NetIQ plans PentaSafe integration

Agrees to pay $192.5m in cash to acquire vendor

Network management software vendor NetIQ plans to integrate the security policy and management software of PentaSafe with its own range, after agreeing to pay $192.5m in cash to acquire the vendor.

PentaSafe's security management products are designed to ensure that companies comply with security policies and protect against new threats as they grow.

"If the new integrated products are sold through the channel it will be a good opportunity because it will bring two complementary product sets together," said Ian Kilpatrick, managing director at NetIQ distributor Wick Hill.

Pat Dunne, channels director at NetIQ, said the PentaSafe product will strengthen the vendor's existing security offering and add to its management capabilities.

Kilpatrick said the security policy management features offered by PentaSafe will assist resellers when they deploy security products.

"The products, when integrated with NetIQ's products, will help resellers ensure that the right security policies are in place before they integrate products. It will also make sure they are updated and maintained in the right way."

Dunne said PentaSafe and NetIQ both use resellers and the management will be looking at how the channels will be integrated.

He told vnunet.com: "We are not yet sure how we will go to the channel with the new products and how we will combine the two channels."

Kilpatrick said the different skills sets offered by the NetIQ and PentaSafe channels will benefit NetIQ. "If they do integrate the products I would see them utilising both sets of resellers."