Kaspersky Lab, a leading IT security solutions provider, has established its regional headquarters at the Dubai Internet City (DIC), a member of Tecom Investments and a leading managed ICT cluster.

Kaspersky Lab will offer technical support, partner management and marketing activities at the technology cluster, while stepping up its growth strategy to become one of the top three anti-virus companies in the region in terms of revenue by 2010, said a statement.

To date, Kaspersky Lab has achieved a growth rate of 400 per cent in the Middle East compared to 2007.

“While Dubai Internet City helps to facilitate its business partners with an environment that is conducive to their strategic growth, the managed ICT cluster also enables them to capitalise on its network of global majors located within easy reach of one another,” said Malek Al Malek, Executive Director, DIC.

“Kaspersky Lab’s regional headquarters at DIC will provide an even more focused service and better tailored solutions for customers looking to protect their network and infrastructure with high-performance anti-virus software,” he added.

Kaspersky Lab’s strategy to expand its footprint in the region comes at a time when the Middle East has demonstrated the world’s strongest growth in 2008 in terms of IT competitiveness – a reflection of the ICT market opportunities in the Middle East.

Consequently, the region’s potential vulnerability to cyber attacks has necessitated businesses to raise the necessary barriers for protecting themselves. Kaspersky Lab’s line of products and services are recognised worldwide with leading positions in retail in Germany, the US, and France.

Tarek Kuzbari, managing director, Kaspersky Lab Middle East, said: “Further developing and cementing our channel partnerships across the region is the key to unlock the tremendous potential for our products in the Middle East.”

“We selected the UAE as our regional hub thanks to its leadership in IT infrastructure and ICT readiness. The region’s appeal to attract and retain a diverse and dynamic pool of talent from around the world has also been a contributing factor,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service