Blue Coat urges security rethink as it revs up M&A engine
Security vendor shakes up messaging as it announces acquisition of Solera Networks and SSL technology from Netronome
Blue Coat is aiming to shake the perception that IT security is a "grudge purchase" by repositioning the firm, and has announced two acquisitions it claims back up the strategy.
The security vendor this morning announced that it has snapped up big data security analytics firm Solera Networks and SSL technology from Netronet.
Both purchases are designed to complement its new mantra that IT security should be seen as an enabler rather than an inhibitor of employee activities.
Chris Pace, director of products and solutions at Blue Coat - which is backed by private equity house Thoma Bravo - said the security industry had not yet respondend to the entry of more consumer technologies into the workplace.
"We have to get to the point where businesses understand that security is not a grudge purchase," he said.
"The perception has to change so that it is not seen as a thing that stops you from using Facebook but something that lets you deal with these things safely. Some of the technologies we are acquiring and integrating are to complete that vision."
Blue Coat's new "business assurance technology blueprint" divides its wares into five technology centres: security and policy enforcement; mobility empowerment; trusted applications; performance; and resolution.
Pat Dunne, senior channels director EMEA at Blue Coat, said the overhaul will allow partners to approach security from a more positive perspective.
"If a partner can enable the security guy to become more of an enabler than a blocker, that means the reseller can be a trusted adviser," he said.
Set to close within 30 days, the Solera Networks acquisition is designed to add security analytics and forensic capabilities to Blue Coat's product portfolio.
Meanwhile, it has also introduced a new appliance based on wire-speed SSL technology it acquired from Netronome earlier this month. It already integrates with Solera's DeepSee platform.
Dunne stressed that both acquired product sets operate an open-architecture stance, giving partners access to an even broader set of products.
"From a partner's perspective, we have gone from being a company which was mainly about security and policy enforcement to one which also now has capabilities in the mobility and trusted applications space," he said. "We have always had capabilities in performance but now Solera gives us lots more capabilities in the resolution centre space. All these areas havean open-architecture stance which enables our partners to sell a lot of other third-party products that customers may require."
Simon Church, chief executive of Blue Coat partner Integralis (pictured), predicted that the consolidation in the security market currently being led by Thoma Bravo would continue.
"I think it's fair to say that, given the current sentiment in the investment community - alongside the opportunity in the security and managed risk market at the moment - we'll see more such transactions - the Websense announcement [on Monday] is a case in point," he said.