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Booz Allen Hamilton logo.

Over a century in the making, Booz Allen Hamilton is most notably the most prominent management consulting partner for the U.S. government and a leader in cybersecurity and cloud services.

Considered the first management consulting firm, the Virginia-based consultancy offers end-to-end technology services for numerous public and private clients. From helping American military agencies build cyber defensive operations to embedding advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) into supply chain management, Booz Allen is an industry-recognized firm with a historic legacy.

This profile looks at Booz Allen services and solutions, target markets, industry recognition, partner ecosystem, and history as a channel partner.

Booz Allen Hamilton Solutions and Specialties

A consulting firm first, Booz Allen Hamilton lists six areas of expertise covering analytics, consulting, cybersecurity, digital solutions, engineering, and innovation services. Below is a deeper look at the firm’s specialties and its handful of commercial products.

Cybersecurity

Booz Allen’s portfolio of cybersecurity solutions is one of the most robust among enterprise IT partners. Between 80% of the U.S. federal, defense, and intelligence agencies and Fortune 500 companies, Booz Allen offers clients several solutions across advanced cyber defense, cyber warfare, and cyber-enabled platforms.

Advanced Cyber Defense

For managing the complexities of modern threats, Booz Allen’s advanced cyber defense capabilities help clients identify and prioritize vulnerabilities and threats for enabling remediation. Partnered with a long list of enterprise cybersecurity vendors, the company can help deploy the best hardware and software solutions for the hybrid infrastructure era. The cherry on top – Booz Allen also specializes in integrated data platforms to ensure trusted data sharing for cyber defense operations.

An infographic from Booz Allen on how to build a data-driven cybersecurity posture.
An infographic from Booz Allen on how to build a data-driven cybersecurity posture.

Cyber Warfare

More pertinent to its U.S. federal agency clients, Booz Allen also offers offensive cyber warfare capabilities for mission operations, readiness, and capability development. Utilizing data analytics, cyber network operations, algorithmic warfare solutions, and reverse engineering, the greater Washington, DC-based company is no stranger to physical and cyber battlefields.

Cyber-Enabled Platforms

Booz Allen also offers expertise in hardening the range of cyber-enabled platforms critical to everyday operations, including cloud infrastructure, 5G technology, operational technology (OT), and industrial control systems (ICS). Aligned with its military capabilities, this list also covers resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), and weapon system security.

Read more: Top MSSP Tools and Cybersecurity Vendors

Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

Harnessing data through cognitive computing models like AI and machine learning (ML) is increasingly critical to having a competitive edge. Through Booz Allen’s data science wing, clients have access to four areas of expertise:

  • Artificial Intelligence: Embed AI, ML, and quantum computing into operations.
  • AI/MLOps: Collect and analyze insights at scale amidst unchecked data growth.
  • Quantum Computing: Develop quantum computing strategy, research, and expertise.
  • Healthcare Analytics and AI: Leverage clinical, behavioral, and genomic data.

The U.S. government’s top provider of AI solutions, Booz Allen’s initiatives include supporting increased science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and career development opportunities. Earlier this year, the company deepened its partnership with the AI Education Project (aiEDU) to develop curriculums, mentorship, and programming opportunities for interested students.

Featured Analytics Partners: NVIDIA, Databricks, AWS, Latent AI, and General Assembly.

Digital Solutions

Booz Allen offers a portfolio of solutions for the next generation of digital systems that covers cloud transformation, data management, software development, edge computing, and digital experience. 

Whether integrating systems for converged workflows, automating application delivery, or creating personalized interactions for end-users, the company’s digital services help clients from strategy to implementation. Other capabilities include Human Performance Training for physically, mentally, and psychologically preparing individuals for missions.

Digital accelerators from Booz Allen include open source solutions for fast, secure development through the Virtual Cloud Defense and the Solutions Delivery Platform for a container-based DevSecOps solution ideal for software development pipelines.

Key Digital Solutions Partners: AWS, Microsoft, Red Hat, and ServiceNow.

Management Consulting

From advising the American naval fleet in WW2 to the AFL-NFL merger of 1966, Booz Allen’s consulting services are over a century in the making. The earliest firm to put management consulting into practice, the company’s stack of consulting services today includes:

Wargames & Exercise Design: Pool perspectives, test ideas, and model adversarial settings.

Management Consulting: Transform orgs with strategy and change management experts.

Human Capital Planning: Optimize employee experience, performance, and workforce.

Strategic Communications: Campaigns to drive awareness, engagement, and behavior.

Acquisition, Program Management, and Logistics: Navigate the complex contract process.

