Originally published by the Greater Wichita Partnership

Wichita, Kan. – Novacoast, a cybersecurity and identity and access management company that provides end-to-end technical solutions to a global customer base, including managed security services, advisory and software development, announced today it is opening a new Security Operations Center in Wichita. In addition to the 24-7 Security Operations Center, the Wichita office will include sales, software development and cybersecurity engineering. The company plans to initially hire 60 employees with plans for continued growth.

According to Novacoast CEO Paul Anderson, the company was planning an expansion in another area of the country and had not considered the Wichita region. It wasn’t until the Greater Wichita Partnership proactively asked about the company’s business needs and shared information about the region’s information technology and cybersecurity assets that Anderson saw what a perfect fit Wichita and the surrounding area is.

Anderson said, “We were intrigued with the Partnership’s message and then with the entire community because of the overwhelming support from industry, education and elected leaders. I’ve been running companies for over 25 years and haven’t come across such a welcoming and exceptional place to do business as I’ve found in Wichita.”

Novacoast will establish its principal office in the Epic Center in downtown Wichita. “On our site visits, we experienced first-hand the investment in downtown and were extremely impressed,” said Anderson.

Founded in 1996, the privately held company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif., has more than 350 employees. The company currently runs Security Operation Centers in California, Michigan, Manchester, United Kingdom and Guatemala City, Guatemala.

“This is a great company with a global reach and an impactful business attraction win for the Wichita region and Kansas,” said Jeff Fluhr, President of the Greater Wichita Partnership. “Our community’s collaborative approach to promote our assets and share insight into our information technology and cybersecurity ecosystem was key to securing this new global business and new jobs for our community.”

Novacoast cited the following cybersecurity and IT assets in its location decision:  the 184^th Intelligence Wing for the Air National Guard at McConnell Air Force Base; Wichita State University and the National Institute for Aviation Research and National Institute for Digital Transformation; education partners, including nationally-certified cybersecurity programs at WSU and Butler Community College, IT training at WSU Tech, and Friends University Cyber Security Lab; and leaders from among the 110 local tech companies and FlagshipKansas.Tech.

According to Fluhr, leaders from more than 20 local and state organizations worked together through multiple interactions and three site visits with the company to demonstrate the region’s cybersecurity assets, information and support for business, including Governor Laura Kelly, Lt. Governor David Toland and the Kansas Department of Commerce, United States Senator Jerry Moran, Sedgwick County Chairman Pete Meitzner, Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple as well as other community leaders and partners.

“Novacoast is, without question, a perfect fit for Wichita,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Our interconnected, digital world makes cybersecurity even more critical now and into the future for Kansans and our industries alike. To have a well-established cybersecurity leader decide to put down roots here in Wichita and Kansas is spectacular. Congratulations to Wichita and to Novacoast on this exciting new partnership.”

Cybersecurity and IT systems and support are identified as target industries for growth in the Regional Growth Plan, a strategy to grow Greater Wichita’s economy, attract new businesses and expand existing industries. In addition, it is also in the State of Kansas’ Framework for Growth, created through the Kansas Department of Commerce.

“Congratulations to Novacoast, and thank you for expanding your cutting-edge security solutions here in Wichita, and in Kansas,” Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Cybersecurity is the first initiative of the Framework for Growth’s Kansas Competitiveness Project, designed to bring new skills and technologies to drive our economic performance. We’re excited for your future here, and the important work you will do every day to help protect people and places in Kansas and well beyond.”

The majority of Novacoast’s customers are highly regulated global firms such as global banks, healthcare and energy companies. Its subsidiary Novacoast Federal provides services to agencies such as NASA, US Patent & Trademark, IRS and the Federal Reserve System among others.

“As a national leader in cybersecurity development and implementation, I am pleased that Novacoast has chosen Kansas as the location for its new Security Operations Center,” said Senator Jerry Moran. “The Wichita region has already proven itself as a leader in cyber technology at institutions like Wichita State University, Friends University and the 177th Information Aggressor Squadron at McConnell Air Force Base, and Novacoast will certainly benefit from the impressive cyber talent pipeline located in the region. Novacoast’s move will bring more cybersecurity jobs to Kansas, and, more importantly, will foster powerful research partnerships to help our nation address its most critical cybersecurity challenges.”

According to Anderson, Novacoast plans to begin hiring immediately, primarily for security analysts and with jobs for software development positions already posted on KansasWorks.com. 

“Wichita is thrilled to welcome Novacoast to our city,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. “This will not only provide well-paying high-tech jobs to Wichitans, but Novacoast’s selection of Wichita is evidence of our focused efforts to diversify our regional economy.”

Sedgwick County Chairman Pete Meitzner said, “I have had the privilege of meeting this very exciting company and the Novacoast leadership. I am excited they have chosen our city and area to further their world market in the growing field of cybersecurity.”

The Wichita region was named No. 1 in digital service job growth in 2018 by Brookings Institution and recognized as the No. 3 engineering hub by Engineering Daily.

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About the Greater Wichita Partnership

The Greater Wichita Partnership is focused on one primary objective: to fast-forward regional economic growth in Wichita and South Central Kansas. The organization works within three key priorities – jobs, talent and quality of place – to accelerate this objective.