SurfControl nets BlackSpider

Acquisition will see managed services provider's offerings added to SurfControl's portfolio

The security market has seen its second acquisition in two days with internet security vendor SurfControl snapping up managed services provider BlackSpider for £20m.

As a result, SurfControl will add BlackSpider's on-demand email and web security service to its portfolio.

John Cheney, chief executive of BlackSpider said: "Our customers already recognise that on-demand security services raise the level of protection against Internet threats as well as reduce total cost of ownership. By combining the technologies and expertise of SurfControl and BlackSpider, we are uniquely positioned to offer customers industry leading content security solutions leveraging our software, appliances and on-demand assets. Our existing clients will benefit greatly from this acquisition as we accelerate our product development and increase our global presence. I am delighted at the leadership opportunity this presents to the newly combined business."

Cheney will report directly to SurfControl chief executive Patricia Sueltz, as general manager, On Demand Security Services, and will be responsible for SurfControl's Managed Service Security Portfolio. The BlackSpider team will operate as an on-demand security service of SurfControl.

Sueltz said: “We’re delighted to announce the acquisition of BlackSpider Technologies. Our customers have told us that they want protection at all potential points of vulnerability. BlackSpider’s on-demand security services enable us to raise the level of protection for our customers by offering comprehensive protection against Web, email and desktop-based threats, in the cloud as well as within the network. SurfControl and our partners now have a flexible security solution for all sizes of enterprise that is easy-to-implement and is cost effective. We welcome the BlackSpider team and its channel partners and look forward to delighting customers with our new offerings.”