eSoft splits in two

Web filtering activities to be renamed under zvelo banner

Break away: eSoft's UTM and web filtering businesses have parted ways

US-based security vendor eSoft has split into two companies that will focus on the unified threat management (UTM) and web filtering sectors respectively.

Web filtering activities will remain under the leadership of chief executive Jeff Finn but have been renamed under the zvelo banner. Its SiteFilter offering hit the market in 2008 and has an OEM channel to market.

Although the UTM activities have a new chief executive in the form of Mike Donnell, they will continue to go under the eSoft name.

Finn suggested the two parts of the business would benefit from the greater focus afforded by the split.

“The UTM business will benefit from the EAL [eSoft Acquisition Limited] investments in sales and marketing, while zvelo receives the capital needed to scale the SiteFilter business to accommodate the significant growth being experienced,” he said.

“Additionally, zvelo can now focus exclusively on the SiteFilter OEM business.”

Both sides claim to have benefited financially from the split. Zvelo said it would use the cash from the sale of the UTM business assets to fund working capital and support its growth.

Similarly, eSoft revealed it had received an investment of an undisclosed amount that it will plough into channel programmes, marketing and promotions, as well as product development and engineering.