Also read: Best Project Portfolio Management Solutions

Engineering

Booz Allen has a robust set of engineering capabilities emphasizing military and defense systems. While application development has long been associated with “engineering” within the IT ecosystem, Booz Allen’s competencies are committed to the full spectrum of engineering needs, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and industrial design.

Through 27 U.S. labs and the latest in emerging technologies, the firm’s Engineering services include implementing:

  • Direct Energy (DE) weapons systems along with traditional kinetic weapons.
  • Digital twin solutions for virtual replicas of infrastructure to exchange real-time data.
  • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technology for precise time and location data.
  • Integrated C4ISR systems using engineering, operations, and acquisition disciplines.
  • Lifecycle product systems and support functions. 
  • Sustainable, renewable energy-driven infrastructure.
  • Physical and life science analysis solves product, facility, and system challenges.
  • Unmanned robotic machines and devices through sensors or remote operation.
A blueprint from Booz Allen of a digital twin solution for a military jet.
A blueprint from Booz Allen of a digital twin solution for a military jet.

Read more: Best Remote Monitoring & Management Software (RMM)

Products

In addition to Booz Allen’s portfolio of services, the company also offers a stack of products:

Adversary Pursuit: Track new adversary behavior and respond with custom anti-malware.

Cyber Precog: GPU-based accelerated incident response technology via NVIDIA framework.

District Defend: Secure company data-in-transit with asset management for mobile personnel.

Global4Sight: Insights and analytics on global and regional threats to client operations.

Modular Detachment Kit (MDK): Take control of environments with vendor-neutral tools.

Recreation.gov: Plan and manage reservations to American parks and public lands. 

XR Analytics Engine (XRAE): Real-time analytics for immersive reality training programs.

Target Markets

  • Finance and banking
  • Government and civil agencies
  • Intelligence, military, and space
  • Infrastructure and utilities
  • Life sciences and healthcare
  • Transportation and logistics
U.S. Senator Mark Warner visiting Booz Allen headquarters in McLean, Virginia.
U.S. Senator Mark Warner visiting Booz Allen headquarters in McLean, Virginia.

Also read: How IT Vendors Can Attract Channel Partners

Industry Recognition and Reviews

The Forrester Wave

Industry ReportWhenWhat
Global Cybersecurity Consulting ProvidersQ4 2021Challenger
Global Cybersecurity Consulting ServicesQ2 2019Strong Performer
Cybersecurity Incident Response ServicesQ1 2019Strong Performer

IDC MarketScape

Industry ReportWhenWhat
Worldwide Incident Readiness Services2021Leader
Industry Cloud Professional Services2019Major Player
US Incident Readiness, Response, and Resiliency2018Leader
Industry Collaborative Cloud Professional Services2017Contender

Alliances and Ecosystems

Booz Allen Hamilton offers four tracks for potential partners with programs for:

  • Commercial: For-profit services and client solutions.
  • Public Sector: Mission-critical solutions for non-profit and government organizations.
  • Small Business: Strategic partners dubbed favorable small businesses (FSB).
  • Tech Startup: End-to-end technology scouting to develop and deploy innovative ideas.

Booz Allen Hamilton’s notable partnerships include:

AWSDockerPega
AcquiaElasticRaytheon
AnomaliESRISAS
AppianForescoutServiceNow
ArmisMcAfeeSonatype
Blue PrismMedalliaSplunk
ConfluentMicrosoftSysdig
DatabricksMuleSoft

Read more: Top Tech Vendors Powering the Modern Enterprise

Booz Allen Hamilton Competitors

Portraits of the firm’s founders and namesake, Edwin Booz, James Allen, and Carl Hamilton (Source: Strategy&).
Portraits of the firm’s founders and namesake, Edwin Booz, James Allen, and Carl Hamilton (Source: Strategy&).

Booz Allen Hamilton: Company Background

In 1914, Northwestern University graduate Edwin Booz founded the Business Research Service in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois. After three decades and multiple changes to the management consulting business model, the company settled on the name Booz Allen Hamilton in 1942. After WW2, the firm grew dramatically with a shift in client strategy and an increasing number of government contracts.

Over a century later, Booz Allen Hamilton’s expertise in government services remains clear as the firm’s now headquartered outside Washington, DC, in McLean, Virginia. In 2022, the firm boasts a workforce of 29,000 across 80 locations in the U.S., Europe, Indo-Pacific, and Middle East-North Africa (MENA).

Part of the Booz Allen Huntsville, Alabama team, presenting sponsor for the Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2022.
Part of the Booz Allen Huntsville, Alabama team, presenting sponsor for the Rocket City Trash Pandas in 2022.

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