A guide to climbing rankings in cybersecurity analyst reports

It's no secret that in the world of cybersecurity, trust is currency. Prospective customers and investors want reassurance that your technology is proven and recognised by the experts who shape the market. This is where analyst relations (AR) comes in.

Strong placements in analyst ranking reports can shorten sales cycles and cement your reputation as a leader. But securing those top spots doesn’t happen by chance; it is the result of a well-executed AR strategy built by analyst relations consultants.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to navigate the Request for Information (RFI) process, build lasting relationships with top security analysts, and leverage those wins for maximum business impact.

Why analyst relations is critical in cybersecurity

The cybersecurity market moves fast. New threats emerge daily, and buyers are increasingly cautious in choosing vendors. But analysts help buyers cut through the noise.

For security vendors, analyst recognition delivers three big benefits:

• Credibility: Buyers trust vetted, third-party validation over vendor claims.
• Visibility: Appear in reports that CISOs and security teams rely on when shortlisting solutions.
• Influence: Shape the narrative about your category and your differentiation.

Our own work with cybersecurity clients shows that analyst reports are often in the top three most influential resources for decision-makers such as CISOs, Heads of Security Operations, and IT Security Directors evaluating new security solutions.

Step 1: Identify the right analyst reports

Not all analyst reports are worth your effort, especially in cybersecurity, where specialisation matters. An RFI can require input from product, engineering, compliance, legal, marketing, and sales teams, so you need to choose wisely.

Before committing, ask:

• Does the report cover your core cybersecurity segment? (e.g., bot management, security awareness training, etc.)
• Will it evaluate the competitors you’re actually up against?
• Does the analyst firm have influence in your target buyer segment?

We often see vendors trying to chase every security report available. It’s far more effective to focus your energy on the ones that will truly move the needle in your market. If you’re unsure which reports matter most, ask the experts. Analyst relations consultants can do the legwork of speaking directly with the analyst firms, assessing their relevance and influence, and then providing clear recommendations so the pressure is off you.

Step 2: Build relationships with cybersecurity analysts

Strong rankings don’t start with the RFI. Security analysts need to understand your company’s vision, technical depth, and relevance to emerging threats. That means building relationships at least twelve months before a target report’s kick-off.

Ways to do this:

• Regular briefings on security trends you’re seeing in the field.
• Sharing anonymised cyber threat intelligence or proprietary research.
• Inviting analysts to closed-door demos of new security features.

All of this wrapped in a neat bow is what we call a comprehensive analyst relations programme. 

Step 3: Gather intelligence and speak the analyst’s language

Every security analyst has a distinct perspective shaped by their past research and market lens. Study their past reports:

• What security frameworks or compliance standards do they prioritise?
• How do they weigh innovation versus market traction?
• What terminology do they use for your solution category? For example, a bot management solution might also be described as an “automated threat mitigation platform” or “malicious bot detection service,” depending on the analyst firm.

Step 4: Manage the cybersecurity RFI process properly

Here’s a proven five-phase approach we use at Resonance as specialists in B2B Tech AR:

Phase 1: Centralise the analyst contact

Nominate a single point of contact to manage communication and keep technical SMEs, marketing, and exec teams aligned.

Phase 2: Information gathering

Collect details on architecture, threat detection capabilities, compliance certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2), and notable customer wins.

Phase 3: Storytelling through documents

Tell compelling cybersecurity stories. For example: how your platform stopped a zero-day attack, or reduced breach response time by 80%. You get to shape the narrative, so do it well. 

Phase 4: Post-publication plan

If you score well, don’t let the report sit idle. Secure reprint rights, run targeted cross-channel campaigns (think PR, social, blogs) to CISOs, and arm your sales team with the analyst quotes.

Phase 5: Keep the momentum

Use analyst feedback to close capability gaps. Continue the relationship so you’re front-of-mind when the next report cycle starts.

The bottom line

In cybersecurity, reputation is everything, and analyst relations is one of the most powerful tools to build it. By identifying the right reports, forging genuine analyst relationships, and executing RFIs with precision, security vendors can earn the kind of validation that drives revenue, investor interest, and market share.

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