A Russian cybersecurity company is to create 50 jobs in Dublin over the next three years at its first European research and development centre.

Kaspersky Lab, which provides IT security software, plans to initially invest $5 million (€4.4 million) in Ireland.

The new office will focus mainly on developing data analysis and machine learning technologies for the company’s enterprise solutions offering.

The team will be responsible for core parts of new Kaspersky Lab solutions, focused on targeted attack detection and investigation.

The Moscow-based firm said it was attracted to Dublin's "growing reputation as a major European tech hub".

It said the city provided access to a highly-skilled talent pool and a strong network of innovative technology companies.

"Dublin was an obvious choice for the company’s first European R&D office, owing to the quality and density of tech talent there, and of course, the city’s vibrant and appealing living conditions," CTO Nikita Shvetsov said.

"Locating the office in Dublin is a great opportunity for us to increase our collaboration with other international IT companies, especially as the city is becoming known as the Silicon Valley of Europe."

Kaspersky Lab has appointed Keith Waters as head of engineering to lead the development team in Ireland.