US cyber security firm creates 88 new jobs

Alert Logic will employ 88 people at a security research and technology development centre in a programme anounced by Finance Minister Mervyn Storey.

The centre has beed developed with support from invest Northern Ireland and already empoys 30 people.

Speaking from the company’s new premises in Weaver’s Court Belfast, Mr Storey described Alert Logic as a very welcome addition to Northern Ireland’s growing portfolio of global ICT firms choosing to establish offices here.

“The company is expanding rapidly having already recruited 30 of the high quality jobs,” he said.

“The company’s decision to locate in Northern Ireland will contribute a total investment of £3.9 million into the economy.

“The new security research and technology development centre will provide valuable employment for IT and cybersecurity professionals. These are well paid jobs with an average salary of £44,000, contributing nearly £4m annually in salaries for the local economy.

“Northern Ireland is well placed to capitalise on the major growth in the cyber security sector.

“We have recently successfully attracted a number of leading cyber security investors including Proofpoint, Whitehat and Rapid7.

“Northern Ireland is fast becoming a global cyber security hub, with a growing base of local firms and specialist university research centres, including the Centre of Secure Information Technology at Queen’s University.”

Founded in 2002 Alert Logic is based in Houston, Texas with offices in Seattle, Cardiff and London.

The business offers cloud-based Security-as-a-Service, a platform of fully managed products and services designed to keep a customer’s data and infrastructure safe and compliant, regardless of whether that IT infrastructure resides in the cloud, on-premises or in a hybrid data centre.

Customers include the Dutch postal service and drinks giant and Guinness owner Diageo.

Invest NI offered the company £572,000 of support for the new jobs, which are expected to be in place by the end of 2017.

Gray Hall, CEO of Alert Logic said: “We considered many other locations for this investment but Invest NI’s support and the availability of a strong pool of talented people made Northern Ireland a very attractive location for us.

“Opening an office in Belfast not only puts us physically closer to a number of our customers and prospective customers but this new centre will complement our existing centres in Cardiff and Houston and support our ambitious growth plans, particularly in the US, Europe and Asia markets.”