UP TO 100 new sales jobs are planned by internet security company Total Defense after the US company announced it was opening its European sales office in Dublin.

The announcement marks the company’s first expansion into Ireland. Just over 20 people have been recruited by the company over the last few months, all with multilingual skills.

The new office in Ballsbridge in south Dublin will serve as the company’s European sales office, with employees in Dublin dealing with customers across European countries including in France, Germany and Spain.

Total Defense makes anti-virus and anti-crimeware software for business and consumer markets. It provides digital security for a range of devices, from desktop to mobile products, as well as web and cloud-based solutions.

It has been ranked as the sixth-largest retailer of security products for consumers in the US.

Welcoming the arrival of the company to Ireland, Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton said internet security was one of the niche sectors being targeted by the Government.

The sector had “particularly high prospects for growth”, he said.

Chris Hickey, president of Total Defense, said the company was “impressed by the quality and depth of the talent pool and the strength of the software industry in Ireland”.

The IDA’s Barry O’Leary said Total Defense’s new centre in Dublin was an “excellent addition to the thriving cluster of global anti-virus software companies operating in Ireland”.

Total Defense is the former internet security business of CA Technologies, one of the largest information technology companies in the world.

CA Technologies sold it to venture capital firm Updata Partners a year ago, which then established Total Defense as an independent company.

Updata invests in high-growth software, internet and technology companies.

Other internet security companies with a presence in Ireland include Symantec, which owns the Norton anti-virus brands, and Webroot.