French Telecom Orange Acquires SecureData

Big French Telecom company Orange has acquired SecureData Group for an undisclosed amount.

This UK-based company is a large independent cybersecurity service provider in the UK. It has a 25-year track record of providing integrated cyber solutions designed to assess risks, detect threats, protect customer’s IT assets and respond to security incidents. Its consulting arm, SensePost, enjoys a reputation for its expertise in cyber-criminality, security research and penetration testing.

The company recorded annual revenues of circa €50 million euros in 2018 and has enjoyed consistent growth rates of approximately 20% since 2016.

With over 200 employees in the UK and South Africa, the company is positioned on the strategically-key British and Anglophone cybersecurity market. By offering improved access to this market, SecureData constitutes an opportunity to expand Orange’s capabilities, particularly in Europe.

Through additional technical cooperation, it will help reinforce Orange’s position in cyberdefense by bringing a new source of expertise and technology. SecureData also boasts a cyber-SOC (Security Operations Center) in the UK that will reinforce Orange Cyberdefense’s international reach by building upon the existing network of nine cyber-SOCs dedicated to monitoring and responding to security breaches on behalf of its customers.

By working alongside Orange Cyberdefense’s existing operations in France and Belgium, SecureData will ensure its continued development by leveraging access to Orange Business Services’ existing sales force and its customer base of over 3,000 multinational companies, and will benefit from the carrier-grade CERT and threat intelligence team. The envisaged organisation is designed to ensure continuity of SecureData’s commercial and operational autonomy.

“We are very proud and happy to announce the acquisition of SecureData, which will mark a major milestone in Orange’s development in Europe’s cybersecurity market. SecureData, just like Orange Cyberdefense, has successfully made the transition toward Managed Security Services, and shares the same passion for Cyber. We will progressively co-build together the operational and commercial synergies, with the patronage and experience, of Michel Van Den Berghe, CEO, Orange Cyberdefense. Cybersecurity has become a critical element for both large and small companies as they evolve in an increasing digital-reliant world. We are convinced that the combined expertise of Orange Cyberdefense and SecureData will provide a powerful resource for our customers in ensuring the protection of their valuable data,” said Hugues Foulon, executive director of strategy and cybersecurity activities, Orange.

Ian Brown, executive chairman, SecureData, commented: “We are both thrilled and excited to be joining the Orange Cyberdefense family. Both organisations share the same vision and aspiration for the cybersecurity market, and have many complementary services and skills. By being part of Orange we will be able to better serve the international needs of many of our existing customers as well as providing enhanced cyber services to Orange customers with the UK.”