Wausau-based printer and copier company EO Johnson Office Technologies has purchased an information technology security provider in La Crosse that will add employees in Wausau.
EO Johnson, which opened in 1957 in Wausau, has purchased Locknet, which will now operate as a division of EO Johnson, EO Johnson announced Wednesday. Locknet provides managed firewall, cloud backup, network management and security, network installation and support services to customers in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.
Locknet has offices in La Crosse, Eau Claire and Cedar Falls, Iowa, and will add full-service employees in Eau Claire, Wausau and Rochester, Minn., where EO Johnson has offices, as a result of the acquisition. The company will hire engineers with computer security training and certifications, along with help-desk workers, EO Johnson Office Technologies President Roger King said.
EO Johnson officials declined to say how many employees will be added in Wausau or the sale price for Locknet.
“Our customers are telling us they want help in managing their organizations and technologies better, primarily in dealing with their business information,” King said. “Acquiring Locknet and its talented employees will allow us to bring exciting new offerings to our customers. We project robust growth in this division for many years to come.”
All of Locknet’s 32 management, support and engineering employees have transitioned to EO Johnson, and 23 La Crosse-based employees will move to EO Johnson’s new facility in Onalaska by Sept. 7.
EO Johnson employs 223 people, including those involved in the acquisition of Locknet.
King said the company discovered that many businesses, particularly financial institutions, need help protecting sensitive customer information.
“We will provide support to companies like a chief information officer might,” EO Johnson owner Mary Jo Johnson said.
EO Johnson had $36 million in sales in 2011 while Locknet made $5.4 million in sales, company spokeswoman Karen Katz said
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