Cybersecurity Investments Reaching ‘Unprecedented Levels’
Since January 2023, Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database has documented more than 75 major corporate end-user facility projects with some connection to cybersecurity. They range from data centers addressing the needs of multiple industry verticals to full-scale office and software development labs connected to the AI revolution. While job creation totals aren’t available for all of them, the sum of job creation among the 50 or so that do have numbers comes to more than 11,400 positions.
The United States is the far-and-away leader by number of projects, with more than 30. But a significant number with significant job totals attached (see chart) are landing in locations such as Canada (9) India (8) and Ireland (7).
The largest job commitment among this set of projects is coming from Kaseya, which in March 2023 pledged to invest $16 million and create some 3,400 jobs in its home territory of Miami-Dade County, where that same year the company famously (and quickly) replaced the suddenly bankrupt FTX as the name adorning the arena of the NBA’s Miami Heat, now named Kaseya Center.
Kaseya said the new jobs would have an average salary of $107,000. (The company’s open roles web page listed 88 Miami job openings in late January.) Company leaders at the time of the 2023 announcement touted the area’s talent base and pipeline, including work with Florida International University and its Remote IT and Security Management certification program and Miami Dade College’s cybersecurity program.
As it happens, in a recent interview for Site Selection’s “Workforce 2025” publication, Shalin Jyotishi, the founder and managing director for the Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative at “nonpartisan think and action tank” New America, saluted both schools for their innovative practices. Miami Dade College, he says, “was one of the first community colleges in the country to create AI educational offerings,” including credit or non-credit, K-12 immersives, an associate’s degree and one of the first community college baccalaureates in applied AI. “They’ve built stackable pathways to it lends itself to career mobility,” he said of Miami-Dade. “Students graduate, go work for a while and then can come back. What’s really cool is they have articulation agreements with Florida International University for the bachelor’s and master’s program. At Miami-Dade their bachelor’s degree in data analytics folds up into an articulation agreement for a master’s degree program at FIU.”
Insights from India’s New Wave
Companies with cybersecurity-connected investments in India include such notables as Corning, Inc. (a 100-job R&D center in Pune, Maharashtra); CrowdStrike (also in Pune); Kyndryl and Open Text in Bengaluru, Karnataka; and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which is investing $241 million in a hyperscale data center in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, that aims to provide multi-cloud cybersecurity, digital transformation and application integration services. The project will create 600 direct jobs and is anticipated to help create 500 indirect jobs.
Headquartered in Mumbai, L&T Group is a conglomerate with capabilities across technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing. Among its divisions is L&T Technology Services (LTTS), which alone employs more than 16,700 employees across 17 global design centers, 28 global sales offices and 49 innovation labs. Its customer base includes 69 Fortune 500 companies and 51 of the world’s top ER&D companies across industrial products, medical devices, transportation, telecom & hi-tech, and the process industries.
LTTS launched what it called India’s first integrated state-level Cyber Command and Control Center in Mumbai in October. The project, said the company, “encompasses the establishment of the Cyber Crime Command & Control Center, a Technology Assisted Investigation Center with advanced Digital Forensic tools, CERT – Maharashtra with AI-based Threat Intelligence tools, state-of-the-art Security Operations Center and a Cyber Center of Excellence for capacity building and citizen awareness.”
“L&T Technology Services is delighted to collaborate with the Maharashtra State Cyber Department on this groundbreaking project executed in a record time leveraging our experience in setting up and managing 25-plus Smart & Safe Cities command centers and Security Operation Centers,” said Amit Chadha, CEO and managing director of L&T Technology Services.
Asked by email to expound on cyber momentum in India, Chadha first puts things in context: “Global investments in cybersecurity are reaching unprecedented levels, with organizations prioritizing robust digital protections to address evolving threats and drive sustainable growth. In India, the country’s rapid technological growth is unlocking new opportunities for cybersecurity in the private and enterprise sectors, offering significant potential for innovation. This expansion also provides engineering (ER&D) players with avenues to drive R&D and new solutions, solidifying the country’s position as a global technology leader.
“We view cybersecurity is becoming foundational to India’s smart city initiatives, as urban areas increasingly rely on secure digital ecosystems,” he continues. “The Indian Government’s Digital India Mission, alongside advances in digital infrastructure, further fosters an environment for innovation and private-sector investment. These factors have propelled India’s cybersecurity market, valued at $8.48 billion in 2023, to a projected growth at a CAGR of 17.3%, reaching $25.87 billion by 2030. This underscores its status as one of the fastest-growing segments in the digital economy.”
LTTS recognized this latent demand with its acquisition of Smart World & Communication (SWC) in early 2023, Chadha says. “This proactive move is already yielding results, highlighted by the $100 million Maha Cyber project program implemented by LTTS. With an advanced command center in Mumbai, LTTS is delivering managed cybersecurity services that help enterprises mitigate risks and enhance resilience in today’s digital-first environment.”
In the juggernaut that is the Indian economy — like anywhere else — talent and innovation are paramount, he says.
“India’s course in cybersecurity is not only about securing its digital landscape but also realizing economic growth and workforce development,” Chadha writes. “While challenges persist — such as infrastructure upgrades, cyber threats, and a need for broader digital awareness — they also present opportunities for further innovation and investment. With rising corporate backing and strengths in talent and infrastructure, the sector’s domestic and global influence is poised to exponentially grow.”
Cybersecurity and compliance company Proofpoint in September 2024 announced a new office in Cork, Ireland, that will serve as the company’s international hub, where more than 250 jobs are projected to be created in the next two years. Ireland’s forthcoming ‘2025 and Beyond’ economic development strategy plan includes cybersecurity and related sectors.
Photo courtesy of IDA Ireland and Proofpoint
