BT acquires Counterpane

Telco giant buys US firm to strengthen its professional service offerings

BT has acquired managed networked security services provider Counterpane Internet Security to boost the telco's global professional services capabilities.

US-based Counterpane will retain its founder, Bruce Schneier, in the role of chief technical officer, and Counterpane's chief executive, Paul Stich, will also maintain his position.

Andy Green, chief executive of BT Global Services, said: “Counterpane is a welcome addition to BT’s global professional services community. As more and more of our customers seek to exploit the opportunities of globalisation, we are finding that increasingly business critical applications are dependent upon the resilience and security of their infrastructure.

"Security threats get more sophisticated and a larger number of companies are outsourcing the management of their security infrastructure to specialised security service providers. Counterpane is a leader in this space. This acquisition will allow BT to benefit from a unique set of security management technologies and deliver to its global customers a more proactive managed security service with enhanced auditing and reporting capabilities," he said

"This acquisition is also another milestone in the execution of BT's growth strategy that includes inorganic and organic phases. It demonstrates again BT's commitment to extend its propositions and capabilities in areas that customers have identified as key business issues, while further strengthening its US capabilities," added Green.

Paul Stich, president and chief executive of Counterpane, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for Counterpane’s customers and employees. It is great to see that BT is listening to its customers and acquiring the skills and capabilities in order to fully service their requirements. Together BT and Counterpane can deliver the holistic approach needed to face today’s security threats, encompassing people, processes and technology.”