Having only made its ASX debut in May this year, Future Fibre Technologies Ltd (ASX: FFT) is a name unfamiliar to most investors but it could be worthy of a closer look.
The company, which boasts a market capitalisation of just $127 million, develops and manufactures fence-mounted fibre optic perimeter intrusion detection systems. According to its prospectus, Future Fibre Technologies has already captured 4% of the global "perimeter security" market with its systems being used for the security of various utilities and important infrastructure.
Indeed, the technology is installed in more than 55 countries around the world and utilised by airports, governments and the military, to give just a few examples, while it is looking to expand its presence in the pipelines and data intrusion markets – both of which could become enormous.
Although it mightn't sound that exhilarating, there is the potential for strong demand growth for perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS) over the coming years, whereby advanced PIDS could become a more viable solution, particularly when it comes to larger facilities or more critical infrastructure. This is especially the case with the growing threat of theft, terrorism and data intrusion.
Another company gunning for growth in the data protection market is Senetas Corporation Limited (ASX: SEN). Senetas provides high-speed data encryption hardware to businesses and governments. The hardware sits at the edge of the customer network and protects information transmitted from the private network to the wide area network, or the WAN. In other words, Senetas recognises the need for data to travel securely between sites, rather than simply protecting data while it is at rest.
Shares of Future Fibre Technologies traded for just 77 cents on 13 July but have since surged 36.4% higher with investors recognising the company's future potential. That compares to a remarkable 441% lift from Senetas' shares over the last 12 months with the stock now changing hands for 20 cents.
