Cisco reassures IronPort VARs

Networking giant quick to allay any fears IronPort channel partners may have following acquisition

Cisco has been quick to reassure IronPort’s channel partners that it is business as usual following its multi-million dollar acquisition of the security appliance firm.

Cisco, which revealed its intention last week to take over IronPort for $830m in cash and stock ( CRN Online, 5 January) plans to operate IronPort as a separate unit within the main company once the acquisition is given regulatory approval. Cisco expects the acquisition to be completed by its fiscal third quarter.

Jeff Platon, vice president of marketing at Cisco exclusively told CRN: “This is our 15th acquisition in the security space, but is not an integration as usual for Cisco because of the unique business models that IronPort runs, so in the short term there will not be that much change.

“We generally buy smaller technology firms and integrate them into the Cisco business, but IronPort does have a global footprint and there is no need to change something that doesn’t need fixing.”

Platon said the firm has a great opportunity to scale up IronPort’s business and benefit both sets of channel partners.

“IronPort has a robust channel programme that generates 70 per cent of its revenues, so we see an opportunity to further extend this channel business. If you look at the opportunity overall for Cisco it is a very synergistic marketplace for both companies and this acquisition reflects general customer concern as they move from pure network security needs to more web application security,” he said.

He added that security is a very important aspect of Cisco’s overall strategy and the firm will be looking at all opportunities to both grow organically and through further acquisitions.