The Frost Radar is a benchmarking framework from Frost and Sullivan, launched in 2019, that evaluates companies on growth and innovation. A press release dated 9 June 2026 describes four new classifications and a rescaled plot, and says the underlying methodology is unchanged. Check the edition date before comparing reports.
What it measures
Frost and Sullivan describes the Radar as a forward-looking view, not a traditional ranking. The two axes are growth and innovation, and the stated idea is how well a company balances the two to gain sustainable competitive advantage.
The same press release says each analysis starts with a broad universe of participants, followed by analyst research, validation and benchmarking against the firm's criteria for growth and innovation. It describes inclusion as selective.
The June 2026 update
According to the announcement:
- Four classifications: Visionary Leaders (strong on both axes), Growth Champions (market traction and execution), Innovators (technological advancement and disruption) and Contenders (specialized firms with future growth potential).
- Rescaled plot: the plotted range was changed to make differences between participants easier to see.
- Method: the firm says the underlying methodology remains unchanged and that the rescaling did not alter underlying scores or evaluation criteria.
- Scope: the enhanced framework will be used in future analyses across industries.
How this affects reading older reports
A report from before the update will not carry the new labels. If someone shows you an older chart next to a newer one, the visual spacing and classification names may differ even if scoring is the same. Ask for the edition date and for which framework version applied.
What growth and innovation can and cannot tell you
Growth measures commercial traction. Innovation measures how a company advances its product. Neither is a direct measure of whether a tool will find vulnerabilities in your code, fit your pipeline or satisfy your auditors. A fast-growing vendor may be exactly right, or may be stretched. A smaller innovator may be ideal for a narrow job.
Use the radar as context on vendor trajectory and test product fit separately.
What I could not confirm
I could not retrieve a full public methodology document listing every criterion, so I am not describing individual criteria beyond what the press release states. The firm's own site is the place to check.
Questions to ask when a Frost Radar is cited
- Which edition and which framework version, before or after June 2026?
- Which classification, and on which of the two axes is the strength?
- What was the market definition?
- How recent is the underlying data?
Classification names such as Growth Champions or Innovators describe emphasis. A buyer who needs a stable, broad platform may care about a different mix than one who wants a specialist.
Quick check
Did the June 2026 update change the scores?
The firm says the underlying methodology, scores and evaluation criteria are unchanged and that the plot was rescaled.
What are the two axes?
Growth and innovation.
Safeguard focuses on GA capabilities you can inspect directly, such as asset discovery and SBOM and dependency scanning.
Sources
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
