full security program, I can narrow this list.

“Which cybersecurity firms in Texas are best for small and mid-size businesses?” ChatGPT · 25 Sep 2026

Places ChatGPT showed

  • CoreRecon · 4.9★ · Computer security service
  • 7tech IT Services and Cybersecurity · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Framework Security · 4.8★ · Computer security service
  • IronEdge Group | Houston Managed IT Services · 4.9★ · Computer support and services
  • SecureTech · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Contigo Technology - Austin Managed IT Services Company · 4.8★ · Computer support and services
  • Katalism Cybersecurity · 5.0★ · Computer support and services

If you’re looking for Texas-based cybersecurity providers that fit small and midsize businesses, I’d focus on firms that combine managed security with practical IT support rather than enterprise-only security consultancies. I’m using “best” here as strong candidates to evaluate, not a ranking.

Texas firms worth putting on your shortlist

  • CoreRecon — Corpus Christi / Texas-wide
    Security-forward MSP/MSSP with 24/7 monitoring and incident-response capabilities. Its own materials specifically say it focuses on small to mid-market businesses.
  • 7tech IT Services and Cybersecurity — San Antonio
    A good candidate if you want managed IT + cybersecurity + compliance from one provider. Clutch lists it as a 10–49-person firm with cybersecurity as half of its service mix.
  • Framework Security — Austin
    More cybersecurity-specialized than a conventional MSP. Clutch lists it as 100% cybersecurity, with services including incident response, digital forensics, and threat/attack simulations.
  • IronEdge Group — Houston
    Full-service managed IT and cybersecurity provider explicitly serving Houston-area SMBs. This is worth considering if you want cybersecurity integrated with day-to-day IT operations.
  • SecureTech — San Antonio
    Focuses on small-to-mid-sized organizations and offers managed cybersecurity, XDR, SIEM and 24/7 SOC monitoring.
  • Contigo Technology — Austin
    Managed IT, cybersecurity, cloud and Microsoft 365 support, making it potentially suitable for an SMB wanting one technology partner rather than a security-only company.
  • Katalism Cybersecurity — Dallas
    Particularly relevant for regulated SMBs because its positioning combines managed IT with compliance-oriented security governance.
  • Barsec — Central Texas
    An interesting option for very small organizations: it specifically targets companies of roughly 3–50 employees without an internal IT/security department and provides managed cybersecurity for devices, accounts, email, people and websites.
  • Fulcrum Group — DFW
    Offers a cybersecurity package specifically designed for small businesses, alongside MDR, penetration testing and Microsoft 365 security assessments.

How I'd narrow it down

For an SMB, I'd ask each provider for a proposal covering at least:

  1. 24/7 monitoring and response — not merely antivirus alerts.
  2. Endpoint detection/response (EDR/XDR).
  3. Microsoft 365/Google Workspace security, including MFA and privileged-account controls.
  4. Email/phishing protection and employee training.
  5. Backup + ransomware recovery, with recovery actually tested.
  6. Vulnerability management and patching.
  7. Incident-response procedures — who actually answers at 2 a.m.?
  8. Cyber-insurance and compliance support if applicable.
  9. Clear per-user/per-device pricing and exactly what is excluded.

One useful benchmark: current Texas cybersecurity listings show substantial differences in firm size and specialization—for example, Clutch lists Techmedics, Framework Security, 7tech, CITAVEN, and Business IT Service Corps among Texas providers, with offerings ranging from managed SIEM and incident response to compliance and vulnerability management.

If you tell me your Texas city, employee count, industry, and approximate monthly cybersecurity budget, I can narrow this to 3–5 firms that are specifically sized for your business and compare services, pricing indicators, compliance capabilities, and reviews.

“Which cybersecurity firms in Texas are best for CMMC and government compliance?” ChatGPT · 25 Sep 2026

Places ChatGPT showed

  • Aspire Cyber · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Beryllium InfoSec, Inc. · 4.8★ · Computer security service
  • Katalism Cybersecurity · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • iFORTRISS · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Triad InfoSec · 5.0★ · Computer security service

For Texas defense contractors, notable CMMC/government-compliance firms include:

  • Aspire Cyber — Dallas; CMMC-focused cybersecurity and compliance for the Defense Industrial Base.
  • Beryllium InfoSec, Inc. — Dallas; strong DoD/NIST 800-171/CMMC and vCISO focus.
  • Katalism Cybersecurity — Dallas; compliance-first managed IT/security, including CMMC and ITAR.
  • iFORTRISS — DFW; CMMC Levels 1–2, NIST 800-171 and DFARS support.
  • Triad InfoSec — Houston area; GRC/vCISO and CMMC program support.
  • CoreRecon — Corpus Christi; CMMC readiness, remediation, SPRS and managed compliance.
  • ATX Defense — Austin; listed as an authorized C3PAO, meaning it can conduct official CMMC assessments.

