Security software developer McAfee has laid off an undisclosed number of employees in marketing-related roles based in its Portland office, GeekWire has learned.

Christopher Young, CEO, McAfee (McAfee Photo)

Although it’s not clear how many people were affected by the moves this week, McAfee confirmed that while “on a journey to position the company for success” it decided “a few employees” needed to be let go, according to a representative. The company is providing assistance to those workers and still plans to grow its presence in Portland over time, with plans to move into a new office next year.

McAfee employed 350 people in the Portland area as of this April, according to a report in The Oregonian. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., and after McAfee spun out of Intel earlier this year the company said it left jobs in Portland because it “decided it was important to show our commitment to our employees who have built their lives in Oregon,” according to that report. It’s not clear whether or not the layoffs were contained to Portland or more widespread across the company; the representative declined to comment on the number or extent of the layoffs beyond Portland.

McAfee makes security software for individuals and corporate users. Founded by John McAfee, who has led an, um, colorful life, the company was purchased by Intel in 2010 for $7.68 billion. At the time of the spin-off, McAfee was valued at $4.2 billion in a private equity deal, according to a press release.

The slowdown in PC market growth certainly hasn’t helped its cause, and enterprise security is an extremely crowded field with dozens of large companies and startups vying for security contracts. McAfee says 84 of the Fortune 100 companies list uses its products or services, but they’re competing against more than a dozen well-established companies to secure corporate networks.

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