Orlando cybersecurity firm looks to add 200 workers with $125 million investment – Orlando Sentinel
An Orlando-based cybersecurity company that protects electric utilities and other critical industries has received a $125 million investment and plans to double its workforce.
Fortress Information Security, founded in 2015, revealed the investment from Goldman Sachs Asset Management this week. Co-founder Alex Santos told the Orlando Sentinel the money will help double the company’s staff of 200 employees, but the workforce is not required to be in Central Florida.
The jobs are in cybersecurity technology as well as sales and marketing. Santos said the pay varies based on the position, but it wouldn’t be unusual for candidates right out of school to receive salaries in the low $60,000 range or even low $100,000s.
Santos said the company has 50 of its current employees in Orlando and is looking into partnerships with University of Central Florida to hire graduates as it expands.
“We would strive to hire as many people as we can in Orlando,” Santos said.
Fortress works to protect critical industries from cybersecurity threats in their supply chains. These businesses rely on vendors that provide equipment, said co-founder Peter Kassabov.
He cited the example of a hacking of Target several years ago that was linked to its air conditioning vendor.
“It’s becoming a significant threat,” Santos said. “The world is changing right before our eyes.”
There are about 32,000 people employed in cybersecurity-related roles in the Orlando area, said David Adelson, executive director of tech and innovation at the Orlando Economic Partnership, citing JobsEQ data from 2019.
“It’s great to see the traction that cybersecurity has made in Central Florida,” Adelson said. “There’s a lot of talent here. There’s a lot of need right now.”
Kassabov added many people don’t realize Orlando is a major technology center.
“Besides Disney, we have another side of Orlando,” he said.
afuller@orlandosentinel.com
Gloss