Clearswift gobbled up by US vendor to boost its security portfolio

Acquisition will see departure of UK-based vendor's CEO

Reading-based data prevention loss vendor Clearswift has been acquired by HelpSystems to boost its own security offerings.

US-headquartered HelpSystems' portfolio includes robotic process automation (RPA), business intelligence and security, among other services.

HelpSystems stated that its latest addition will not only expand its own portfolio but also support its commitment to the expansion of its partner network, as well as its international presence.

"The Clearswift solutions, and the talented team who support them, strengthen HelpSystems' growing cybersecurity business," said Kate Bolseth, CEO of HelpSystems.

"The addition of the Clearswift solutions to the HelpSystems portfolio will provide customers with an expanded set of cybersecurity options that protect critical data and enable compliance with industry mandates such as PCI, GDPR, and HIPAA and help them stay on top of the shifting cybersecurity environment."

Clearswift's owner prior to this purchase was Swiss firm RUAG, which acquired it in 2017.

Earlier this year Clearswift CEO Heath Davies told CRN that the new ownership had led to an increase in the number of defence organisations as customers.

Davies will depart the firm, which he has headed since 2012.

Clearswift generated £24.4m in revenue for its year ending 31 December 2018, according to its most recent filing on Companies House.

Ciaran Rafferty, managing director at Clearswift, stated: "Clearswift's unique product strengths are critical cornerstones of the overall cybersecurity strategies for its customers and are often used together with other cybersecurity solutions.

"We are confident we have found the perfect home for Clearswift and believe HelpSystems will continue to drive the products and business forward."

Mark Hardwick, research director at TechMarketView, stated that consolidation in the cybersecurity space has been a long time coming.

"Mergers and acquisitions continue to ramp up in this space. The last 12 months has been a very buoyant period for cybersecurity M&A in all segments of the market, pointing to the fact that a long overdue consolidation of a diverse supplier landscape is finally underway," he stated.

"Larger firms have always been on the lookout for innovative start-ups in the pursuit of both IP and cyberskills as well as products, services and customer bases and HelpSystems will hope Clearswift fits the bill."