Lawrence computer security firm to be sold

A Lawrence-based firm that helps companies with the security of their computer networks is being sold, creating the possibility of a cutback in its 15-person area work force.

Secure Network Group, 1008 N.H., said Wednesday it had signed a letter of intent to sell the company’s assets to RedSiren Technologies of Pittsburgh. Terms were not disclosed.

Russ Hailey, chief executive officer of Secure Network Group, said the company decided to sell, in part, because it realized it must be part of a larger organization to compete in the computer security industry.

“Some of our customers are national and international companies, and they tend to think that the broader our company’s footprint is, the more value we can provide them,” Hailey said. “To reach the companies we really want to reach, it requires a national and international presence. That’s what RedSiren will provide us.”

RedSiren, which has about 70 employees, has offices in Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley, Houston, Washington, London and Tokyo.

Hailey said RedSiren would maintain an office in Lawrence but was uncertain whether it would retain all 15 of Secure Network’s employees. In the long term, the Lawrence operation is expected to grow, he said.

“We think this office will be the Midwest beachhead for the company, which should bode well for Lawrence,” Hailey said.

Leslie Currie of RedSiren said the acquisition would improve his company’s market position in the central United States.

The purchase is the fourth RedSiren has made in the past nine months as part of a growth strategy to expand its operations in North America.

The transaction is expected to be finalized by the end of this month.

Privately-owned Secure Network Group was co-founded in 1995 by Hailey. It designs, builds, manages and monitors information security systems and networks for large enterprises, including a number of Fortune 1000 companies. RedSiren was founded in 1994 and is owned by an ownership group including Carnegie Mellon University.