ForeScout Snags New Executives From FireEye, Fortinet To Build Up 'Powerhouse' Team Around IoT

ForeScout has hired three security stalwarts from FireEye and Fortinet as the company aims to build up new growth, sales and educational initiatives around its Internet of Things security practice.

"ForeScout is dedicated to delivering solutions that will make a difference for our customers and partners who turn to us for visibility and control of the thousands of devices connecting to their network," CEO Michael DeCesare said in a statement.

The security company has tapped former FireEye executive Ryan Brichant to develop its industrial control system (ICS) and operational technology security business as vice president and chief technology officer of global critical infrastructure.

[Related: Partners Cheer Microsoft's IoT Partnership With Johnson Controls To Build Connected Thermostat]

ForeScout said that Brichant, formerly vice president and chief technology officer of IoT and critical infrastructure protection at FireEye, will help build up a strategic partnership ecosystem around its industrial control system (ICS) business.

Brichant, who has also worked as chief cybersecurity officer at Siemens, will also drive market education around the company's ICS capabilities, said ForeScout.

The company also hired Julie Cullivan away from FireEye to lead its cross-functional operational initiatives as chief information officer and senior vice president of business operations. At ForeScout, Cullivan will help execute the company's priorities in partnership with the business functions and lead the IT organization.

ForeScout snagged former Fortinet executive Michelle Spolver as senior vice president and chief communications officer. In her new position, Spolver will oversee internal and external communications for ForeScout and generate global market awareness for the company.

John Van Blaricum, vice president of global marketing at Kudelski Security, a Switzerland-based ForeScout partner, applauded ForeScout's strategy in the IoT space. He said IoT security presents a "huge potential" for the channel. His company, for its part, has looked to invest in IoT Security by launching an IoT Center of Excellence to help secure connected devices.

"This is really exciting… from an IoT perspective, industrial control systems and other device-level security is where we're seeing the most traction," he said. "ForeScout is expanding to focus on a broader Internet of Things strategy. That's a positive move for them, which aligns with our strategy."

ForeScout has tightened its focus around IoT over the past year as more devices become connected to the internet, and consequently, more security issues like October's Dyn distributed denial of service attack begin to occur. In February, the company updated its partner program to help solution providers capitalize on IoT security.

"Visibility is the next big thing in security, and maintaining our reputation as a leader in this space is supported through our top-notch leadership team," DeCesare said in the statement. "These latest additions to our powerhouse leadership team help better position us to capture our large market opportunity and help us continue to evolve as a world-class company."