Australian cyber security firm setting up shop at UMBC tech park

Ryan McDonald
Digital Producer- Baltimore Business Journal

Australia and Baltimore may have very little in common when it comes to geography.

But that isn’t stopping one cyber security executive from moving his family to Baltimore so he can expand his company.

Based in Perth, Western Australia, iWebGate developed a software platform that can be installed on a cloud-based network or at a company’s office. The software handles cyber attacks on private networks and creates a virtual network where a company can keep its data while also maintaining a network on site.

The cyber firm’s CEO, Tim Gooch, is moving to Baltimore in the beginning of April to open an office at bwtech@UMBC Research and Development Park.

Gooch said he’s hoping to have six employees working out of the Baltimore office with hopes of doubling that within the next eight months.

Baltimore had some stiff competition when it came to becoming iWebGate’s U.S. destination. Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and New York were places Gooch said he spent time in looking to open its U.S. office.

But Baltimore stood out to him the most for a number of reasons.

“The talent pool in that area is focused in [IT security],” Gooch said. “ [Baltimore] has a customer base, such as government agencies and large enterprises where security does matter.”

The firm wants to employ people within Baltimore and from Maryland, Gooch said. Another reason he said he chose Maryland was because of its universities.

“We just see Maryland as an area to find that talent pool [iWebGate is looking for],” he said.

IWebGate is in the midst of a funding round as well, Gooch said. He said he hopes to raise at least $5 million and close the round in June.

Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/blog/cyberbizblog/2014/03/australian-cyber-security-firm-setting-up-shop-at.html