Ireland is fast-emerging as a global centre for cyber-security as a leading IT protection firm confirmed it is to create 150 new jobs.
US firm Cylance is to create the 150 news jobs over three years as part of a major investment in Cork.
Cylance is one of a new generation of IT security firms which specialise in the prevention rather than just the reactive detection of online threats.
Its new products focus particularly on eliminating the threat of data breaches.
The pioneering nature of their cyber-security products has seen it ranked as one of the fastest growing IT companies in the US.
The new jobs will large involve software designers, sales, sales engineering and customer support.
The California-based firm has chosen a site on the South Mall as their new hub.
The investment is supported by the IDA.
It will support Cylance’s next-generation security products which are being rolled out for their 3,000 major multinational customers as well as millions of smaller networks and devices.
Enterprise Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor said the launch was a major boost for Ireland’s strategic IT sector.
Cork is already home to major Apple, EMC and McAfee operations.
“We already have a strong footprint of IT companies in Cork city and we are very keen to expand that by attracting a wider range of specialist IT companies,” she said.
“We are all aware of the crucial importance of being able to deal with cyber-security threats and it is terrific news that a company of the stature of Cylance has decided to locate here.”
“We have the IT skills available to enable the company to grow and to embed their operations in Ireland. Their arrival is a great vote of confidence in what Cork has to offer.”
Cylance said they were very pleased with selection of Cork for their major expansion.
“Cork has become an international cyber-security and technology center, and we are proud to be a part of that,” Cylance chief executive Stuart McClure said.
“Our mission has always been to protect everyone under the sun, and tapping the rich technology pool in Ireland will help us greatly in this effort.”
The US firm is amongst the first to pioneer the use of artificial intelligence to proactively prevent IT security threats rather than just reactively detect persistent threats and malware.
IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan said the Cylance investment is further proof of Ireland’s attractiveness as an investment location.
“The choice of Ireland for the new Cylance operations is also an endorsement of the emerging cybersecurity cluster in Cork,” he said.
The investment was welcomed by Cork Chamber of Commerce and Cork Business Association.
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