China’s 2025 Top 20 Cybersecurity Companies: Which “Dark Horses” Will Emerge to Prominence in 2026?
Annual ranking reveals hyper-competitive, innovation-focused top performers – some familiar and some not so well known, with extensive government ties
As we enter 2026, the geopolitical landscape appears more uncertain than ever. Ongoing conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, remain unresolved, while competition among major world powers is intensifying. In such a climate, strength and capability are paramount. China’s cybersecurity industry recognizes its special expertise as “the fundamental cornerstone for safeguarding national security.” Among the more than five thousand cybersecurity companies in China, which ones stand out as top providers of quality products and services, significantly contributing to China’s national security? The “2025 Top 20 Chinese Cybersecurity Enterprises (2025年中国网络安全前二十家企业)” list featured in the annual “China Internet Company Comprehensive Capability Index (CICCI) (中国互联网企业综合实力指数)” report published at the end of December 2025 by the Internet Society of China (ISC)—an industry association affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)—offers a fresh perspective on the leading players in China’s cybersecurity industry as we begin our 2026 research focused on this sector.
The Natto Team believes that understanding these Chinese cybersecurity companies is essential for grasping how China develops its cyber capabilities. Since launching Natto Thoughts in 2023, our team has investigated several Chinese cybersecurity companies involved in state-sponsored or state-linked cyber operations. Our findings suggest that China has established a highly effective and state-aligned system, notably integrating the private sector—Chinese cybersecurity companies—in building its cyber capabilities.
In this post, the Natto Team examines the overall development of China’s cybersecurity sector and the top cybersecurity companies of 2025 based on the ISC’s CICCI reports, which analyze these companies’ key performance indicators, innovation and research and development (R&D) capabilities, business and market coverage, and how their core functions align with China’s national priorities.
