CyberGuard on the attack
Firm plans to take on Cisco and NetScreen
CyberGuard is relying on acquisitions to take on Cisco and NetScreen and add functionality to its security appliance range.
The vendor is also looking to appoint a pan-European distributor to carry its increased range.
CyberGuard has acquired German content security software vendor Webwasher for $40m in cash and stock. The acquired URL filtering, anti-spam, anti-virus, instant messaging filtering and content protection technology will be integrated into an appliance and sold through the channel, the firm said.
CyberGuard signed distributor OpenPSL in June and bought firewall and VPN maker SnapGear last year.
Andrew Clarke, managing director EMEA of CyberGuard, said: "I am looking for a distribution partner that offers pan-European coverage, and we are already in talks with a couple."
The vendor currently supplies UK resellers through distributors Ellipse and OpenPSL. As well as a strong SME focus, it has a presence in the government sector. "We are looking for a whole new set of resellers and distributors," Clarke said.
Duncan Hume, OpenPSL vendor alliance manager, said the acquisition will broaden CyberGuard's product offering. He added that some of OpenPSL's reseller partners had been looking at the Webwasher products.
"We were well into negotiations with Webwasher ourselves before the take-over," he said.