Open Systems Hires New Security Experts as it Increases its Share of the Growing Enterprise Market for Security Services

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - NOVEMBER 10, 2020 - Open Systems, the preeminent cybersecurity and networking provider for the enterprise cloud, today announced the appointments of Fredrik Torstenssen and Ric Longenecker as the company’s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), respectively. The addition of these executives comes as the company’s service deployments have exceeded 8,000 worldwide and demand continues to grow for its integrated security and networking services, including Open Systems’ Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) services.

Torstenssen is a seasoned sales leader with more than 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, business development and product management at such networking and security leaders as Ericsson, Wacom, Symantec and most recently NortonLifelock, where he was Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Sales Enablement. His achievements there included all commercial go-to-market activities, growing global revenues by increasing direct and indirect sales, expanding channels and establishing new partnerships.

Longenecker’s extensive cybersecurity experience includes more than seven years with the United Nations (U.N.), where his achievements included working on its global Information Security Initiative and Action Program, and extending the Global Information Security program worldwide. As CISO of Verisure Securitas Direct, a global leader in home security, he built the company’s Group Information Security program to protect its millions of customers. Longenecker also oversaw the founding of a Verisure subsidiary focused on security services, managing all aspects of building, staffing and initiating a world-class in-house security operations center (SOC).

“Expanding our C-suite with such leaders as Fredrik and Ric, demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering innovative security services that protect enterprises against cyberattack,” said Open Systems CEO Jeff Brown. “Ric’s outstanding experience in building and running world-class security organizations will be invaluable in ensuring our security practices stay ahead of emerging threats. Complementing this is Fredrik’s proven ability to grow sales, expand markets, build channels and establish strategic partnerships, which will help us increase our share of the growing demand for managed security services with enterprises worldwide.”

“I am excited to join Open Systems at this especially critical time in which enterprises worldwide must change how they do things to ensure the security of their clouds and networks,” said Torstenssen. “I believe that Open Systems is ideally poised to free enterprises from the operational headaches of integrated security and networking thanks to the combination of its mature and proven services platform, membership in the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) and 30 years success meeting the secure connectivity requirements of companies the world over.”

“I look forward to driving Open Systems’ security efforts and providing customers with insights on how to optimize their security practices,” said Longenecker. “I have been a fan of Open Systems for years - since I was introduced to its secure SD-WAN and intrusion detection services when I was at the UN. I am constantly impressed with Open Systems’ capabilities and exceptional engineering, and quite excited for the opportunity to be able to play a key role in expanding the company’s security solutions.”

About Open Systems

Open Systems is an AI-first SASE platform company delivering secure access and networking to help enterprises connect users, applications and infrastructure across complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Its proprietary platform combines SSE capabilities, including ZTNA, SWG, CASB and FWaaS, with SD-WAN, end-to-end connectivity, unified policy management, and advanced analytics in a single architecture.

While many cybersecurity providers focus primarily on advancing technology capabilities, Open Systems combines its AI-first SASE platform with an execution model designed for real-world operability, ensuring services are not only deployed, but continuously run, adapted and improved through a combination of AI-enabled operations and NOC-based expertise (Mission Control), built on decades of operational experience, helping organizations reduce complexity, increase visibility and strengthen security outcomes at global scale.

Founded in Switzerland in 1990, Open Systems generates more than USD 100 million in annual revenue and supports global enterprise customers operating in more than 180 countries. Since 2024, the company has been part of Swiss Post, combining Swiss trust and stability with global reach. As a European alternative to US- and Israel-based cybersecurity providers, Open Systems is guided by strong principles around sovereignty requirements, regulatory alignment, transparency and shared responsibility - taking clear ownership for security, performance and operational outcomes, helping organizations maintain control in an increasingly complex digital landscape.