One important distinction: C3PAOs perform official CMMC assessments; RPOs/consultants prepare you for them. A company that prepares your environment generally shouldn't also assess that same environment.

If you tell me your Texas city, company size, and whether you need Level 1 or Level 2, I can narrow this to the most relevant 3–5 firms.

“Which cybersecurity firms in Texas offer 24/7 managed detection and response?” ChatGPT · 25 Sep 2026

Places ChatGPT showed

  • 7tech IT Services and Cybersecurity · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Armor Defense · 4.8★ · Computer security service
  • Critical Start · 4.7★ · Computer security service
  • Blackswan Cybersecurity, LLC · 4.0★ · Computer security service
  • CoreRecon · 4.9★ · Computer security service
  • Cysiv · Computer security service
  • ON2IT Inc. · Computer security service
  • Cyber One Solutions · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • OROBI | Cybersecurity Solutions · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • BlueRadius Cyber · 5.0★ · Computer security service

Several Texas-based firms advertise 24/7 managed detection and response (MDR):

  • 7tech IT Services and Cybersecurity — San Antonio; managed security with 24/7 SOC support.
  • Armor Defense — Plano; MDR with human-led threat hunting and 24/7 monitoring.
  • Critical Start — Plano; MDR focused on continuous monitoring, investigation, and response.
  • Blackswan Cybersecurity, LLC — Dallas; 24/7/365 Cyber Fusion Center and MDR.
  • CoreRecon — Corpus Christi; 24/7 managed cybersecurity/SOC monitoring.
  • Cysiv — Irving; 24/7 SOC-as-a-Service/MDR.
  • ON2IT Inc. — Plano; MDR backed by a 24/7 global SOC.
  • Cyber One Solutions — Houston; 24/7/365 SOC-backed security monitoring.
  • OROBI | Cybersecurity Solutions — San Antonio; 24/7 SOC monitoring and incident response.
  • BlueRadius Cyber — Austin; continuous monitoring and response-oriented managed security.

Also worth considering: Axis Technologies in Plano explicitly advertises 24/7/365 MDR, while TruePoint Systems offers 24/7/365 MDR from Longview/Tyler.

If you're evaluating vendors, the key distinction is whether “24/7” means continuous human SOC monitoring and active response, versus merely an always-on platform.

“What are the most reliable cybersecurity firms in the Dallas–Fort Worth area?” ChatGPT · 25 Sep 2026

Places ChatGPT showed

  • SolCyber · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Katalism Cybersecurity · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Aspire Cyber · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • ITECS · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Cyber Craft Networks · 4.9★ · Computer networking service
  • VersaTrust · 4.9★ · Computer support and services
  • Mentis Group, Inc. · 5.0★ · Computer support and services

If by “reliable” you mean firms with established cybersecurity capabilities, local DFW presence, and a meaningful managed-security or consulting practice, I’d look at these first. I’m not treating customer ratings alone as proof of security quality.

DFW cybersecurity firms to consider

  • SolCyber — Dallas. A dedicated managed cybersecurity provider, with a focus on managed detection/response, identity security, and packaged security programs. A particularly relevant option if you want security rather than general IT outsourcing.
  • Katalism Cybersecurity — Dallas. Security-focused MSP/MSSP with an emphasis on compliance and regulated organizations. Potentially well suited to SMBs that need both IT operations and cybersecurity/compliance.
  • Aspire Cyber — Dallas. Particularly focused on CMMC and cybersecurity compliance, making it worth considering for defense contractors and organizations in the Defense Industrial Base.
  • ITECS — Dallas. Established local IT/security provider offering managed security, MDR/EDR, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, security awareness and Microsoft 365 security.
  • Cyber Craft Networks — Southlake. Cybersecurity-focused managed IT provider serving SMBs throughout DFW.
  • VersaTrust — Fort Worth. Established managed IT/security provider geared toward small and midsize organizations, with cybersecurity, cloud, backup/DR and ongoing IT management.
  • Mentis Group, Inc. — Dallas. Security-oriented managed IT provider with strategic IT leadership, cloud and compliance capabilities.
  • Deloitte — For larger enterprises, complex compliance programs, incident response, cyber strategy or 24/7 managed detection and response. Deloitte offers MXDR, threat intelligence, incident response, cloud security, identity and vulnerability-management services.
  • Accenture — Another enterprise-scale option, particularly for large transformation programs, managed security and cloud/security architecture. Its cybersecurity practice spans strategy, managed security and cyber transformation.

