A cybersecurity firm owned by an NFL billionaire is hiring in Portlaoise
Irish-founded SkOUT will create 30 ‘high-value’ jobs at its new European headquarters
US CYBERSECURITY COMPANY SkOUT Secure Intelligence is opening a new European headquarters in Portlaoise with plans to hire 30 people.
New York-based SkOUT, co-founded by Laois man Aidan Kehoe and formerly known as Oxford Solutions, was acquired by the billionaire owner of NFL football team Miami Dolphins in a deal worth a reported $30 million earlier this year.
The firm develops cybersecurity solutions for companies to monitor and detect threats. It has more than 800 clients, including the GAA.
SkOUT co-founder Aidan Kehoe
The Portlaoise office will carry out “high-value” functions in management, sales and business development, engineering and technical support for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market.
According to the company, the opening of the new office will fuel the expansion of its customer base around Europe.
“As our operations run 24/7, we view Ireland as a critical digital hub that allows us to service our clients across the EMEA region,” senior director for EMEA operations JP Kehoe said.
Access to talent
SkOUT chief technology officer Jessvin Thomas added that the company chose Ireland for access to talent.
“(The office) will support our expansion and allow us integrate our operations for US clients trying to deal with the new GDPR requirements that came into effect in May,” Thomas said.
The company said that there are around 1.5 million job openings in cybersecurity internationally.
A survey last year by the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), a US-based organisation that represents cybersecurity workers, found that companies are struggling with keeping up with security threats and finding the right talent.
