Portland-based Sage Data Security is expanding into Australia.
The cybersecurity company was approached at an international conference for health care providers, held in February in Orlando, Fla., by a representative of Victorian Healthcare Association in Melbourne, Australia, Chief Operating Officer Rick Simonds told Mainebiz.
Sage has been conducting due diligence and networking in Australia for the past eight months to ensure a smooth entry into that market. As of this week, VHA will have access to Sage’s nDiscovery Managed Threat Detection Service, which delivers advanced cyber-threat detection, incident response support and compliance reporting.
Brendan Travis, Sage’s director of global business development, will travel to Australia for the VHA conference “Humanity in Health” in October to kick off the partnership, according to a Sage press release.
“It’s one of those things that’s too good to be true,” said Simonds. “But it is true.”
Founded in 2002, Sage provides cybersecurity services for financial institutions, healthcare providers, government agencies and other business nationwide, with the majority of its business in the Northeast. This is its first major expansion outside of the United States.
Simonds said he’s also been approached by Australian interests about further expansion there in health care and into government, and insurance and financial institutions.
“There’s pent-up demand for our type of services in Australia,” he said.
According to the release, VHA is the not-for-profit peak body (an Australian term for an advocacy group or trade) supporting Victoria’s public health services to deliver quality care. VHA CEO Tom Symondson said cybersecurity is of paramount importance to health services and providing their members access to Sage’s nDiscovery Managed Threat Detection Service will add value to members.
“Protecting your business from cyber threats grows more challenging and specialized every day. It’s important our members are prepared for cybersecurity threats, understand the risks and have the support they need,” Symondson said in the release.
If all goes well, Simonds said Sage will look into opening a satellite office in Australia.
Sage is in growth mode and expects to increase staff by 25%, probably by the end of 2017, he said.
“We are so excited,” said Simonds. “The company has so much momentum. You walk in the office and there’s a buzz.”
