Former NSA Director Moving Cybersecurity Company to Maple Lawn

A cyber security company headed up by the former director of the National Security Agency is moving to Columbia, according to the Howard County Economic Development Authority.

IronNet Cyber Security is relocating from the District of Columbia to Maple Lawn by spring 2015, the authority reported.

Gen. Keith Alexander is the head of the company. He was the founding general of the U.S. Cyber Command and is retired from his post as the longest serving director of the National Security Agency.

The move to Columbia will bring two dozen cyber industry jobs to Howard County, according to the economic development authority’s report.

“Howard County and Maryland have established themselves as major players in the cyber sector and this decision by General Alexander further cements our position as cyber central, a clear leader in one of the nation’s fastest growing commercial sectors,” County Executive Ken Ulman said.

State and county agencies collaborated to bring about the move, according to Howard County Economic Development Authority CEO Lawrence F. Twele.

“IronNet is a leader in efforts to safeguard the nation against cyber threats, and more and more of those businesses are realizing the competitive advantage of locating in Howard County.”

The Howard County Economic Development Authority said that the workforce and resources in the area have contributed to its success in the cybersecurity sector.

“We believe Howard County offers a number of advantages to cyber security firms,” Howard County Economic Development Authority spokesperson Terry Owens said. “We are home to one of the largest pools of IT professionals in the country, so we have a ready workforce to meet the demands of these businesses. Our proximity to the cyber infrastructure at Fort Meade is also a distinct advantage.”

Owens also cited the presence of research institutions like the Applied Physics Lab and Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship and other firms such as Tenable Security, Cisco and Oracle as factors in making Howard County “cyber central.”

To detect hackers and protect computer networks, IronNet is developing a patented, unique approach, officials said.

The approach is based on behavioral modeling rather than malicious software, according to Foreign Policy, which reported Alexander was prepared to charge a $1 million monthly consulting fee to clients but kicked it down to $600,000 after pushback from political and industry leaders.

By the spring, IronNet is anticipated to have completed its move into a space developed and managed by St. John Properties and Greenebaum Enterprises in Maple Lawn.

“General Alexander could have taken his business anywhere,” Ulman said, “and he chose Howard County. “We’re very pleased with this announcement and committed to growing this important business sector for the state of Maryland.”

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