Assured Information Security acquires Capital Region firm

ROME, N.Y. — Rome–based Assured Information Security, Inc. (AIS) has recently purchased a majority interest in GreyCastle Security, LLC.

The transaction closed Sept. 16, Dan Kalil, AIS’s operations manager, said in an email.

AIS is a cyber security firm that is headquartered at 153 Brooks Road in Rome. It also has offices in Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, Colorado, and Oregon.

GreyCastle is a Troy, New York–based cyber security firm with an additional office in Rochester. 

In the deal, AIS is acquiring the assets of GreyCastle Security for a combination of stock and cash, according to a news release on the GreyCastle website. It doesn’t disclose the deal’s financial terms.

GreyCastle Security will continue to operate independently, “retaining its distinct brand and operations,” according to the release.

GreyCastle employs 25 people, according to Kalil. AIS employs more than 250. 

With this investment, AIS “continues to expand its presence within the commercial space, and solidify its position as a leader in cyber and information-security offerings,” AIS said in an Oct. 19 news release.

The “synergy” between the two companies “became apparent early on,” and leaders of both AIS and GreyCastle “feel confident that this arrangement positions both companies for even greater success in the marketplace,” AIS contended in the release. 

Mike Denz of AIS will serve as GreyCastle’s CFO, while Kalil will be the company’s chief strategy officer and board chairman. 

Reg Harnish, co-founder, president and CEO of GreyCastle Security, along with the rest of the GreyCastle staff, will stay and continue leading operations, AIS said. 

“We have a strong culture that originates from a tight-knit team of skilled personnel. They know and embrace their roles in support of our company’s customer-centric vision, and as a team, strive to achieve that vision every day. AIS provides us with valuable operating capital needed to secure additional qualified talent, while also providing key administrative and technical resources that will allow us to focus on what we do best: provide our customers with the very best in cyber-security services,” Harnish said in the AIS release, explaining his decision to seek outside investment. 

With this investment, AIS continues its “strategic” growth, having announced in late August its acquisition of Columbia, Maryland–based firm Ross Technologies, a firm that provides cyber-security services to the U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence community. 

About the companies
AIS provides government and commercial customers with cyber-security capabilities and services such as research, development, consulting, testing, forensics, remediation, and training.

GreyCastle Security focuses on cyber security and the “practical management” of cyber-security risks, AIS said. GreyCastle provides risk assessment, awareness, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, ISO, and incident response services to businesses throughout North America. 

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com