How I'd narrow the field

If you need…Firms worth investigating
Dedicated managed cybersecurity/MDRSolCyber, Deloitte, Accenture
SMB + managed IT + cybersecurityKatalism, ITECS, Cyber Craft, VersaTrust, Mentis
CMMC / defense contractorsAspire Cyber, Katalism
Enterprise cyber consultingDeloitte, Accenture
Local Fort Worth presenceVersaTrust, Prototype IT, Inman Technologies
Pen testing / security assessmentsITECS and specialist security consultancies

One caveat: “reliable” is difficult to establish from public reviews. For a serious engagement, I'd ask each firm for its SOC/MDR coverage, incident-response SLA, certifications and security frameworks, cyber-insurance requirements, subcontractors, sample reporting, and references from organizations comparable to yours.

If you tell me your company size, industry, and whether you need managed security, penetration testing, compliance (SOC 2/HIPAA/CMMC), or incident response, I can narrow this to 3–5 DFW firms that fit your situation.

“Who are the best cybersecurity firms in the Houston area?” ChatGPT · 25 Sep 2026

Places ChatGPT showed

  • Centre Technologies · 4.8★ · Computer support and services
  • Triad InfoSec · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Network Box USA, LLC · 4.5★ · Computer security service
  • NGNSYS · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Aldridge · 4.8★ · Computer support and services
  • IronEdge Group | Houston Managed IT Services · 4.9★ · Computer support and services
  • AMSYS - Managed IT & Cybersecurity · 4.8★ · Computer support and services
  • AVATAR Managed Services · 4.9★ · Computer support and services

If you're looking for cybersecurity firms actually serving the Houston market, I’d build a shortlist around the type of security work you need rather than a generic “best” ranking. Current Houston directories and local business data point to several strong options.

Houston firms worth considering

  • Centre Technologies — A substantial Houston MSP/security provider with 24/7 security monitoring and managed security services. It also offers compliance work such as CMMC.
  • Triad InfoSec — Particularly relevant if you need vCISO, governance/risk/compliance, CMMC, HIPAA, SOC 2, or ISO 27001 expertise.
  • Network Box USA — Focused specifically on managed cybersecurity/MSSP services, including ongoing monitoring, response, tuning, and reporting.
  • NGNSYS — Houston-based security and IT consulting firm combining cybersecurity with network/infrastructure engineering.
  • Aldridge — Established Houston managed-services provider with cybersecurity, security operations, cloud, and IT audit capabilities.
  • IronEdge Group — West Houston option oriented toward SMB/mid-market companies needing managed IT plus cybersecurity.
  • AMSYS - Managed IT & Cybersecurity — Houston-headquartered MSP with managed cybersecurity and broader IT infrastructure services.
  • AVATAR Managed Services — Focuses on SMB/mid-market clients and offers vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, ransomware protection, incident-response planning, and security advisory services.
  • Meriplex — Another significant Houston provider; its managed detection and response offering includes 24/7 monitoring and incident response.
  • ABS Group — Worth a close look for industrial/OT cybersecurity, particularly energy, maritime, chemical, and control-system environments.

How I'd narrow it down

If you need…Firms to investigate
24/7 managed detection & responseCentre Technologies, Meriplex, Network Box USA
CMMC / defense contractorsCentre Technologies, Triad InfoSec, Ecuron
vCISO / GRC / complianceTriad InfoSec, Ecuron, Aldridge
Penetration testing / security assessmentAVATAR, NGNSYS, specialist firms such as Foresite
Oil & gas / industrial OT securityABS Group, Meriplex
SMB managed IT + cybersecurityIronEdge, AMSYS, AVATAR, Centre Technologies
Larger/more mature Houston providerCentre Technologies, Meriplex, Aldridge

Independent review data also shows firms such as Foresite Cybersecurity, Infracore, Velo IT Group, Datalink Networks, and Preactive IT Solutions serving Houston, although their mix of cybersecurity versus general managed IT varies considerably.

If you tell me your company size, industry, and what you need (e.g. MDR/SOC, penetration testing, ransomware protection, CMMC, compliance, incident response), I can narrow this to 3–5 Houston firms that fit your situation, including approximate pricing and contact information.

