Sixty new jobs are to be created in counties Cork and Laois.

An online security company has announced plans to take on 40 more staff in Co. Cork.

Alien Vault is to establish its new European, Middle Eastern and African sales and technical support centre in Cork City.

The company recently hired its first 12 staff in Cork, including sales and management personnel, sales engineers and tech support.

The 40 roles will be filled over the coming year.

Alien Vault is a Californian company specialising in crowd-sourced threat intelligence.

"This is a significant announcement that marks Cork out as a growing hub for cyber security," said Minister for Trade, North South Co-Operation and Development, Sean Sherlock.

Elsewhere, 20 new customer support jobs are on the way for the Midlands.

The full-time positions will become available over the next three years, as Internal Results Ireland Limited establishes a new office in Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

Fourteen people are currently employed on a full-time basis at the company, with a further 15 part-time staff.