Network equipment company Cisco has announced its intent to acquire London-based software-as- a-service (SaaS) web security solutions provider ScanSafe Inc for $183m to expand its security portfolio. Skip related content
The company said ScanSafe will help build on its successful acquisition of on-premise content security provider IronPort. It said the current acquisition will bring together its Cisco IronPort web security appliance and ScanSafe's SaaS web security service to offer superior on-premise, hosted, and hybrid-hosted web security solutions.
On close of the acquisition, expected in the second quarter of its fiscal 2010, ScanSafe will become a part of Cisco's STBU, reporting to Gillis. Cisco said ScanSafe's service will be integrated with its AnyConnect VPN product to provide secure mobility solution. It said ScanSafe's global network of data centers and multi-tenant architecture will further enhance its ability to provide new cloud-security services.
Tom Gillis, vice president and general manager of Security Technology Business Unit (STBU) at Cisco, said: "With the acquisition of ScanSafe, Cisco is executing on our vision to build a borderless network security architecture that combines network and cloud-based services for advanced security enforcement."
Cisco is expanding its portfolio through acquisitions. Earlier this month, it agreed to acquire IP-based mobile infrastructure solutions provider Starent Networks for $2.9bn to expand its mobile internet offerings for service providers. It also agreed to acquire Norway-based video communications provider Tandberg for $3bn to expand its collaboration portfolio.
