Security firms merge to form Cybertrust

A new managed security behemoth has been created by the merger of three security vendors.

Betrusted Holdings, TruSecure Corporation and Ubizen (a subsidiary of Betrusted) will amalgamate and form a new company, known as Cybertrust.

The merger, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, will create a firm specialising in technologies such as identity, threat and vulnerability management and public key encryption.

Gavan Egan, senior vice-president at Cybertrust, told CRN the channel, in terms of OEM, white-label and VAR partners, will be key to the firm's future.

"All three companies use partners in the delivery of services to the market, and this will continue," he said. "Because each firm had its own channel programme, we will be taking the best aspects of each and combining them."

Egan added that Cybertrust intends to recruit more partners.

But Bernie Dodwell, business development director at distributor Wick Hill, said managed security vendors have found the going tough recently.

"We are going to see more consolidation in this space. I don't think many of these managed security companies are making a huge profit or having much impact on the market. The whole area is a minefield and requires huge investment," he said.

Dave Ellis, director of e-security at Unipalm, agreed that the firm will have its work cut out.

"A lot of mergers and acquisitions are happening in the security space at the moment; people either want end-to-end security or systems than can integrate.

"I think Cybertrust will have a tough job with the likes of Symantec in that space, and there are other vendors with a larger footprint in the UK. It will be a difficult market to penetrate."

sara_yirrell@vnu.co.uk