“Which cybersecurity firms in Texas are best for penetration testing and security assessments?” ChatGPT · 25 Sep 2026

Places ChatGPT showed

  • Praetorian · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Digital Boundary Group, Inc. · Computer security service
  • Triad InfoSec · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Integrate Cyber · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • CyberDagger LLC · Information services

If you mean firms with a meaningful Texas presence and capabilities beyond automated vulnerability scanning, these are worth putting on an RFP shortlist. I wouldn’t call any one universally “best”—the right choice depends heavily on whether you need web/API testing, internal network testing, red teaming, cloud assessment, or compliance evidence.

  • Praetorian — Austin. Strong offensive-security focus, including web/mobile/API, cloud, internal/external network, Active Directory, attack-path mapping, and continuous penetration testing. A particularly relevant option for organizations wanting adversary-style testing.
  • Digital Boundary Group, Inc. — Dallas. More assessment-oriented, combining penetration testing with vulnerability assessment and configuration analysis. It also covers specialized areas such as ICS/SCADA, social engineering, cloud and application security.
  • Triad InfoSec — Katy/Houston area. Offers penetration testing, adversary simulation, attack-surface management, GRC and vCISO services, making it relevant if you want testing plus broader security-program work.
  • Integrate Cyber — Austin. Broad testing menu covering external/internal networks, web applications, APIs, cloud, IoT, AI/LLM and hardware, with an ongoing pentesting option.
  • FalconOps Cybersecurity — Fort Worth. Smaller offensive-security consultancy emphasizing hands-on testing, including internal/external networks, web apps, APIs and mobile, with retesting included.
  • Specialized Security Services, Inc. (S3 Security) — Plano. Combines penetration testing with compliance/security assessment work, including PCI, SOC, NIST and CMMC-oriented services.
  • CyberDagger LLC — Allen/DFW. Focuses on penetration testing, red-team and purple-team exercises, including MITRE ATT&CK-oriented validation and detection-stack testing.

Also consider national firms with Texas operations

Bishop Fox, Coalfire, and NCC Group are worth including if you want a larger specialist provider. Bishop Fox offers detailed external penetration testing and attacker-emulation work; Coalfire has extensive assessment/compliance capabilities including FedRAMP, PCI DSS and HITRUST; NCC Group provides network, web/mobile, application, social-engineering and configuration assessments.

How I'd structure the shortlist

Rather than relying on generic “best cybersecurity company” rankings, I'd ask each firm for the same scope and compare:

  1. Manual vs. automated testing — make sure humans actually validate and exploit findings.
  2. Tester qualifications — ask who specifically will perform the engagement and for relevant certifications/experience.
  3. Scope — external/internal network, AD, web/API, cloud, mobile, wireless, social engineering, or red team as applicable.
  4. Methodology — e.g. OWASP for applications and an established penetration-testing methodology for infrastructure.
  5. Retesting — whether remediation validation is included.
  6. Reporting — technical evidence plus an executive/risk-oriented report.
  7. Compliance requirements — particularly PCI DSS, HIPAA/HITRUST, SOC 2, CMMC, or FedRAMP if applicable.
  8. Rules of engagement and safety controls — especially important for production environments.

Bishop Fox itself recommends asking vendors about the balance of manual and automated testing, methodology, tester qualifications, remediation guidance, reporting, and retesting when selecting a pentest provider.

If you're a Texas state agency, public university, or community college, there's an additional route: the Texas Department of Information Resources offers network and web/mobile penetration testing and Texas Cybersecurity Framework assessments through its security-services program.

If you tell me your city (Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, etc.), company size, and what you need tested, I can narrow this to a practical 3–5-firm RFP shortlist and compare their specialties, certifications, and likely fit.

“Which family-owned or locally owned cybersecurity firms in Texas do businesses trust?” ChatGPT · 25 Sep 2026

Places ChatGPT showed

  • 7tech IT Services and Cybersecurity · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • CoreRecon · 4.9★ · Computer security service
  • Cyber Craft Networks · 4.9★ · Computer networking service
  • IronEdge Group | Houston Managed IT Services · 4.9★ · Computer support and services
  • DefendIT Services, Inc. · 5.0★ · Computer support and services
  • Briggs IT Services LLC · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Integrate Cyber · 5.0★ · Computer security service
  • Patriot Information Security · 4.8★ · Computer support and services

If by “trust” you mean locally owned/family-owned firms with substantial customer-review evidence and a demonstrated cybersecurity offering, there are several Texas firms worth putting on a shortlist. I’d separate “trust” from a formal security certification or independent audit, though—reviews are useful evidence of customer experience, not proof of technical security quality.

