Digital Risk Protection through a fraud lens: insights from the 2026 SPARK Matrix(TM). QKS Group's latest assessment of the Digital Risk Protection market points to a category moving closer to fraud prevention, with proactive detection, threat intelligence and managed remediation carrying more weight than visibility alone. Many of the threats that lead to account takeover and payment fraud begin outside a financial institution's traditional security perimeter. A fraudulent banking website, compromised credentials or a fake social media account can expose customers to attacks long before suspicious activity appears within the institution's own systems. Digital Risk Protection (DRP) developed to give security teams visibility into that external landscape, and the market is now increasingly measured by what providers do after a threat is found. That shift runs through the 2026 SPARK Matrix(TM) for Digital Risk Protection from QKS Group, an independent technology research and advisory firm that named AppGate a Leader for the second consecutive year. QKS Group evaluates vendors on Technology Excellence and Customer Impact, and 360 Fraud Protection by AppGate earned strong ratings across both for its integrated, fraud-centric approach, with 360 Brand Guardian playing a central role in detecting and disrupting threats that target financial institutions, their brands and their customers. Market Shifts in the 2026 SPARK Matrix(TM). Phishing campaigns, fraudulent websites, impersonation attacks and compromised credentials are often handled as separate security challenges, yet they frequently serve as entry points for broader fraud schemes designed to exploit customer trust and compromise financial accounts. Attackers who capture credentials through one channel can use them to take over accounts through another, which is why financial institutions increasingly view these threats as stages of the same fraud lifecycle. The 2026 SPARK Matrix(TM) report identifies several developments shaping the market, including greater emphasis on identity protection, the convergence of digital risk monitoring with broader security capabilities and the growing importance of effective remediation. Each of these developments moves DRP closer to fraud prevention. Identity protection carries particular weight for banks because stolen credentials give attackers a direct path from an external threat to a compromised account, while convergence with broader security capabilities reflects the need to connect what is found outside the perimeter with the controls that protect customer sessions and transactions. The emphasis on remediation acknowledges that an alert about a fraudulent domain has limited value if the site stays live long enough to collect customer data. For financial institutions, detecting a fraudulent website or impersonation attempt is only the beginning, and the more useful measure of a DRP provider is how quickly threats can be investigated, validated and disrupted before they cause further harm. Closing the gap between detection and takedown. Phishing remains a persistent threat to financial institutions, particularly as attackers reuse infrastructure, impersonate trusted brands and develop increasingly convincing credential-harvesting campaigns. 360 Brand Guardian monitors suspicious domains, phishing infrastructure and other indicators of malicious activity to help organizations identify threats early. In its assessment, QKS Group cited AppGate's ability to detect and respond to phishing, impersonation, credential theft, malicious applications and other forms of digital fraud, supported by machine learning and a combination of proprietary and third-party intelligence sources. Identifying a threat does not automatically eliminate it, because security teams must still validate findings, investigate malicious activity and coordinate the appropriate response. AppGate addresses this challenge through its Guardian Fusion Center, which combines threat intelligence and AI-driven detection with specialized fraud analysts. Operating 24/7 with multilingual coverage, the team supports threat validation, investigation and remediation activities, helping financial institutions respond to emerging threats without relying exclusively on internal security resources. 360 Brand Guardian also supports automated takedown workflows, evidence collection and coordination with registrars, hosting providers and other relevant parties to disrupt malicious activity. This combination of technology and managed services helps organizations move from identifying digital threats to taking action against them. QKS Group Principal Analyst Sahil Dhamgaye noted that AppGate's ability to detect and respond to these threats, "combined with takedown and remediation capabilities, enables organizations to improve visibility into external threats and accelerate risk mitigation." A fraud-focused approach to Digital Risk Protection. 360 Brand Guardian addresses threats that originate outside the institution's perimeter as part of AppGate's broader 360 Fraud Protection platform, which also includes 360 Risk Control and 360 Adaptive Authentication. By connecting external threat disruption with real-time risk intelligence and adaptive authentication, AppGate supports a broader approach to protecting digital financial interactions. Credentials collected by a phishing site before it is taken down can still be used in attempts against customer accounts, so visibility across the fraud lifecycle gives an institution more opportunities to recognize and stop that activity. QKS Group noted that the portfolio brings these capabilities together, "enabling organizations to address a broad range of external digital risks through a connected framework." For financial institutions, that connected approach helps reduce exposure to threats that can lead to financial fraud and damage customer trust while minimizing unnecessary friction for legitimate customers. A second year as a Leader. Being named a Leader in the SPARK Matrix(TM) for Digital Risk Protection for the second consecutive year reflects AppGate's continued focus on helping financial institutions address digital threats through proactive detection, specialized expertise and coordinated response. As fraud techniques continue to evolve, organizations need the ability to identify threats across digital channels and act quickly to limit their impact. With 360 Brand Guardian and the broader 360 Fraud Protection platform, AppGate remains focused on helping financial institutions protect their brands, safeguard customers and respond to digital threats before they escalate. Explore the 2026 SPARK Matrix(TM) for Digital Risk Protection. The full QKS Group assessment offers a detailed view of the evolving Digital Risk Protection market and AppGate's positioning as a Leader.

