Cisco, McAfee, Red Hat and Palo Alto Networks.

Investment in cybersecurity has been skyrocketing. Where investment goes, patent litigation often follows. And so does Unified Patents, a membership organization dedicated to deterring suits by nonpracticing entities.

Unified is stepping up its efforts in the space by launching a Cybersecurity Protection Zone. Inaugural members include Cisco Systems Inc., McAfee LLC, Palo Alto Networks Inc., Rapid7 and Red Hat Inc.

“We've seen more and more assertions specific to that area,” said Unified COO Shawn Ambwani.

Unified is among the top five challengers of patent validity at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The company targets what it considers weak patents that have been or could be asserted against member companies to coerce nuisance value settlements. Unified also provides monitoring, market intelligence, analytic tools and prior art.

Unified's membership zones already include content, cloud, financial transactions, internet of things, retail, transport and mobile. Cybersecurity crosses into many of those areas, but with the new zone and new members Unified aims to step up deterrence in the cybersecurity area.

“We are pleased to name many of the biggest brands in the industry as members of Unified Patents' new Cybersecurity Protection Zone, as this aids both large and small organizations in coming together to fight the sustained IP risk in the industry,” Unified CEO Kevin Jakel said in a written statement.

“We look forward to working with Unified and the Cybersecurity Zone to reduce frivolous patent claims against cybersecurity companies,” Rapid7 CEO Corey Thomas said, “so that we can all continue to focus on preventing cyberattacks and addressing the cybersecurity challenges facing our customers.”