Texas firms to look at

  • 7tech IT Services and Cybersecurity — San Antonio. Founded in 2012 by Neal Juern and focused specifically on Texas businesses. It provides managed IT and managed security, with a U.S.-based security operation, and has 5.0/5 from 51 reviews in the current local-business data. Its own site says it serves 80+ Texas organizations.
  • CoreRecon — Corpus Christi. A locally based MSSP/MSP with 24/7 security operations, serving the Coastal Bend and organizations elsewhere in Texas. It has 4.9/5 from 78 reviews in the current business data.
  • Cyber Craft Networks — Southlake/DFW. A cybersecurity-focused local provider with 4.9/5 from 56 reviews. Its services are particularly relevant to businesses handling confidential client information, including law firms and professional-services companies.
  • IronEdge Group — Houston. A larger locally based managed IT/security provider with 4.9/5 from 237 reviews. Its security offering includes EDR, 24/7 SOC monitoring, dark-web monitoring, email/web protection, vulnerability mitigation and security-awareness training.
  • DefendIT Services, Inc. — San Antonio. A local provider with a security/compliance orientation and 5.0/5 from 22 reviews. It specifically works with security-sensitive and regulated organizations.
  • Briggs IT Services LLC — The Woodlands/Houston. A small cybersecurity and compliance practice with 5.0/5 from 27 reviews, particularly oriented toward professional-services businesses.
  • Integrate Cyber — Austin. A small Austin cybersecurity/MSP firm with 5.0/5 from 9 reviews, offering managed security as well as penetration testing and compliance-readiness services.
  • Patriot Information Security — Lindale/East Texas. Veteran-owned and locally based, focused on SMB cybersecurity and IT support throughout East Texas. It has 4.8/5 from 5 reviews.

Particularly clear family/local ownership

Two firms stand out because they explicitly describe themselves as family/local businesses, rather than merely having a Texas office:

  • 1MSP — San Antonio. The company describes itself as family-rooted and locally owned, with 98% client retention, a U.S.-based 24/7 SOC and an average first response under 15 minutes.
  • BDunn & Company — DFW. Explicitly family-owned and operated; the company says virtually all of its clients historically came through referrals. It provides managed IT plus IT security/threat defense and has been serving DFW businesses since 1989.

How I'd vet them

Rather than relying on a generic “top cybersecurity companies” list, I'd ask each candidate for:

  1. Cybersecurity-specific references from businesses similar to yours.
  2. Whether monitoring/SOC is in-house, U.S.-based, or outsourced.
  3. Their incident-response process and SLA.
  4. Whether they carry cyber liability/E&O insurance.
  5. Relevant certifications/attestations—e.g. SOC 2, ISO 27001, CIS Controls, CMMC/HIPAA depending on your industry.
  6. Exactly what is included in MDR/EDR, vulnerability management, phishing testing, backup protection and incident response.
  7. A recent third-party security assessment of their own environment.

For context, a 2026 Texas MSP market analysis found 721 providers across 44 Texas cities and nearly 19,400 verified Google reviews, so there is a meaningful local review pool—but that doesn't by itself establish cybersecurity effectiveness.

If you tell me which Texas city/region you're in and your business size/industry (e.g., 25-person law firm, 100-person manufacturer, healthcare practice), I can narrow this to 5–7 locally/family-owned firms that specifically fit your situation, including ownership, security capabilities, certifications, reviews, and approximate size.

How AI Rankings work

Real answers, counted

We asked ChatGPT (web search on, United States) each of the 8 buyer questions 3 times: 24 answers, collected 25 Sep 2026.

Answer Share is the share of those answers that name a company at least once. Answer Rank is where the company shows up when it is named (#1 = named first), averaged. Question Reach is how many of the buyer questions it appears for.

On the Answer Map, the lines cross at 50% Answer Share and Answer Rank #3. Leaders are named in at least half the answers and near the top; Niche Picks are named less often but early; Recognized are named often but further down; On the Radar are named some of the time, further down. These labels describe ChatGPT's answers, not company quality.

Every company listed was matched to its own website by written rules and automated checks; some identity matches are reviewed by our team. Names we could not match to a real business are left out. No company is added, removed or reordered to favour anyone, and no company can pay to appear.

Other markets

Cybersecurity Firms: zoom in or out

ChatGPT names different companies nationwide, statewide and city by city.

Nationwide

Cities in Texas

Dallas, TXHouston, TXAustin, TXFort Worth, TXSan Antonio, TX

Other states

PennsylvaniaCaliforniaOhioIllinoisMichiganIndianaMarylandNew JerseyVirginiaWashington, DCNew YorkFloridaMassachusettsMinnesotaWisconsinConnecticutRhode Island

Highlighted markets are live. The rest are on the weekly tracking schedule.