AppGate Positioned as a Leader in the SPARK Matrix(TM): Digital Risk Protection, 2026 by QKS Group. Oct 28, 2026, 07:22 ET * The QKS Group SPARK Matrix(TM) provides competitive analysis and ranking of the leading Digital Risk Protection (DRP) vendors. * AppGate, with its integrated capabilities spanning digital threat protection, fraud detection, compromised-data discovery, adaptive authentication, and threat response, has been recognized for its fraud-centric approach, multi-channel threat detection, and ability to connect threat intelligence with proactive response and remediation. PUNE, India, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - QKS Group announced today that it has named AppGate as a Leader in the SPARK Matrix(TM): Digital Risk Protection, 2026. Sahil Dhamgaye, Principal Analyst at QKS Group, states, "AppGate has established a strong position in the Digital Risk Protection market through its integrated approach to digital threat detection, fraud protection, and response. Its 360 Fraud Protection portfolio brings together capabilities across digital threat protection, compromised-data discovery, fraud detection, adaptive authentication, and threat response, enabling organizations to address a broad range of external digital risks through a connected framework. AppGate differentiates itself through its fraud-centric approach, supported by machine learning, proprietary and third-party intelligence sources, and a 24/7 multilingual security operations capability. Its ability to detect and respond to phishing, impersonation, credential theft, malicious applications, and other forms of digital fraud, combined with takedown and remediation capabilities, enables organizations to improve visibility into external threats and accelerate risk mitigation." QKS Group defines Digital Risk Protection as a solution that safeguards organizations from digital threats by leveraging real-time threat intelligence, continuous monitoring, and automated remediation. DRP solutions actively identify and mitigate risks across an organization's publicly exposed digital assets, including social media platforms, IoT devices, and third-party ecosystems, detecting and mitigating threats such as phishing, impersonation, and data leaks. DRP helps reduce reputational, operational, and compliance risks, enabling organizations to respond faster to emerging threats and maintain a resilient digital presence. AppGate positions itself as a Digital Risk Protection provider with a strong focus on digital fraud prevention and external threat protection. Through its 360 Fraud Protection portfolio, including 360 Brand Guardian, 360 Adaptive Authentication, and 360 Risk Engine, the company brings together capabilities for digital threat detection, compromised-data discovery, fraud detection, authentication, and response. AppGate supports use cases spanning phishing, brand and executive impersonation, credential theft, account takeover, fraudulent applications, and payment-related fraud. Its combination of machine-learning-based detection, proprietary and third-party intelligence, and security operations support strengthens its ability to identify threats across multiple digital channels and coordinate remediation activities. The QKS Group SPARK Matrix(TM) includes a detailed analysis of the global market dynamics, major trends, vendor landscape, and competitive positioning in the Digital Risk Protection market. The study also provides a competitive analysis and ranking of DRP providers in the form of the SPARK Matrix(TM). The study provides strategic information for users to evaluate different vendor capabilities, competitive differentiation, and market positions. "Being named a Leader for the second consecutive year reinforces our approach to addressing fraud as a connected challenge rather than a series of isolated events," said Mike Lopez, Senior Vice President, 360 Fraud Protection, AppGate. "By bringing together external threat disruption, real-time risk intelligence and adaptive authentication, 360 Fraud Protection helps organizations identify risk earlier, respond faster and protect customers while minimizing unnecessary friction." Additional Resources: * For more information about AppGate, visit Here. * Download report here - SPARK Matrix(TM): Digital Risk Protection, 2026 About AppGate: 360 Fraud Protection by AppGate provides end-to-end fraud protection in a unified platform. The solution includes 360 Brand Guardian, 360 Risk Control, and 360 Adaptive Authentication. Together they provide comprehensive threat management, brand protection and fraud prevention, safeguarding financial institutions and enterprises worldwide. Learn more at 360fraud.ai About QKS Group QKS Group is a global analyst and advisory firm helping enterprises, technology vendors, and investors make trusted, data-driven decisions. Our portfolio spans the flagship SPARK Matrix(TM) evaluation framework, SPARK Plus(TM) analyst advisory platform, QKS Intelligence(TM) for market and competitive tracking, and QKS Community(TM) for CXO leaders and practitioners. All offerings are powered by a Human-Intelligence-driven framework and QKS's closed-loop research methodology - integrating expert-led insights, quantitative modeling, and continuous validation to deliver credible, outcome-focused intelligence. For more available research, please visit Research SOURCE QKS Group