This well-known Canadian cybersecurity consulting company, based in Ottawa, Ontario, was founded in 2006 by Hugh Lindley, Mark Donnell, and Anita Berwash. More about the company’s development and its functions will be shared by Ottawa Future.
Key Information
- The main focus of Avaleris Inc. is IT consulting and outsourcing.
- The headquarters of the information and technology service provider is located in Ottawa.
- The company’s main competitors include MarkMonitor, GoDaddy, DigiCert, Proofpoint, and Cisco Systems.
- On September 16, 2021, Avaleris Inc. acquired PwC (the Canadian arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers).
The Company’s Scope of Work and Client Overview
Since 2006, Avaleris Inc. has earned a reputation as a reliable and proven leader in the cybersecurity industry. Over the years, the company has won numerous awards.
The company’s specialists have provided a wide range of cybersecurity services, including:
- Risk assessment, where the team evaluates potential risks and develops a mitigation plan.
- Penetration testing to identify the most vulnerable spots in the security system.
- Cybersecurity monitoring for threats 24/7.
- Incident response to cybersecurity-related incidents.
Overall, the company offered its clients effective solutions for security and hybrid identity, access management, focusing on the Microsoft cloud environment. The company also provided security training.
Government organizations, financial institutions, healthcare providers, energy companies, and telecommunications representatives frequently sought the services of Avaleris Inc. Manufacturing and retail companies were also regular clients.
Avaleris Inc. and PwC
At the time of the acquisition, the Avaleris Inc. team consisted of over 30 individuals. PwC made a strategic decision, as the acquisition of Avaleris Inc. strengthened its cybersecurity division. The total number of PwC employees across the country exceeds 300.
In recent years, demand for cybersecurity services has significantly increased, driven by several factors. For example, cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated and daring, no longer hesitant to attack organizations.
There has also been an expansion of surface-level attacks due to the increased use of cloud technologies, mobile devices, and the Internet of Things. Moreover, many companies simply lack qualified cybersecurity professionals capable of protecting their systems. This explains the growing demand for cybersecurity services.
A survey of Canadian CEOs conducted by PwC in 2021 revealed that cyber threats were considered the second greatest risk to organizations (with the COVID-19 pandemic ranking first).
“The New Equation”
Sai Nair, Partner and Head of National and Cloud Technologies at PwC, welcomed the Avaleris Inc. team. He noted that their joint work would confirm a strong reputation among clients and a long-term, strategic partnership with Microsoft.
PwC announced its strategy, known as “The New Equation,” which includes an investment of $12 billion over the next five years, as well as a growth in the workforce (+100,000 people). As of 2021, the company employed approximately 284,000 people across the country, focusing on digital capabilities including cloud technologies, AI, virtual reality, and other cutting-edge technologies.
For Avaleris Inc., this means new challenges and even more opportunities.