CyberGuard's buying spree
After rolling out GCC 3.0, firm tells channel that it intends to make further acquisitions
Bullish security vendor CyberGuard is promising more strategic acquisitions in 2005.
The firm, which bolstered its security offerings with the acquisition of Linux security and firewall/VPN developer SnapGear in 2003, and content security software vendor WebWasher last year, last week launched its Global Command Centre (GCC) 3.0.
According to CyberGuard, GCC will allow users to implement and manage a security policy across the vendor's entire core-to-edge product range from one central location, and will present a good margin opportunity for its channel network.
Andrew Clarke, managing director of CyberGuard EMEA, said: "This is a very important launch for us, because firms can no longer afford to have individuals managing separate products. They need a central product.
"[GCC] will also appeal to our partners, because they can leverage all of CyberGuard's technology into a unified solution."
Malcolm Hamilton, product manager at CyberGuard distributor Ellipse, agreed.
"In the past with CyberGuard's products you had to go into every single box, but now anyone on the administrative team can pull off reports. It certainly makes an administrator's life easier, by offering a central point to be able to do everything from," he said.
Clarke told CRN that the integration of the three vendors has gone well.
"When we bought WebWasher last year it was primarily because of a technology gap. Our partners were having to go to a third party to get the same kind of technology. Now they can offer the complete solution from just one vendor," he said.
"However, we also acquired WebWasher's channel partners, which gave us a stronger foothold across Europe and the Middle East. So what was initially a technology acquisition became a channel acquisition as well."
Clarke confirmed that CyberGuard is still firmly on the acquisition path. "We are making an impact on our competitors, and they are taking notice. The market and the channel should expect more strategic acquisitions from us in the future," he said.